Implementing Wireless Industrial Automation Systems (IC85E)

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CEU Credits: 2.1
Course Hours: Online Course – Refer to Syllabus

ISA’s CyberU online instructor-led training courses offer the benefit of a high quality ISA training course with the added advantage of studying at your own pace in the office, at home, or while traveling.

This online course utilizes online training modules, additional text materials, online evaluations, and e-mail discussions. Students will have access via email to an instructor and have an opportunity to participate in live Q&A sessions with the instructor and other class participants.

This CyberU course runs for seven (7) weeks. You will have access to seven online modules for the web/audio sessions. Each module takes approximately 60 minutes. Your course syllabus will guide you through the course modules and provide assignments and the schedule for live Q&A sessions.

Description:

This course will cover the most relevant details associated with industrial wireless systems with an emphasis towards how the various technological choices coexist, interoperate, and interact with each other. Numerous examples of real-world deployments are covered for facilities such as SCADA systems, petrochemical plants, and electrical power generation and transmission systems. The operational differences posed to the wireless systems’ performance by discrete manufacturing needs, monitoring of devices, and even control systems are addressed. Considerable emphasis is placed specifically on ISA100 (the standard for industrial wireless) including deep dives into some of the standard’s most pertinent details. Comparisons of ISA100 with other protocols and specifications (e.g., Industrial Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wireless HART) are provided.

You will be able to:

Describe today's wireless offerings for industrial automation
Identify the security needs of the IT department
Explain how wireless applications utilizing different wireless technologies may interplay at your plant
Identify if a combination of schemes is needed in your plant
Identify secure methods for linking multiple plants together
Apply wireless technology to solve real industrial applications
Identify and solve problems in industrial automation applications
Examine how return of investment can accurately guide you in prioritizing wireless applications that different plant departments are requesting
Answer the question: "Can I remove the wires from my automation system?"
Conduct an accurate assessment of wireless systems robustness with a sample application and technology selection
Examine the marketplace for relevant wireless technologies and make an informed selection for a particular application

You will cover:

Each course module has been pre-recorded by your instructor so that you can access on your schedule. Each module is a web/audio session that takes approximately 60 minutes.

Week/Module 1: Introduction and Background
Covers basic technology overview, important terms, high profile process and related industry wireless implementations, and relevant standards from various standards bodies

Week/Module 2: Communication Fundamentals
Covers basic concepts relating to both wired and wireless communication, radio frequency transmissions, various modulation and medium sharing techniques, the basic architecture of standards-based open communication approaches, and how fully integrated systems are implemented

Week/Module 3: Communication Network Concepts
Covers communication networks, industrial sensor interfaces, network topologies, circuit and packet switched networks and ISO/OSI 7-layer model for open communication standards

Week/Module 4: Networking Approaches
Covers current implementations of TCP/IP and Ethernet, Media Access Control (MAC) techniques, network layer functions, and network software architectures

Week/Module 5: Existing Wireless Options—IEEE 802.11 and Licensed Radios
Covers FCC authorized unlicensed bands; traditional licensed radios; and issues associated with internetworking, coexistence, and interoperability among wireless options

Week/Module 6: Existing Wireless Options—Zigbee, Bluetooth, and WiMax
Covers existing wireless protocols, their relevance to industrial applications, and their associated coexistence and interoperability issues

Week/Module 7: Advanced Concepts and Final Review
Covers technologies that are either emerging or appear imminent and how to assess their potential impact based on the concepts learned throughout the course

Course Materials:

Course noteset with slides from course modules and syllabus
Textbook: Wireless Networks for Industrial Automation, 2nd Edition by Dick Caro
Standard Reference: "Wireless Communication Standards" by Todor Cooklev, IEEE Press
ISA100.11a Wireless Systems for Industrial Automation: Process Control and Related Applications
Access to specific articles from Sensors Magazine and ISA InTech publications archived on their respective websites

Features of ISA CyberU online course:

Online Pre-recorded Course Modules

Your instructor has pre-recorded each course module so that you can access the course presentations on your schedule. Each module is a web/audio session that takes approximately 60 minutes.

Ask the Expert

Interact with your expert instructor via email throughout the course and through scheduled live Q&A sessions. You can expect a reply to your email within 24 hours. This email address is active during the entire course duration.

The Q&A sessions provide an opportunity for you and your classmates to speak one-on-one with the instructor. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the course material and interact with your fellow classmates.

Class Discussions

You will be invited to subscribe to a course listserve that includes course participants. You can use this listserve to post questions and share experience relevant to the course with other class members.

Course Assignments and Exams

Take the course pre-test before you begin studying the course material to get a better understanding of areas that you will want to focus on more during the course.
Homework assignments for all modules will be indicated on the syllabus. The homework assignments are designed to help expand your understanding of the course material.
Complete the final exam for the course in order to receive Continuing Education Units (CEU) credit. The final exam will be taken and scored online. You must receive at least 80% on the course exam to receive CEU credit and certificate of completion.