Terahertz networks for future Industrial Internet of Things

Wireless technology is expected to become a fundamental enabler to improve the efficiency, safety, and revenues of advanced manufacturing processes, as well as to realize new paradigms such as digital twins. The extremely challenging industrial scenario requires some technological shifts such as the adoption of the so far unexplored THz band. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of THz networks applied to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). First, the main requirements of future industrial THz-based networks, challenges, and state-of-the-art are described. Subsequently, the key enabling technologies are introduced and discussed. Finally, we present some research directions for THz-based industrial networks.