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2021

TII

Guest Editorial: Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems - New Trends in Computing and Communications

F. Tramarin, M. Luvisotto , A. Willig , and 1 more author

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2021
TIM

Assessment of Different OPC UA Implementations for Industrial IoT-Based Measurement Applications

A. Morato , S. Vitturi , F. Tramarin, and 1 more author

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2021

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The industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) paradigm represents an attractive opportunity for new generation measurement applications, which are increasingly based on efficient and reliable communication systems to allow the extensive availability of continuous data from instruments and/or sensors, thus enabling real-time measurement analysis. Nevertheless, different communication systems and heterogeneous sensors and acquisition systems may be found in an IIoT-enabled measurement application, so that solutions need to be defined to tackle the issue of seamless, effective, and low-latency interoperability. A significant and appropriate solution is the open platform communications (OPCs) unified architecture (UA) protocol, thanks to its object-oriented structure that allows a complete contextualization of the information. The intrinsic complexity of OPC UA, however, imposes meaningful performance assessment to evaluate its suitability in the aforementioned context. To this aim, this article presents the design of a general yet accurate and reproducible measurement setup that will be exploited to assess the performance of the main open-source implementations of OPC UA. The final goal of this work is to provide a characterization of the impact of this protocol stack in an IIoT-enabled measurement system, in particular, in terms of both the latency introduced in the measurement process and the power consumption. © 1963-2012 IEEE.

2020

TII

Time-Critical Wireless Networked Embedded Systems: Feasibility and Experimental Assessment

F. Branz , R. Antonello , L. Schenato , and 2 more authors

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2020

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In this article, we investigate an innovative solution, to implement high sampling frequency industrial control by means of networked embedded systems connected via WiFi. The basic idea relies on a co-design approach for the control application, which is then able to adapt its sampling period, as well as to tune the Wi-Fi parameters, according to the feedback coming from the network. To this end, we implemented a cross-layer architecture acting at both application and data-link layers, which features a robust frame-delay state estimator, a time-efficient communication policy, and a specific tuning of the critical protocol parameters. Suitable hardware-in-the-loop experiments have been carried out exploiting two different embedded systems available off-the-shelf. The preliminary results, obtained from an extensive experimental campaign, are encouraging since they show that the proposed architecture enables industrial control applications requiring a sampling rate up to 1000 Hz, even in presence of communication impairments. © 2005-2012 IEEE.
MDPI_S

The impact of rate adaptation algorithms on wi-fi-based factory automation systems

T. Fedullo , F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

Sensors (Switzerland), 2020

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Factory automation systems based on the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standard may benefit from its Multi-Rate Support (MRS) feature, which allows for dynamically selecting the most suitable transmission rate for the targeted application context. The MRS is implemented by means of rate adaptation algorithms (RAAs), which has already demonstrated to be effective to improve both timeliness and reliability, which are typically strict requirements of industrial real-time communication systems. Indeed, some of such algorithms have been specifically conceived for reliable real-time communications. However, the computational complexity of such algorithms has not been effectively investigated yet. In this paper, we address such an issue, particularly focusing on the execution times of some specific rate adaptation algorithms, as well as on their impact on the automation tasks. In this respect, after a formal description of the algorithms, we present the outcomes of an extensive experimental session, which includes practical measurements and realistic simulations. The obtained results are encouraging, since the measured execution times indicate that rate adaptation algorithms can be profitably adopted by industrial automation systems, allowing for improving their reliability and timeliness without impacting on the overall performance. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Adaptive transmission rate for LQG control over Wi-Fi: A cross-layer approach

M. Pezzutto , F. Tramarin, S. Dey , and 1 more author

Automatica, 2020

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This work studies the problem of LQG control when the link between the sensor and the controller relies on a Wi-Fi network. Unfortunately, the communication on a wireless medium is sensitive to noise in the transmission band, which is characterized by the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). Wi-Fi allows to switch among different bit-rates in real-time thus permitting to trade-off lower loss probabilities for larger latency or vice-versa to achieve better closed-loop performance. To exploit this feature, under a constant SNR scenario, we propose a cross-layer approach where the bit-rate is optimally selected based on a control performance metric (i.e. minimum LQG cost) and a model-based controller is used to compensate for the packet losses. Under time-varying SNR, we additionally propose a (sub-optimal) on-line rate adaptation strategy and we guarantee the closed-loop stability under some mild conditions. Numerical comparisons with emulation-based approaches using TrueTime, a realistic Matlab-based Wi-Fi simulator, are included to show the benefits of the adaptive approach under time-varying SNR scenarios. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
An IIoT System to Monitor 3D-Printed Artifacts via LoRaWAN Embedded Sensors

