The days of the fixed wiring requirement to connect the source of data to the user of data appear to yielding ground to the wireless connection.
Historically it has been necessary to connect a sensor to the input of a controller or data recording instrument via a fixed and secured physical cable (wire, fibre optic or similar), and then to provide a further connection to the supervisory element of the system. If these connection distances are significant in length, cable routing can become an issue, traversing access routes, walkways, doors and the like. Any changes to the actual location of existing elements or the introduction of additional new components can attract significant expense and disturbance.
We are now moving into the world of practical wireless communications. As the equipment required is available from more than one source, prices are competitive, and it is not difficult to use.
It obviously has limitations, range, power and susceptibility to interference, but the IT industry is starting to show the way, benefiting from the flexibility and increasing ease of use and in use. These benefits are already being exploited in the data handling area of the processing and automation industries, and they are waiting for the next step, asensor to supervisor'. u
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