Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
I. Executive Summary...................................................................................... 3
Wireless is ready....................................................................................... 6
Overview................................................................................................. 11
A comprehensive solution........................................................................12
A case study............................................................................................16
VII. Conclusion................................................................................................18
White Paper
I. Executive Summary
The cost of wiring alone is incentive enough for many building owners to look
at wireless control systems, since wireless installations can be done anywhere,
at any time, saving from 20% to 80% of the installation cost of controls.
Wireless networks that are based on the IEEE mesh standard of networking
are self-configuring, so they can be installed with minimal expertise and
system administration.
TAC has made its entire family of field controllers wireless-enabled, based on
the leading standards, enabling organizations to take advantage of wireless
building control networks for both new and existing facilities. Previously
hard-to-wire or challenging structures - such as hotels, museums, large retail
spaces and constantly changing office layouts - can be networked into a
control system with little or no disruption.
1
Michael Kintner-Meyer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, “Opportunities of Wireless Sensors and Controls for
Building Operation”, 2004.
2
Frost & Sullivan, “Wireless Communication - The Opportunity is Knocking”, 13 Apr 2005
3
Frost & Sullivan, Technical Insights, “Smart Sensors and Sensor Networks: Opportunities for Networked Intelligent
Wireless Sensors”.
4
Frost & SulIivan, “Wireless Communication - The Opportunity is Knocking, 13 Apr 2005
5
“Where’s the Wire?”, CSE Magazine, May 2006
6
“ZigBee AND BACNET Link up,” ZigBee Alliance press release, May 17, 2006
The emergence of range. Not only can all nodes send and receive
Obviously, in order to realize the full benefit of a enable effective wireless communications, the
mesh, each node must be within signal range of reverse is also true — mesh networks are only
two or more other nodes. An inexpensive way practical thanks to wireless technology.
to accomplish this — in case controllers are
Mesh is supported by ZigBee, the emerging
too far apart — is to use low-cost repeaters,
standard for wireless building controls. And while
whose only function is to fill in the mesh and
it is simple in concept, mesh networking has
provide more connections for the network. It’s
profound implications for building owners.
interesting to note that while mesh networks
7
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, “Advanced Sensors and Controls for Building Applications: Market Assessment and
Potential R&D Pathways”, April 2005
8
Frost &Sullivan, “Wireless Communication - The Opportunity is Knocking, 13 Apr 2005
9
Frost & Sullivan, Technical Insights, “Smart Sensors and Sensor Networks: Opportunities for Networked Intelligent
Wireless Sensors”.
A typical control network using TAC's wireless solution. Each building controller or router can support up to 32
nodes of wireless field controllers. These router/controllers provide the function of linking the wireless
controllers to the building’s Ethernet network.
A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION
TAC's wireless solution provides a full set of capabilities for implementing a wireless network solution,
including:
A full line of wireless-enabled Andover Continuum Infinet and BACnet field controllers, providing
control solutions for every aspect of building management.
Wireless devices (adapters and repeaters) that allow users to create a wireless mesh network
Wireless Controller Networks for Building Automation | 11
segment that connects Andover Continuum Infinet or BACnet controllers within a network.
A Wireless Maintenance Tool with a powerful and graphical dashboard to help building owners view,
manage, tune and maintain a stable and robust wireless mesh network.
White Paper
Frost & Sullivan, Technical Insights, “Smart Sensors and Sensor Networks: Opportunities for Networked Intelligent
10
Wireless Sensors”.
2.4 GHz frequency range. TAC’s wireless Although ‘decisions’ on traffic are made locally by
solution uses the 2.4 GHz frequency range, the the wireless devices, the network can be managed
most globally compatible frequency range for globally with the Wireless Maintenance Tool.
wireless communications. According to Frost &
Sullivan: “Radio communication takes place in the
unlicensed spectrum. In North America, it is the
Central network
916 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands, and in EU it is the management
868 MHz and the 2.4 GHz bands.... 2.4 GHz is an A powerful, graphical Wireless Maintenance
unlicensed frequency worldwide.”10 Tool lets network administrators monitor and
control all of the nodes on the network. Unlike
many solutions, which let you see the node but still
Superior wireless require you to adjust its settings physically at the
network performance controller, TAC provides the ability to actually make
TAC’s wireless solution uses “proactive discovery,” adjustments and exercise true building control from
providing increased network reliability. Proactive your desktop.
