Li-Fi solutions for wireless real-time communication in industrial automation

In networked production, robots, sensors, controllers and machines continuously exchange data, increasing the demands on speed, availability and response times. This creates trade-offs: cables offer high reliability but reduce the flexibility of moving systems, while radio communication enables mobility but can be affected by electromagnetic interference, metal-rich environments or high device densities. At SPS – Smart Production Solutions 2026, Fraunhofer IPMS is showing how Li-Fi, wireless data transmission using light, enables reliable communication in industrial automation and, depending on the solution, also supports time-critical applications.

Data transmission via light
Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) uses light as the transmission medium, enabling wireless data communication without conventional radio transmission. A suitable optical connection between transmitter and receiver is required. Fraunhofer IPMS has been developing optical wireless communication solutions for more than 15 years. Depending on their design, these offer Gbit/s data rates for data-intensive applications, compact and energy-efficient links for applications with limited space and power budgets, and real-time capability with support for industrial protocols such as EtherCAT and PROFINET. Integration takes place via interfaces such as Ethernet or UART/SPI, depending on the solution. As transmission follows a defined line-of-sight connection, it can be spatially confined and is unaffected by radio interference and electromagnetic influences. “In industrial applications, it is not just wireless data transmission that matters, but above all its availability, speed, and predictability. These requirements determine whether flexible production concepts work reliably,” explains Dr. René Kirrbach, Li-Fi group manager at Fraunhofer IPMS.

Exhibits at SPS 2026
At the show, the institute is presenting selected solutions from its Li-Fi portfolio. Li-Fi Grathus^® provides Gbit/s optical data transmission over distances of up to 10 m and supports time-critical applications. Li-Fi TinySpot is an energy- and space-saving solution for short-range optical data transmission at data rates of up to 20 Mbit/s. Li-Fi Power over Light (PoL) enables simultaneous data and power transmission for autonomous sensor nodes, while the Li-Fi GigaCoupler, a light-based optocoupler, provides Gbit/s data transmission with galvanic isolation, for example on printed circuit boards. The demonstrators illustrate the institute’s development expertise, from optical components and integrated circuits to communication design and custom system development. With different transmission distances, form factors and data rates, the solutions address communication scenarios in machinery and plant engineering, robotics and sensor applications.

Show information
Fraunhofer IPMS will present its solutions at SPS in Nuremberg from November 24 to 26, 2026, at the joint booth Automation meets IT in Hall 6, Booth 350D. Appointments with the experts can be arranged in advance via the Fraunhofer IPMS website.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.ipms.fraunhofer.de