Industry 4.0 and Beyond: The Role of 5G, WiFi 7, and TSN in Enabling Smart Manufacturing

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how 5G, WiFi 7, and TSN can enable smart manufacturing within Industry 4.0 by examining their applications, benefits, challenges, and future prospects in industrial networks.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis and comparison of 5G, WiFi 7, and TSN for industrial communication, highlighting their roles in smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0.

Findings

TSN enables reliable industrial communication

WiFi 7 and 5G support high-bandwidth industrial applications

Challenges include security, interoperability, and market adoption

Abstract

This paper explores the role that 5G, WiFi-7, and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) can play in driving smart manufacturing as a fundamental part of the Industry 4.0 vision. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of each technology's application in industrial communications, with a focus on TSN and its key elements that enable reliable and secure communication in industrial networks. In addition, the paper includes a comparative study of these technologies, analyzing them based on a number of industrial use-cases, supported secondary applications, industry adoption, and current market trends. The paper concludes by highlighting the challenges and future directions for the adoption of these technologies in industrial networks and emphasizes their importance in realizing the Industry 4.0 vision within the context of smart manufacturing.