Distributed Automation

SCADA Solutions has teamed with communications innovator Landis+Gyr, a worldwide leader in electricity metering and energy management, to integrate advanced radio technologies into the wind industry.

Distributed automation solutions require several key elements, from the end devices to the host application, with a strong communication network in between. Inherent features of the communication network include real-time two-way communications, scalability, reliability with self-healing capabilities, and a high level of security while being cost-effective for today's deployments. Three critical technologies from Landis+Gyr allow SCADA Solutions to integrate and create its intelligent windfarm communications networks: an RF mesh architecture with peer-to-peer communication and network functionality; asynchronous spread spectrum frequency hopping for maximum use of bandwidth; and packet switching for automatic error checking, retries, and store-and-forward routing.

Landis+Gyr's full two-way wireless RF mesh communication network, currently used by more than 200 utilities worldwide for distribution automation and SCADA controls, is an integral piece of SSI's windfarm communications solutions. The distributed automation radios form the foundation of an RF mesh network and serve multiple functions. Each radio can communicate with end devices for data collection, monitoring, or control functions. This may involve transparent applications where data is merely passed through the network. Or it may involve programs running within the radios and/or other gateway devices to perform custom applications, increase network efficiency, or enhance network functionality. Additionally, each radio interacts with its neighboring radios to form a wide area network (WAN), into which it may initiate a packet, automatically route a packet between other radios, or accept a packet as the final destination.

SCADA Solutions' strategic partnership with Landis+Gyr allows the company to deliver the most advanced radio technologies available in the marketplace. Landis+Gyr has over 5,000 employees, including 600 full-time professionals dedicated to R&D and operations, in 30 countries across five continents. The partnership is committed to providing end-to-end, advanced communications solutions that will empower the next generation of smart grid wind farms.