SCADA and RFID Protocols
The SCADA is one of the IoT pillars to represent the whole industrial automation
arena. Industrial automation has a variety of vertical markets and there are also many
types of SCADAs.
IEEE created a standard specification, called Std C37.1™, for SCADA and
automation systems in 2007.
EEE Std. C37.1 SCADA architecture.
In recent years, network-based industrial automation, use of intelligent electronic
devices (IEDs), or IoT devices.
The processing is distributed, and functions that used to be done at the control center
can now be done by the IED, that is, M2M between devices.
Despite the fact that many functions can be moved to the IED, utilities still need a
master station, the IoT platform, for the operation of the power system.
Due to the restructuring of the electric industry, traditional vertically integrated
electric utilities are replaced by many entities such as GENCO (Generation
Company), TRANSCO (Transmission Company), DISCO (Distribution Company),
ISO (independent system operator), RTO (regional transmission organization).
To fulfill their role, each of these entities needs a control center, that is, a substation,
to receive and process data and take appropriate control actions.
IEEE Std. C37.1 SCADA architecture.
This specification addressed all levels of SCADA systems and covered the
technologies used and, most importantly, the architecture of how those technologies
interact and work together.
However, no XML data formats and componentized architecture details are
specified, which is perhaps why SCADA has long been regarded as a traditional
control system market.
People working in that area are often not aware of Internet-based IT innovations and
cannot relate their work to a new concept such as IoT.
RFID
The smart cards with contactless interfaces (RFID is a subset) are becoming
increasingly popular for payment and ticketing applications.
The RFID protocols and data formats are relatively well defined, mostly by
EPCglobal, and unified compared with protocols and formats of the other three pillars
of IoT.
The standard for contactless smart cards is ISO/IEC 15693, which allows communications at
distances up to 50 cm.
BACNet Protocol
Communications protocol for Building Automation and Control (BAC) networks
Provides mechanisms for computerized building automation devices to exchange
information
Designed to allow communication of building automation & control systems for
applications like:
o Heating, Ventilating, and Air-conditioning Control (HVAC)
o Lighting Control, Access Control
o Fire Detection Systems and their Associated Equipment
BACNet Protocol
🔹 BACNet Protocol defined by three types of characteristics:
☑ BACnet objects
☑ BACnet properties
☑ BACnet Services
1. BACnet objects:
➤ Logical representation of a physical entity.
➤ Represent many different aspects of a control system.
➤ Examples are:
A physical device (device objects)
A temperature input (analog input)
A relay control (binary output)
2. BACnet properties
Contains information about an object.
Every object in BACnet must have at least the following three properties:
o object_identifier
o object_name
o object_type
3. BACnet Services
Information exchange between.
Services are used to perform reads, writes, and I/O.
The object that provides the service is a server, and the object that requests the service is
the client.
Most objects can be both a server and a client, depending on the system's needs.
🔹 Some Important Services as:
Who-Is (Device and Object Discovery)
I-Am (Device and Object Discovery)
Who-Has (Device and Object Discovery)
I-Have (Device and Object Discovery)
Read-Property (Data Sharing)
Read-Property Multiple (Data Sharing)
Write-Property (Data Sharing)
Write-Property Multiple (Data Sharing)
Subscribe COV
Subscribe COV Property
Confirmed COV Notification
Unconfirmed COV Notification
BACnet networks
🔹 BACnet routers:
A BACnet router transmits BACnet messages between two BACnet networks.
The networks can be different (IP to MS/TP) or the same (IP to IP).
The router sends appropriate messages between the networks in both directions.
🔹 BACnet MS/TP:
Receive Token.
Initiate communication (up to the number of Max Info Frames) as needed.
Increment the node’s token count; if the token count equals the Token Count parameter (as
defined above), then initiate the polling for the master's sequence or pass the token to the
next node.
