Ethernet for sensor networks? Why it makes sense today Active
(or smart) enclosure-less I/O blocks, supporting industrial
Ethernet, can be installed close to the sensors to eliminate
logistic complexities of running wire back to a central control
panel for each sensor and enable two-way communications among
the I/O block and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or
remote terminal units (RTUs). Sensors are like the “scouts” of
the manufacturing world; they collect vital information that
keeps a manufacturing plant running effectively, efficiently,
and with minimum waste, and they report it to the control
system, preferably in time to take corrective action when things
are trending awry. Today, thanks to Ethernet, sensors can
provide their input on the “superhighway” of the plant floor,
providing an effective two-way communication stream that can
improve efficiency and profitability. Sensors traditionally fed
their information through wires back to a central location where
the signals were decoded and acted up