Technology
EchoRingTM
Wireless is considered flexible but unreliable. EchoRing, on the other hand, is a wireless technology that matches the reliability and low latency of the cable it replaces—all while remaining maximally flexible.
Menu
Overview
EchoRing is R3 Solutions’ proprietary wireless technology, developed specifically for applications that require the highest reliability and low latency. It combines the flexibility of wireless communication with the reliability of wired systems.
This is made possible by a proprietary MAC-layer protocol with time-based synchronization. It achieves a wireless latency of up to 2 milliseconds with 99.999999 % availability. This makes EchoRing particularly well-suited for safety-critical industrial applications where a communication failure is not an option.
What used to be possible only via cable is now also possible via wireless.
Echo + Ring: The Name is the Principle
EchoRing is self-explanatory once you understand what the two parts of the name refer to:
The Ring stands for determinism: a strictly predictable temporal sequence in which the devices transmit.
The Echo stands for cooperation: devices step in for one another when a transmission fails.
Together, these two mechanisms define what EchoRing is all about—a wireless network that behaves like a wired one. The next two sections show how this works in detail.
Determinism—the Ring in EchoRing
Real-Time Control Through a Fixed Transmission Order
Standard wireless networks (using the CSMA/CA method) allow devices to transmit as soon as the channel appears to be free. This leads to unpredictable delays and data collisions. EchoRing works differently: according to the token ring principle.
Only the device that holds the token (a small control packet) is allowed to transmit. The token then moves on to the next station. This creates a fixed transmission order and prevents signal interruptions caused by other stations.
The key effect: Each station holds the token for only a fixed period of time (Token Holding Time, THT). This allows the maximum latency for the entire network to be calculated precisely in advance (Total Token Rotation Time, TTRT).
It is precisely this predictability that enables latencies of up to 2 milliseconds, making EchoRing real-time capable. If a token is lost, intelligent algorithms immediately restore it.
Cooperation—the Echo in EchoRing
Reliability Through Massive Cooperation
In an EchoRing network, all stations collaborate on an equal footing rather than functioning as centrally controlled subunits. This cooperation is the key to fault tolerance.
If a data packet does not reach its destination on the first attempt, the system does not simply wait for the sender to retransmit it. Instead, another station in the network—the *echo station*—immediately forwards the packet. Which station assumes this role is determined automatically by algorithms embedded in the token.
This echo principle is significantly more efficient than the conventional retransmission process used by other wireless protocols: Instead of resending a lost packet over the same faulty link, it immediately takes an alternative route.
This method enables a packet availability of 99.999999 %.
What this means in practice
EchoRing-based networks function like a “wireless industrial cable.” They form an ultra-reliable, ultra-low-latency (uRLLC) communication network. It is capable of meeting the demands of industrial control and safety tasks and frees operators from the structural and operational limitations of wired systems.
An important point to note: While EchoRing devices such as the Bridge E are based on standard Wi-Fi hardware, they are not Wi-Fi. The underlying protocol is entirely proprietary, and that is precisely what makes the difference in reliability and determinism.
Technical Specifications
| Parameters | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency Band | 5.8 GHz |
| Latency | < 2 ms |
| Availability | 99.999999 % |
| Bandwidth | Up to 14 Mbit/s |
| Range | Up to 200 m (line of sight) |
| Topology | Ring, multiple rings with backbone |
| Security | Traffic encryption, device authentication, password-protected configuration |
Additional Technologies
DECT NR+
DECT NR+ is the first 5G standard developed specifically for industrial IoT applications. Optimized for industrial real-time communication.
- License-free, exclusive frequency band worldwide (1.9 GHz)
- Range up to > 1 km
- Low power consumption
Industrial Wi-Fi
Industrial Wi-Fi extends proven Wi-Fi technology with industrial-grade reliability. Optimized performance and customizable features.
- Optimized for AGV/AMR communication
- High synchronizability possible (TSN)
- Broadband applications (e.g., video transmission)
Hybrid TSN
Hybrid wireless & wired TSN clock synchronization using standard NXP chips
- Combination of wired and wireless time synchronization
- Precise synchronization via the TAPRIO scheduler
- Determinism with maximum flexibility
Daniel Thiel
Wireless Solutions Expert
Talk to us about your project—today!
Leave your phone number or email address, and one of our specialists will contact you within 24 hours. We review every inquiry personally to connect you with the right expert from the start. Clear answers, quick responses, practical solutions.