A machine, the machine comprising: a system; a first component; a second component; at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C); wherein the system comprises: a network of a plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) distributed throughout the machine, at least one of the sensing devices located within the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C) and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals, wherein the sensing devices optionally operate as control and/or identification devices; shielding surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensing devices, the shielding configured to contain the electromagnetic signals in a shielded volume proximate to the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C); a communication path integrally formed in the first component to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the first component, wherein the communication path is located between the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C) and a remotely located, second sub-system component comprising one or more of the plurality of sensing devices; and a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) through the electromagnetic signals, wherein a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one of the plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) is integrally formed in the second component, characterized in that the first component and the second component are machine components providing functional and structural aspects of the machine. a system; a first component; a second component; at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C); wherein the system comprises: a network of a plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) distributed throughout the machine, at least one of the sensing devices located within the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C) and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals, wherein the sensing devices optionally operate as control and/or identification devices; shielding surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensing devices, the shielding configured to contain the electromagnetic signals in a shielded volume proximate to the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C); a communication path integrally formed in the first component to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the first component, wherein the communication path is located between the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C) and a remotely located, second sub-system component comprising one or more of the plurality of sensing devices; and a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) through the electromagnetic signals, wherein a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one of the plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) is integrally formed in the second component, characterized in that the first component and the second component are machine components providing functional and structural aspects of the machine. a network of a plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) distributed throughout the machine, at least one of the sensing devices located within the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C) and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals, wherein the sensing devices optionally operate as control and/or identification devices; shielding surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensing devices, the shielding configured to contain the electromagnetic signals in a shielded volume proximate to the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C); a communication path integrally formed in the first component to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the first component, wherein the communication path is located between the at least one first sub-system component (70A, 70B, 70C) and a remotely located, second sub-system component comprising one or more of the plurality of sensing devices; and a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) through the electromagnetic signals, wherein a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one of the plurality of sensing devices (68A, 68B) is integrally formed in the second component, characterized in that the first component and the second component are machine components providing functional and structural aspects of the machine.