discovery means the network configures and
From the network control station, you can access
reconfigures itself constantly. The network
every wireless node, choose from 16 channel
assumes that links will fail and performance
selections, and set the power level, so you can
will change, so it continually searches for and
adjust the wireless settings for any device on the
‘remembers’ optimal linkages.
network, at any time. This makes it a simple matter
In addition, TAC utilizes dynamic routing, where to adjust power settings when needed to suit the
messages are broadcast to all neighbors, which environment — for example, in hospitals where
further enhances network performance and there are restrictions on RF power.
communications reliability.
Graphic display and control. Network display Through the wireless control station, users can
screens graphically present the mesh network, all see the settings of each node and make
the devices in it, and their connectivity levels. Right adjustments remotely.
click on any host or adapter icon and you can filter
Tabular Reports. Using the Wireless Adapter
the display or check the properties for that adapter.
Details Table, you can see even more information.
The network can be mapped onto actual floor
This table lists online/offline status, filter status,
plans, to accurately reflect the location of each
number of neighbor connections, and so on.
wireless node.
Tabular reports can be customized easily to
Using TAC’s Wireless Maintenance Tool, provide a simple overview for management and
administrators can: troubleshooting. Runtime data from all nodes on
the wireless network is updated every second, so
• Check and adjust link quality of each node
the information is always accurate.
• Identify number of ‘neighbors’ for each node
• Measure signal strength Tabular reports make it easy to drill down into
• View power settings, PAN ID and various network segments and devices for
channel numbers management and troubleshooting.
• Ping test
• Trace test
V. Wireless at work:
Application examples
With TAC’s combination of wireless capabilities, New construction. Increasingly, new buildings are
open standards, and a broad range of controllers, expected to take advantage of wireless technology
building owners can gain a new level of control to reduce initial costs and offer tenants greater
over their facilities and their budgets. Areas that flexibility and ongoing savings.
previously could not be wired - due to physical
Hotels/hospitality industry. Wireless solutions
challenges or budgetary reasons - can now be
allow changes or retrofits with a minimum of
monitored and controlled cost-effectively with
occupant disruption, thus preventing customer
wireless technology.
dissatisfaction or loss of income.
Following are some of the applications where
Museums and historical buildings. Glass, marble,
wireless networks offer immediate advantages and
high ceilings or sealed wall construction are often
opportunities for building owners.
found in museums and older buildings. Wireless
Retrofits and upgrades. Since over 90% of technology offers a unique solution to implement
existing buildings are wired, the immediate controls without destroying the historical integrity.
potential for using wireless controller networks in
Fast track projects. Deadlines that would be
these buildings is in phased upgrades, expansions,
impossible to meet with wiring solutions are quite
or layering new capabilities onto the existing wired
possible, and even easy, using wireless networks.
network. For example, building owners can use
wireless to enhance environmental controls and High-cost installation areas. In some applications,
achieve dramatic gains in energy efficiency. the savings from wireless can be large, such as
when union electricians perform installations, when
Commercial offices. Office environments and electrical codes require conduits, or when trenches
layouts change often in response to the changing between buildings are required.
business needs of tenants or companies. In a
life-cycle perspective, wireless solutions offer Small remote structures. Areas that previously
significant savings and less disruption of tenants were not worth the cost and trouble can now be
or occupants. monitored and controlled, such as parking gates,
pumping stations, warehouses and
Retail. Previously hard-to-wire, large retail storage facilities.
spaces can take advantage of wireless controller
networks. Also, the constantly changing building Dangerous installations. Many walls in older
layout due to new tenants makes wireless an buildings cannot be penetrated without exposing
attractive solution. The potential energy savings are workers to asbestos or creating other health
especially attractive to retailers too, because they or safety issues. Wireless networks avoid
these problems.
typically operate on extremely thin profit margins.
11 Frost & Sullivan, Technical Insights, “Wireless Sensors in Building Automation,” Feb. 2005
VII. Conclusion
For both new structures and old, wireless networking is expected to grow by
leaps and bounds, improving existing applications and opening up new ones
as the technology advances and matures.
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owners. Information contained within this document is subject to change without notice.
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