This book focuses on core functionalities for wireless real-time multi-hop networking with TDMA (time-division multiple access) and their integration into a flexible, versatile, fully operational, self-contained communication system. The use of wireless real-time communication technologies for the flexible networking of sensors, actuators, and controllers is a crucial building block for future production and control systems. WirelessHART and ISA 100.11a, two technologies that have been developed predominantly for industrial use, are currently available. However, a closer analysis of these approaches reveals certain deficits. Current research on wireless real-time communication systems shows potential to remove these limitations, resulting in flexible, versatile, and robust solutions that can be implemented on today's low-cost and resource-constrained hardware platforms.

1. Introduction.- 2. Tick and Time Synchronization.- 3. Global Time Slotting.- 4. Automatic Toplogy Detection.- 5. Medium Access Schemes.- 6. Deterministic Arbitration.- 7. Duty Cycling.- 8. Quality-of-Service Multicast Routing with Mobility Support. 9. Network Clustering.- 10. Middleware for Networked Production and Control Systems.- 11. Implementation Aspects of ProNet 4.0.- 12. ProNet 4.0 Case Studies.- 13. Conclusions and Future Research.