Manufacturers are gaining more trust in wireless technologies, and in some situations, wireless devices are the only answer. As freelance writer Hank Hogan notes in Control Design's May issue, wireless sensors can streamline and speed up production. They can even improve worker safety, as GE Aviation explains.

But the situation isn’t perfect. Cost remains an issue for wireless sensors, and battery life is still an issue, too. System integration and spectrum conflicts also can be challenging, Hogan notes.

Do your machines use wireless sensors? What customers, markets and applications demand wireless technology the most? Read Hogan’s feature article, “Sensing Without Wires” to see if any of the applications mentioned there could apply to your technologies.