Industrial IoT Edge Computing Frameworks
Real-time edge computing frameworks streamline connectivity, analysis, and control for Industrial IoT and Open Process Automation, utilizing a client-server architecture to prioritize time-critical tasks on real-time servers while reserving client PCs for non-urgent functions like maintenance and data analysis.
Real-time edge computing frameworks provide a flexible model-based solution for Industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Open Process Automation (OPA) connectivity, analysis, and control. An edge computing framework allows for plug-and-play data and signal connectivity between algorithms, equipment, data protocols, and humans.
Real-time edge computing naturally leverages a client-server architecture, where time-critical tasks and data transmissions are handled by one or more real-time servers, potentially as part of a distributed edge computing framework, and where client PC’s are used for non-time-critical functions, such as framework maintenance, data archive transfers, interactive analysis, etc.
The Framework
All data from the framework is made available through data dictionaries, and the framework operates in either real-time (real-time testing) or virtual, non-real-time clock-synchronized mode of execution (virtualized and parallelized testing). Frameworks are deployed to edge servers, providing connectivity with the physical world, and most importantly, providing functions that give a return on investment.
Frameworks are run using standard edge servers and PXIe industrial computers. Data (Ethernet, serial, etc.) and signal (analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output, specialized output waveform, specialized signal measurement, etc.) interfacing is handled using standard I/O cards supplied by popular commercial industrial computer equipment vendors.
Real-time frameworks are used to implement complex computing environments where industrial automation equipment, e.g. PLCs, specialized sensors and other equipment, humans, machine learning algorithms, control algorithms, and simulation are connected together to provide a specific function that provides a return-on-investment.