L. Trevisan , S. Vitturi , F. Tramarin, and 1 more author

2020

Conference of 25th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2020 ; Conference Date: 8 September 2020 Through 11 September 2020; Conference Code:163774

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In this paper we consider an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) system, based on the production of 3D-printed artifacts that are equipped with embedded sensors to monitor some environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, etc. These sensors allow to gather information during the production phase of the artifacts, as well as while they are deployed in their final locations, so that diverse operations (e.g. tuning of the production parameters, predictive maintenance, environmental monitoring) can be undertaken. Monitoring is implemented via LoRaWAN, a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) that allows to acquire data from the sensors embedded in the artifacts. After a description of the IIoT system, we provide the description of some experimental tests we carried out in this challenging context, aimed at investigating both the reliability of the transmission and the battery life time. The outcomes of such experiments indicate the actual feasibility of the proposed technique. © 2020 IEEE.
A Profinet Simulator for the Digital Twin of Networked Electrical Drive Systems

A. Morato , S. Vitturi , T. Fedullo , and 2 more authors

2020

Conference of 25th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2020 ; Conference Date: 8 September 2020 Through 11 September 2020; Conference Code:163774

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Modern industrial manufacturing plants, especially those using coordinated electrical drives with strict timing requirements, make extensive use of real-time communication networks. These systems, typically, are based on various topologies, include diverse protocols, and connect devices from different manufacturers, which may make them difficult to study, plan and optimize. As a solution, the adoption of digital twins allows to simulate such systems under various operating conditions in a low-cost and zero-risk environment. In this paper we address the digital twin of a networked electrical drive system, focusing on the real-time communication network used to connect the drives. In particular, we describe the simulation model of Profinet IO RT Class 1, implemented as an extension of the INET library of OMNeT++. Moreover, we present the outcomes of the tests carried out on a prototype simulated network and compare them with those of the equivalent real one. © 2020 IEEE.
Rate Adaptation by Reinforcement Learning for Wi-Fi Industrial Networks

G. Peserico , T. Fedullo , A. Morato , and 2 more authors

2020

Conference of 25th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2020 ; Conference Date: 8 September 2020 Through 11 September 2020; Conference Code:163774

Abs

Wireless technologies play a key role in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) scenario, for the development of increasingly flexible and interconnected factory systems. Wi-Fi remains particularly attracting due to its pervasiveness and high achievable data rates. Furthermore, its Rate Adaptation (RA) capabilities make it suitable to the harsh industrial environments, provided that specifically designed RA algorithms are deployed. To this aim, this paper proposes to exploit Reinforcement Learning (RL) techniques to design an industry-specific RA algorithm. The RL is spreading in many fields since it allows to design intelligent systems by means of a stochastic discrete-time system based approach. In this work we propose to enhance the Robust Rate Adaptation Algorithm (RRAA) by means of a RL approach. The preliminary assessment of the designed RA algorithm is carried out through meaningful OMNeT++ simulations, that allow to recognize the beneficial impact of the introduction of RL with respect to several industry-specific performance indicators. © 2020 IEEE.
Assessment of Different OPC UA Industrial IoT solutions for Distributed Measurement Applications

A. Morato , S. Vitturi , F. Tramarin, and 1 more author

2020

Conference of 2020 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, I2MTC 2020 ; Conference Date: 25 May 2020 Through 29 May 2020; Conference Code:161532

