The Industrial
Internet of Things
Create Intelligent Solutions
to Solve Real-World Problems
The Evolution of Manufacturing
Mechanization
Introduction of water and steam power into manufacturing processes
Mass Production
Assembly lines increase efficiency and productivity
Automation & Robotics
Computers help make processes safer and more efficient
Industry 4.0 / IIoT
Computers and machines communicate with each other to learn and control processes
What is Industry 4.0 and Industrial IoT?
Industry 4.0, Industrial IoT, and Industrial Internet are used interchangeably when talking about the new era of manufacturing.
A digital ecosystem of connected machines, equipment and devices that communicate with one another, this cyber physical system with machine-to-machine (M2M) communication monitors and evaluates the physical processes in a manufacturing facility to ultimately make decentralized decisions.
An evolution from Automation & Robotics, Industry 4.0 is the combination of computers and machine learning algorithms that gives equipment the ability to adjust and control processes based on data it collects. This is all done with very little human intervention.
The Clear Benefits of IoT
Solve Real Problems
From energy usage and preventative maintenance to supply chain management and personnel scheduling, the Internet of Things helps you monitor, analyze, and act on real-time data. Stop overspending on energy or worrying about having the right amount of personnel during peak production.
Reduce Costs
IoT is expected to help companies reduce overall costs by 3.6% annually (PWC).
Equipment and devices making scheduled and decentralized decisions using historical operational data help reduce energy and inventory waste and equipment downtime.
Improve Efficiency
Companies implementing an IoT solution expect to increase efficiency by 4.1% (PWC).
Using data analytics and machine learning, factories and manufacturing facilities are able to optimize production leading to increased output and efficiency.
Avoid Downtime
Downtime costs industrial manufacturers an estimated $50 billion annually. (Deloitte)
Preventative maintenance based on collected data will help reduce average downtime by 10-20% (Deloitte)
Implement the Internet of Things
Get Connected and Experience the Benefits
1. Get Connected
Connecting Doesn't Have to Be Hard...wired
Hardwiring IoT devices or equipment to the internet has its advantages: reliable connectivity, longer range, and sometimes faster speeds.
You have an overwhelming number of connectivity options when hardwiring isn't possible, portable devices or wireless connections are preferred. In wireless technology, the data communication is performed and delivered over the air via electromagnetic waves, e.g. radio frequencies, infrared, and satellite, rather than over cables and wires.
When choosing the right type of connectivity solution you should consider range, power consumption, and applications.
Wireless Technologies
Hover over each technology to get a quick description.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for wireless communications. Based on a radio system designed for short-range connectivity for portable personal devices, it defines an entire communication stack that allows devices to find each other and advertise their services.
Cellular
The advancement of mobile networks is enumerated by generations. Many users communicate across a single frequency band through mobile phones and cellular networks.
LoRa
LoRa is a wireless technology that has been developed to enable low data rate communications to be made over long distances by sensors and actuators for M2M and Internet of Things applications.
NFC
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a new, short-range wireless connectivity technology that evolved from a combination of existing contactless identification and interconnection technologies. It uses magnetic field induction to enable communication between electronic devices in close proximity.
RFID
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) can be defined as automatic identification technology which uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to identify objects carrying tags when they come close to a reader.
SigFox
SigFox provides a cellular style network operator that provides a tailor-made solution for low-throughput Internet of Things and M2M applications. It connects remote devices using Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) technology and operates in the unlicensed bands (ISM).
WiFi
Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology for wireless local area networking that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet and network connections based on the IEEE 802.11 standards.
ZigBee
ZigBee is a wireless networking standard that is aimed at remote control and sensor applications which is suitable for operation in harsh radio environments and in isolated locations.
2. Collect Data
Data Is Everywhere, So How Do We Capture It?
Edge devices allow us to capture data in order to make smarter decisions. These are the front-most devices of any IoT system.
They primarily work as either a sensing device to collect physical environment information, or as an actuator to control the outside world with an output. In some cases, edge devices perform a dual role, acting as both a sensing and actuating device to collect and control the physical environment.
Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Pressure, Gas, Light, Sound, RFID, NFC, Ultrasonics, Flow Meter, Fluid, Cameras, etc.
Actuators: Switch, Relays, PLCs, Motors, etc.
3. Organize, Transfer, & Store Your Data
All of the data that is captured from equipment and devices must be stored somewhere.
The data is securely transferred to a gateway using PLCs, which organize the data, and network switches, which connect equipment throughout the facility. One of a few available protocols are used for this transfer process: I/O Link, ModBus, Ethernet, SmartBUS, CAN (EU).
Gateways
An IoT gateway device bridges the communication gap between edge systems like IoT devices, sensors, equipment, systems, and the cloud. Gateways perform functions such as protocol translation, data processing/storage/filtering, and device security, as well as the ability to autonomously controlling field devices based on data input by sensors.
4. The Cloud
The Cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. It is a combination of middleware and software services offered to carry out complex computations, processing, and analytics, as well as to provide storage, database networking, and more over the Internet.
Sensors and devices collect data and perform actions, but the processing typically happens in the Cloud. Cloud for IoT is a set of fully-managed and integrated services that allow you to easily and securely connect, manage, and ingest IoT data from globally dispersed devices through a large scale process, analyze/visualize that data in real time, implement operational changes, and take actions as needed.
Types of cloud services:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Some of the popular IoT Cloud Platform solutions include Artik Cloud, Autodesk Fusion Connect, AWS IOT, GE Predix, Google Cloud IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT Suite, IBM Watson IoT, ThingWorx, Intel IoT Platform, Salesforce IoT Cloud, Telit DeviceWise, Zebra Zatar Cloud, macchina.io, ThingSpeak, and Particle Cloud.
5. Trigger a Reaction
With all of your data collected, transferred, and stored in the cloud, you can now use software to manipulate, analyze, and act on it.
Triggers can be as simple as sending alerts when thresholds are met or as complex as modifying main or sub-system instructions, tasks, or processes based on several points of data. The actions can be manual or automated processes that help improve efficiency and productivity or aid in avoiding downtime or equipment breakdowns.
The advantage of IoT is the real-time data analysis and reactions that can be triggered with little to no human input. Automated systems using machine learning algorithms allow equipment to make decentralized decisions that help you save money, time, and resources.
With the Cloud you can even remotely access and control your equipment and devices as issues occur. This is especially helpful in situations where equipment is in different locations or when the equipment cannot be safely accessed by personnel.
Cut Downtime with Predictive Maintenance
Downtime costs industrial manufacturers an estimated $50 billion annually.
An IoT solution can help cut downtime by up to 20%, saving companies millions of dollars and keeping production on schedule.
Monitoring equipment components has never been easier. Sensors and other edge devices monitor individual and hard-to-reach components on pieces of equipment, collecting and sending data to a central system in the Cloud. This continuous monitoring eliminates the need to periodically shut down equipment for planned maintenance.
Instead, predictive maintenance is the most effective and efficient method for diagnosing equipment problems. A customized software program with machine learning algorithms can analyze collected data and determine performance trends. These trends are then used to predict oncoming component or system failures in real-time.
Technicians and engineers can receive alerts about problems on mobile or wearable devices along with the equipment’s troubleshooting and repair information. This portable maintenance strategy helps identify and fix issues quicker and easier avoiding costly breakdowns and unplanned maintenance
Providing the right data at the right time with accurate information and support is the key to predicting and preventing equipment failures. An Industrial IoT solution is the answer to cutting downtime.
Build a Complete Industrial IoT System
Output Devices
Communication
Interconnect
