WLAN mesh-enabled access point for hazardous environment duty

Motorola’s latest member of its outdoor access point (AP) product family, the Haz-location (Haz-Loc) certified AP-5181, is designed to extend the wireless enterprise into the harshest work environments.

The increasing adoption of WLAN technology and mobile computing in hazardous areas not only leads to improved business processes, but also can be utilized to provide enhancements that keep workers safe.

Petro-chemical and oil and gas, operations can deploy AP-5181 APs easily without requiring extra cabling by utilizing mesh. Mesh technology enhances the flexibility on AP placement and lowers the cost for providing network access. The addition of these new AP-5181's in a customer's control network — the main network used to control plant equipment/machinery — enables more sensors and metering devices to be supported that provide critical information such as temperature, humidity and pressure readouts resulting in significant cost savings.

The deployment of AP-5181 APs also extends the IT network outdoors in hard-to-wire environments. The benefit is mobile operator applications that were previously completed in the plant office such as filing field inspections, issuing repair work orders and checking maintenance records and parts inventories can now be done out in the field. In addition, safety applications such as Wi-Fi based video surveillance and personnel location (man-down, mustering) can now be easily and cost effectively deployed in all plant areas including hazardous locations.

"Wireless is the preferred networking choice in many of these harsh environments not only because of its mobility and lower cost benefits, but also for the simple fact that some of these settings have restrictions or special conduit requirements for laying Ethernet cables," said Sujai Hajela, vice president and general manager of Enterprise WLAN, Motorola Enterprise Mobility business.

The Motorola AP-5181 is Haz-Loc certified Class1Div2 (C1D2) and ATEX Zone 2 compliant. C1D2 is required for hazardous operation in North America and ATEX Zone 2 is required within the European Union.

Motorola's AP-5181 AP has been engineered for flexibility and ease-of-use for wireless enterprise deployments. Its adaptive architecture enables it to operate as a stand-alone AP or as a switch managed access point for centralized management.

The AP-5181 also provides state-of-the art security with support for Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) and WPA2. Additionally, Motorola's AP-5181 enables its wireless intrusion protection system (WIPS) to monitor, detect, protect and help prevent intrusions to the wireless network.

"Motorola's hardened AP-5181's mesh technology offers Invensys Process Systems and our clients the convenience to place wireless access points in the toughest work environments without the need for additional wires," said Cory Welch, global practice director, Enterprise Architecture and Integration, Invensys Process Systems.

For more information visit: www.motorola.com