Abs

The Industrial IoT scenario represents an interesting opportunity for distributed measurements systems, that are typically based on efficient and reliable communication systems, as well as the widespread availability of data from measurement instruments and/or sensors. The Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) protocol is designed to ensure interoperability between heterogeneous sensors and acquisition systems, given its object-oriented structure allowing a complete contextualization of the information. Stemming from the intrinsic complexity of OPC UA, we designed an experimental measurement setup to carry out a meaningful performance assessment of its main open source implementations. The aim is to characterize the impact of the adoption of this protocol stack in a DMS in terms of both latency and power consumption, and to provide a general yet accurate and reproducible measurement setup. © 2020 IEEE.
Evaluation of LoRaWAN for sensor data collection in an IIoT-based additive manufacturing project

S. Vitturi , L. Trevisan , A. Morato , and 2 more authors

2020

Conference of 2020 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, I2MTC 2020 ; Conference Date: 25 May 2020 Through 29 May 2020; Conference Code:161532

Abs

The continuous evolution of additive manufacturing allows to produce innovative objects that are adopted in several diverse fields of applications. This trend can be further enhanced by the spreading of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) paradigm which ensures effective interconnection among distributed, possibly heterogeneous, components and allows remote access by means of commercial devices such as PCs, tablets and smartphones. In this paper, we address a large additive manufacturing project which effectively exploits an IIoT architecture by embedding sensors (temperature, humidity, light, etc.) within the produced artifacts, so that they can make available diverse measurement data collected during both the production process (in real-time) and the subsequent lifetime of the artifacts, enabling further off-line analyses. This clearly represents an innovative and challenging feature that needs to be adequately investigated. To this regard, after describing the automation system of the project, we focus on the wireless system that implements the collection of measurements by the sensors within the artifacts. The design process led to the selection of a Low Power Wide Area Network, namely LoRaWAN, as a suitable communication solution. In this respect, we present here the tests performed to assess the actual feasibility and performance of such network in this specific application context. The obtained results are encouraging, since the sensors within the artifacts revealed able to exchange the required measurement data with the automation system in an effective way. © 2020 IEEE.

2019

PIEEE

Real-Time and Reliable Industrial Control Over Wireless LANs: Algorithms, Protocols, and Future Directions

F. Tramarin, A. K. Mok , and S. Han

Proceedings of the IEEE, Jun 2019

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Comparative assessment of different OPC UA open-source stacks for embedded systems

Federico Tramarin, Stefano Vitturi , Angelo Cenedese , and 1 more author

In IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) , Sep 2019
Drive–by–Wi-Fi: taming 1 kHz control applications over wireless

Francesco Branz , Matthias Pezzutto , Riccardo Antonello , and 2 more authors

In IEEE European Control Conference (ECC) , Sep 2019
The Fail Safe over EtherCAT (FSoE) protocol implemented on the IEEE 802.11 WLAN

Federico Tramarin, Stefano Vitturi , Angelo Cenedese , and 1 more author

In IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) , Sep 2019
Embedded systems for time-critical applications over Wi-Fi: design and experimental assessment

Federico Tramarin, Stefano Vitturi , Angelo Cenedese , and 1 more author

In IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN) , Jul 2019
An indoor localization system to detect areas causing the freezing of gait in Parkinsonians

F. Demrozi , V. Bragoi , F. Tramarin, and 1 more author

In 2019 Design, Automation Test in Europe Conference Exhibition (DATE) , Mar 2019

2018

WCMC

On the Use of LoRaWAN for Indoor Industrial IoT Applications

Michele Luvisotto , Federico Tramarin, Lorenzo Vangelista , and 1 more author

Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, Mar 2018
A Calibrated Test-Set for Measurement of Access-Point Time Specifications in Hybrid Wired/Wireless Industrial Communication

Federico Tramarin, Claudio Narduzzi , Stefano Vitturi , and 1 more author

Information, Mar 2018
SNR-triggered Communication Rate for LQG Control over Wi-Fi

M. Pezzutto , F. Tramarin, S. Dey , and 1 more author

In 2018 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC) , Dec 2018
Characterization of electrical rotary distributors for real-time data communication

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , C. Zunino , and 1 more author

In 2018 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC) , May 2018
Assessing the Impact of Full–Duplex Wireless in Real–time Industrial Networks

