Packet Radio and the Factory of the Future

Spread-spectrum packet radio networks are currently being considered for use in the factory of the future. These networks have the resistance to fading and the inherent multiple access capability that are necessary to interconnect the Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and other mobile machines and personnel that will be used in the future factory. This paper reports on progress in the design and analysis of spread-spectrum packet radio networks for the factory. This progress includes the accurate analysis of the probability of packet success in a direct sequence spread spectrum communication channel and analytical results on the transient behavior of packet radio networks. The first use of these networks will be to provide communications between a transport system controller and a fleet of AGVs.