5G and beyond Communication Networks in Industry 4.0

Dear Colleagues,

Industry 4.0 is a new revolutionized approach for enabling interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data in the industrial ecosystem. In this context, various technologies are expected to be integrated into smart factories, including augmented reality, robots, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and big data. The impact of fifth generation (5G) and 5G beyond (5Gb) communication networks in the realization of the industry 4.0 is unique, since it is the only way towards enabling the new operating model in which connectivity for anything is required. More specifically, building upon the cornerstones of the 5G networks, i.e., increased speed, reduced latency, a massive number of devices, and high reliability, ambitious targets such as 0.1 ms minimum latency at 10-9 reliability for a massive number of devices can be achieved. This ambiguous landscape regarding 5Gb applications in Industry 4.0 has motivated the present Special Issue, whose aim is to introduce the current research activities in this area. Authors are invited to submit high quality papers on topics that include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
• Cloud/digital manufacturing and edge computing
• Machine learning and big data solutions for wireless communications in industry and manufacturing
• Time-sensitive communication solutions
• Hierachical communication and data management
• Physical layer security
• Authentication and access control
• Propagation in harsh environments
• RF energy harvesting techniques and applications
• Wireless networked control systems
• Protocols for industrial automation platforms

Dr. Petros Bithas
Prof. Dr. Demosthenes D. Vouyioukas
Guest Editors

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