Li-Fi Grathus® by Fraunhofer IPMS
Image credit to Fraunhofer HHI
By LiFi Tech News Team
Billed as a high-performance "Ethernet over Optical Wireless Communications (OWC)" link, Li-Fi Grathus® provides a transparent, interference-free solution that transmits standard Ethernet protocols over light. It promises to deliver the reliability of a physical cable with the flexibility of a wireless connection, without requiring a single change to existing network architectures.
The Invisible Ethernet Cable
Designed specifically for demanding, electrically noisy industrial environments, Li-Fi Grathus® operates as a completely transparent optical wireless link. This means the network treats the LiFi connection exactly as it would a standard copper or fibre cable.
Because it integrates seamlessly, Li-Fi Grathus® supports leading industrial fieldbuses right out of the box, including Profinet, EtherCAT, EtherCAT G, and SERCOS III. The bi-directional, full-duplex system uses light rather than radio frequencies, rendering it completely immune to EMI, a massive advantage in factories filled with heavy machinery, welders, and large motors.
But where the system truly shines is its speed and responsiveness. The optical system delivers data rates of 1 Gbps and beyond at distances up to 10 meters. More importantly for automation, it achieves ultra-low, deterministic latency of <<100 nanoseconds. To put that in perspective, that is approximately 1,000 times faster than the latency typically seen in 5G or Wi-Fi networks, ensuring the precise real-time communication required for robotics and mission-critical machine control.
Image credit to LiFi Tech News
Where Li-Fi Grathus® Excels
Because traditional RF wireless falls short in harsh environments, Li-Fi Grathus® is stepping in to enable seamless connectivity across several challenging sectors:
Industrial Automation: Provides the high-speed, ultra-low latency required for the real-time control of robots and automated assembly lines, completely unfazed by factory floor EMI.
Logistics & Material Handling: Eliminates the need for complex cable management on moving equipment like automated cranes, lifts, and storage units, enabling fast, interference-free control.
UAV and Drone Communication: Delivers secure, eye-safe, and un-jammable real-time transmission of control and video data between drones and ground stations for mission-critical surveillance and inspections.
Quantum Security (QKD): The system is positioned to act as a highly secure, classic data channel for upcoming Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) setups, leveraging the physical security of light.
Prototyping with the Evaluation Kit
To accelerate industrial deployment, Fraunhofer IPMS has released the Li-Fi Grathus® Evaluation Kit. Designed for point-to-point (P2P) setups, the plug-and-play kit directly replaces standard Ethernet cables.
It includes two robust devices with standard RJ45 connectors, power supplies, and CAT5 cables. Capable of maintaining 1 Gbps connections over distances up to 5 meters, the kit requires zero network configuration and features standard ¼” threading for fast, easy alignment and mounting in both lab and factory settings.
What This Means for the LiFi Industry
The introduction of Li-Fi Grathus® is a major indicator of where the Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) market is heading. Here is why this technology is a defining moment for the industry:
Shattering the 5G Latency Myth: While 5G is heavily marketed as the ultimate solution for Industry 4.0, its latency is still too high for certain high-speed robotic synchronization and motion control tasks. By achieving sub-100 nanosecond latency, LiFi is cementing its place as the superior technology for deterministic, real-time industrial automation.
True Plug-and-Play Validation: A major hurdle for LiFi adoption has been network integration. By designing Li-Fi Grathus® as a transparent Ethernet link that natively supports complex industrial protocols (like EtherCAT), the industry is proving that adopting light-based networking doesn't require ripping out or reconfiguring expensive legacy systems.
Owning the EMI Niche: As factories become denser with interconnected IoT devices, the RF spectrum (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) is becoming highly congested, and heavy machinery continues to cause RF dropouts. LiFi is successfully carving out a multi-billion-dollar niche as the de-facto standard for EMI-heavy environments.
Future-Proofing with Quantum Tech: Positioning a LiFi system as a data channel for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) elevates the technology from a simple "Wi-Fi alternative" to a foundational pillar of next-generation, ultra-secure communication architectures.
Image credit to Fraunhofer HHI
Image credit to Fraunhofer HHI