M. Luvisotto , F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

In IEEE Annual Conference of the Industrial Electronics Society (IECON) , Oct 2018
An Innovative Algorithmic Safety Strategy for Networked Electrical Drive Systems

Stefano Vitturi , Alberto Morato , Angelo Cenedese , and 2 more authors

In IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN) , Jul 2018

2017

COMNET

A Learning Algorithm for Rate Selection in Real-Time Wireless LANs

Michele Luvisotto , Federico Tramarin, and Stefano Vitturi

Computer Networks, Jul 2017
TII

A Dynamic Rate Selection Algorithm for IEEE 802.11 Industrial Wireless LAN

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on, Jul 2017
TCOM

An Energy Efficient Ethernet Strategy Based on Traffic Prediction and Shaping

A. Cenedese , F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

Communications, IEEE Transactions on, Jul 2017
Real–Time Wireless Extensions of Industrial Ethernet Networks

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

In IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN) , Jul 2017
IEEE 802.11n for Distributed Measurement Systems

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

In IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology conference , May 2017
IEEE 802.11s performance assessment: from simulations to real-world experiments

A. Flammini , E. Sisinni , and F. Tramarin

In IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology conference , May 2017

2016

TII

On the Use of IEEE 802.11n for Industrial Communications

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , M. Luvisotto , and 1 more author

Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on, May 2016
Performance Analysis of IEEE 802.11 Rate Selection for Industrial Networks

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

In 42th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society , Oct 2016
An innovative approach to rate adaptation in IEEE 802.11 real-time industrial networks

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

In 2016 IEEE World Conference on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS) , May 2016
Real-time communication over native Ethernet: POWERLINK

Federico Tramarin, and Lucia Seno

May 2016

In press (January 2017)
Isochronous Wireless Communication System for Industrial Automation

Federico Tramarin, and Emiliano Sisinni

May 2016
Wireless LAN technologies for the factory floor

Federico Tramarin, and Emiliano Sisinni

May 2016

In press (January 2017)
Wireless PAN technologies for the factory floor

Federico Tramarin, and Emiliano Sisinni

May 2016

In press (January 2017)

2015

Strategies and Services for Energy Efficiency in Real-Time Ethernet Networks

F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on, Jun 2015
Energy Efficient Ethernet for Real-Time Industrial Networks

S. Vitturi , and F. Tramarin

Automation Science and Engineering, IEEE Transactions on, Jan 2015
Improved Rate Adaptation Strategies for Real-Time Industrial IEEE 802.11n WLANs

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

In Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA), 2015 IEEE Conference on , Sep 2015
Enhancing the real-time behavior of IEEE 802.11n

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , and M. Luvisotto

In Factory Communication Systems (WFCS), 2015 IEEE World Conference on , May 2015
The IEEE 802.11n wireless LAN for real-time industrial communication

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , M. Luvisotto , and 1 more author

In Factory Communication Systems (WFCS), 2015 IEEE World Conference on , May 2015
Ethernet POWERLINK

Federico Tramarin, and Stefano Vitturi

May 2015

2014

Resolution Enhancement by Compressive Sensing in Power Quality and Phasor Measurement

M. Bertocco , G. Frigo , C. Narduzzi , and 1 more author

Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on, Oct 2014
Performance assessment of an IEEE 802.11–based protocol for real–time communication in agriculture

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , M. Luvisotto , and 1 more author

In IEEE 19th Conference on Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA) , Sep 2014
An Energy Efficient Traffic Shaping Algorithm for Ethernet-Based Multimedia Industrial Traffic

F. Tramarin, S. Vitturi , A. Cenedese , and 1 more author

In IEEE 19th Conference on Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA) , Sep 2014
System-Level Performance of an Automation Solution Based on Industry Standards

I.C. Bertolotti , Luca Durante , Tingting Hu , and 4 more authors

In IEEE 19th Conference on Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA) , Sep 2014

2013

Industrial Wireless Networks. The Significance of Timeliness in Communication Systems

Stefano Vitturi , Federico Tramarin, and Lucia Seno

IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine, Sep 2013
On the Rate Adaptation Techniques of IEEE 802.11 Networks for Industrial Applications

S. Vitturi , L. Seno , F. Tramarin, and 1 more author

Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on, Feb 2013
Performance Analysis of IEEE 802.11g Multi-Rate Support for Industrial Applications

