A packet scheduler for real-time 6LoWPAN wireless networks in manufacturing systems

• Published in: Journal of intelligent manufacturing Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 301 - 311
• Main Authors: Santillán Martínez, Gerardo, Delamer, Ivan M., Lastra, José L. Martínez
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Access control; Algorithms; Automation; Business and Management; Control; Data integrity; Design; Dynamical systems; Industrial design; Internet of Things; Machines; Manufacturing; Manufacturing industry; Mechatronics; Monitoring; Network topologies; Packets (communication); Processes; Production; Protocol; Radio communications; Real time; Robotics; Scheduling; Sensors; Studies; Wireless networks; IEEE 802.15.4; Wireless packet scheduler; Beacon-enabled mode; 6LoWPAN; Industrial WSN
• ISSN: 0956-5515; 1572-8145
• DOI: 10.1007/s10845-014-0977-5

Modern manufacturing processes rely on industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for the monitoring of parameters critical for a broad range of applications. One of the most important standards used for the implementation of industrial WSN is the IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN). This standard provides wireless internet connectivity, warranting interoperability with already existing infrastructures. Due to the increasing importance of the process monitoring in the manufacturing domain, it is required that the 6LoWPAN transmission control mechanisms are efficient, robust and that they guarantee real-time responses with low data losses. This paper presents a packet scheduler for real-time 6LoWPAN wireless networks in manufacturing systems that adapts wireless scheduling mechanisms and decision algorithms to the IEEE 802.15.4 beacon-enabled mode. In previous works, the scheduling algorithm does not change during the packet scheduling process. The work described in this paper proposes a new approach to the design of scheduling mechanisms by presenting a scheduling system that can adapt to the dynamic wireless traffic of industrial WSN. The system implemented manages the channel access by allocating Guaranteed Time Slots to sensor nodes according to the priority given by scheduling algorithms that are selected according to the traffic condition of the network.