Electricity + Control March 2019

INDUSTRY 4.0 + INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS (IIOT)

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Edge computing – defined as computing infrastructure that exists close to the source of data – performs hosting, storage, computing and analysis and pushes aggregate data to a centralised plant for use in a meaningful way. This article by Dave Laurello CEO of Stratus Technologies, a Rockwell Automation Encompass Partner, takes a closer look at factors that are pulling edge computing into the mainstream. Edge computing: the next wave of data centre modernisation

Take Note! Edge computing is emerg- ing as a better alternative to the cloud in some busi- ness-critical applications that demand real-time data. Edge computing can pro- cess data from IoT sen- sors on the factory floor, enabling manufacturers to make faster, better informed decisions.

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C onsolidation and the centralised nature of cloud computing has proven cost-effective and flexible, but the rise of the IIoT and mobile computing has put a strain on networking bandwidth. Ultimately, not all smart devices need to use cloud computing to operate. In some cases, architects can – and should – avoid the back and forth. Edge computing could prove more efficient in some areas where cloud computing operates. Analysts estimate that by 2020 more than 5.6 billion IoT devices owned and operated in enter- prise and government environments will utilise edge computing for data collection. This represents significant growth over 1.6 billion devices in 2017. [1] The reason edge computing is emerging as the better alternative in IoT environments is that while most information will be uploaded and processed via the cloud, some business-critical applications will demand real-time data. This requires the use of a physical or virtual computing infrastructure on the edge of the network to minimise the bandwidth needed to access data that is centrally stored. What is edge computing? Just as IoT is becoming more mainstream, more industries are using the technology to leverage re- al-time data to drive better decisions. The impact of IoT is well documented in industries such as retail and healthcare. But today what was once an emerging technology is now helping to revo- lutionise industries in need of innovation, such as manufacturing, transportation, energy, food and

beverage, and waste management. Edge computing permits data processing clos- er to where it's created (i.e., motors, pumps, generators or other sensors), reducing the need to transfer that data back and forth between the cloud. As an example, many manufacturing com- panies are collecting data on the shop floor via IoT sensors and analysing it to drive predictive maintenance and optimise machine performance. Every IoT device collects data for processing and analysis. Edge computing can process the data instantly and arm manufacturers with the informa- tion to make faster, more informed decisions that optimise the supply chain, streamline production, and reduce costs. There’s no distinct hardware definition of indus- trial edge computing; it’s in the eye of the beholder as to how much compute power or data response may be required in a given application or across a specific production process. Dedicated servers with virtualisation can host apps with significant footprints, store related production data, commu- nicate to the cloud, and perform on-board analytics in the footprint of an appliance, server or PC in a PLC rack. Industrial firms must agree internally on stand- ards of functionality required for various process- es and then on the appropriate hardware and ven- dor(s) to fulfill the need. When referring to edge, it will almost always be on-premise or at-asset to avoid over-generalising the IT infrastructure at the plant level.

26 Electricity + Control

MARCH 2019