F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

In 39th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society , Nov 2013
Energy Efficient Ethernet for the industrial communication scenario

F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

In Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA), 2013 IEEE 18th Conference on , Sep 2013
Resolution enhancement in harmonic analysis by compressive sensing

M. Bertocco , G. Frigo , C. Narduzzi , and 1 more author

In Applied Measurements for Power Systems (AMPS), 2013 IEEE International Workshop on , Sep 2013
Estimation and analysis of communication service time in a real-time wireless industrial network

Matteo Bertocco , Federico Tramarin, Claudio Narduzzi , and 2 more authors

In 2013 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC 2013) , May 2013
Characterization of a smart meter for microgrid applications under impaired conditions

Matteo Bertocco , Claudio Narduzzi , and Federico Tramarin

In 2013 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC 2013) , Sep 2013

2012

Performance of Industrial Communication Systems: Real Application Contexts

L. Seno , F. Tramarin, and S. Vitturi

IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine, Jun 2012
A system architecture for distributed monitoring and control in a Smart Microgrid

M. Bertocco , and F. Tramarin

In Environmental Energy and Structural Monitoring Systems (EESMS), 2012 IEEE Workshop on , Sep 2012
Tuning of IEEE 802.11 MAC for Improving Real-Time in Industrial Wireless Networks

L. Seno , S. Vitturi , and F. Tramarin

In 2012 IEEE 17th Conference on Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA) , Sep 2012
Estimation of the delay of network devices in hybrid wired/wireless real-time industrial communication systems

M. Bertocco , C. Narduzzi , and F. Tramarin

In Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC), 2012 IEEE International , May 2012

2011

A case for IEEE Std. 1451 in smart microgrid environments

M. Bertocco , G. Giorgi , C. Narduzzi , and 1 more author

In Smart Measurements for Future Grids (SMFG), 2011 IEEE International Conference on , Nov 2011
A cross-layer simulator for industrial wireless communication systems

M. Bertocco , and F. Tramarin

In Measurements and Networking Proceedings (M&N), 2011 IEEE International Workshop on , Oct 2011
A calibration method for planar inductors in EMC filters: Analysis and experimental validation

M. Bertocco , F. Tramarin, A. Sona , and 1 more author

In International Symposium on EMC, EMC Europe 2011 York , Sep 2011
Experimental evaluation of the service time for industrial hybrid (wired/wireless) networks under non-ideal environmental conditions

L. Seno , S. Vitturi , and F. Tramarin

In Emerging Technologies Factory Automation (ETFA), 2011 IEEE 16th Conference on , Sep 2011
Influence of real components behavior on the performance of wireless industrial communication systems

L. Seno , S. Vitturi , and F. Tramarin

In Industrial Electronics (ISIE), 2011 IEEE International Symposium on , Jun 2011

2010

Retransmission Strategies for Cyclic Polling Over Wireless Channels in the Presence of Interference

G. Gamba , F. Tramarin, and A. Willig

Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on, Aug 2010
An effective and low-cost measurement system for EMC pre-compliance testing of radiated emissions in the range 2-8 GHz

M. Bertocco , F. Tramarin, and A. Sona

In International Symposium on EMC, EMC Europe 2010, Wroclaw , Sep 2010
Design of experiments for the assessment of coexistence between wireless networks

M. Bertocco , A. Sona , and F. Tramarin

In Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC), 2010 IEEE , May 2010

2009

Retransmission strategies for cyclic polling over wireless channels in the presence of interference

G. Gamba , F. Tramarin, and A. Willig

In Emerging Technologies Factory Automation, 2009. ETFA 2009. IEEE Conference on , Sep 2009
Investigating WirelessHART coexistence issues through a specifically designed simulator

C.M. De Dominicis , P. Ferrari , A. Flammini , and 5 more authors

In Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, 2009. I2MTC ’09. IEEE , May 2009

2008

Investigating wireless networks coexistence issues through an interference aware simulator

M. Bertocco , G. Gamba , A. Sona , and 1 more author

In Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, 2008. ETFA 2008. IEEE International Conference on , Sep 2008