Industrial Networks Redefined: Conquering Connectivity Hurdles for the Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 connectivity

Connectivity has become the cornerstone of the fourth industrial revolution, commonly referred to as Industry 4.0. But, this critical aspect of the modern industry is undergoing a significant transformation, facing an insatiable thirst for a solution that provides seamless, reliable, and cost-effective connectivity for industrial networks.

Let’s take a quick glimpse into the world of logistics, for example. Over the past decade, warehouse automation has experienced a remarkable boom. The warehouse automation market reached a value of €19 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach €54 billion by 2030, with an annual growth of 10.9%. This puts even more pressure on the usual challenges—it must operate flawlessly, meeting orders without any delays. At the same time, keep in mind that the automated warehouses operate in an environment that is constantly changing, with robots navigating through a maze of metallic structures, walls, pallets, and other robots.

Industrial networks for the Industry 4.0

AGVs in an automated warehouse

While robots are undoubtedly revolutionizing various industries, they frequently encounter a significant obstacle – the lack of suitable network technology. This deficiency hinders their full potential. The McKinsey Global Institute sheds light on this issue, stating:

“We estimate that the combination of enhanced connectivity and automated guided vehicles could yield a remarkable 13 billion to 200 billion in business impact by substantially enhancing logistics productivity.”

Join us in this blog as we delve into the current connectivity challenges and explore the available options. We propose an innovative solution that has the potential to revolutionize the way moving machines are connected. 

 

Existing Technologies: The Limitations of Connectivity

In the world of industrial connectivity, the go-to options usually include traditional solutions, such as enterprise WiFi and 5G networks.

  1. Enterprise WiFi, designed for web browsing and video calls, falls short when it comes to meeting the unique demands of industrial applications. Its reliability and efficiency may be inadequate in dynamic and ever-changing industrial environments.
  2. On the other hand, 5G networks hold great promise with their high speeds and low latency. However, the significant costs associated with 5G and difficulties in indoor implementations make it a less viable option for many businesses, limiting its widespread adoption. 
  3. In addition, while dynamic mesh solutions exist, they often come with a requirement for specialized hardware, rendering them prohibitively expensive for the majority of industrial use cases.

Again, the physical structures of industrial environments present additional challenges. Issues such as radio shadows caused by physical obstacles like walls, metallic structures, and liquids, as well as roaming problems during handovers between access points, further exacerbate the connectivity challenge.

 

Igniting the Spark of Industrial Networks

In this landscape of connectivity limitations, Meshmerize offers an innovative solution for industrial connectivity. It is the first software-based mesh solution explicitly designed for low-latency, reliable machine-type communication.

Meshmerize operates on the principle of decentralized device-to-device communication, empowering the network from within. By combining multiple unreliable links, Meshmerize creates a singular, reliable network. It eliminates the need for dependence on 4G/5G base stations or WiFi access points, enabling devices to connect directly to each other.

This innovative approach transforms every autonomous device into a network access point through a simple software update, fostering distributed connectivity that is both robust and reliable. Unlike traditional solutions, Meshmerize does not require a high CapEx investment. Both testing environments and real-life production settings have consistently demonstrated its exceptional performance in industrial networks.

With its ability to support rapidly moving vehicles in various wireless environments, Meshmerize redefines industrial connectivity. By making WiFi a more viable and cost-effective option, Meshmerize empowers businesses to overcome connectivity challenges and unlock the full potential of Industry 4.0.

 

industrial networks connectivity offer matrix

The Competitive Edge: You move, we connect.

Meshmerize is much more than just a connectivity solution. It’s a comprehensive approach to redefining how industries understand and use wireless industrial networks. We’ve developed it to be resilient, and capable of supporting rapidly moving vehicles in different wireless environments, under challenging conditions.

With its unique ability to dynamically maintain uninterrupted wireless connectivity, Meshmerize promises to tip the scales in favor of WiFi, making it a more viable, cost-effective, and reliable option for industrial applications.

In the industrial race where enhanced connectivity is critical to unlocking unprecedented productivity and business impact, Meshmerize is playing a pivotal role in delivering the much-needed revolution in industrial connectivity. 

 

AGVs in industrial networks working in automated warehouses

The Future of Industrial Networks with Meshmerize

Reliable connectivity is not only about keeping pace with technological advancements; it’s about shaping the future of industries. While the current connectivity landscape presents complex challenges, they are by no means impossible to overcome.

Meshmerize, with its approach to connectivity, is more than just a solution – it is a revolution. It promises to shift the paradigm from traditional, unreliable, and costly industrial networks to a more robust, reliable, and cost-effective mesh network. Our solution is not just a win for industries but also for the countless devices that power them.

As we continue to disrupt the status quo and redefine the rules of the game, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Together, let’s meshmerize the world of Industry 4.0!

 

Meshmerize is a startup based in Dresden, Germany that provides the ultimate mesh network software to an array of industries. The full potential of Meshmerize is yet to be seen. We would like to hear your thoughts – let us know what you think at hello@meshmerize.net