6G wireless communications for industrial automation: Scenarios, requirements and challenges

Industrial automation is an essential part of modern industries, including manufacturing and utilities, driven by the need to enhance productivity, precision and efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in industrial automation, focusing on the role of 6G wireless communication as a key enabler. We explore various categorizations and reference use cases within industrial automation and show how 6G technology can meet the evolving needs of these environments. The functional, service and nonfunctional system requirements needed to support these advanced automation scenarios are also outlined. A critical analysis of the challenges associated with the application of 6G technology in industry is presented, highlighting technical, operational and implementation barriers. At the end of the paper, we also discuss the key lessons learned from the efforts to date and suggest future directions for research and development to address the aforementioned challenges. By addressing various complex issues, this paper aims to provide a clear path for the integration of next-generation communication technologies into industrial automation systems