Robust factory wireless communications: a performance appraisal of the Bluetooth™ and the ZigBee™ colocated on an industrial floor

The Bluetooth™ and the ZigBee™ are state-of- the-art short-range wireless systems advocated for factory communications. But the associated radio-frequency (RF) links when placed in operation on an industrial floor face harsh electromagnetic ambient as well as are subjected to mutual interference from systems that are colocated in the same premises and operated at the same frequency band. For example, the prescribed RF spectrum for the Bluetooth™ and the ZigBee™ is the ISM-band centered at 2.4 GHz. Despite of distinct modulations used, there is a possibility of mutual interference when these systems are operated in the same factory locale. The present study addresses methods of evaluating the performance of such systems when deployed for factory communications. Simulation results are presented and mitigations against interference so as to realize robust RF links are indicated.