The industrial internet of things (IIoT) is the use of smart sensors and actuators to enhance manufacturing and industrial processes. Also known as the industrial internet or Industry 4.0, IIoT uses the power of smart machines and real-time analytics to take advantage of the data that “dumb machines” have produced in industrial settings for years. The driving philosophy behind IIoT is that smart machines are not only better than humans at capturing and analyzing data in real time, but they’re also better at communicating important information that can be used to drive business decisions faster and more accurately.
Connected sensors and actuators enable companies to pick up on inefficiencies and problems sooner and save time and money, while supporting business intelligence efforts. In manufacturing, specifically, IIoT holds great potential for quality control, sustainable and green practices, supply chain traceability, and overall supply chain efficiency. In an industrial setting, IIoT is key to processes such as Predictive maintenance (PdM), enhanced field service, energy management and asset tracking.
How does IIoT work?
IIoT is a network of intelligent devices connected to form systems that monitor, collect, exchange and analyze data. Each industrial IoT ecosystem consists of:
- connected devices that can sense, communicate and store information about themselves;
- public and/or private data communications infrastructure;
- analytics and applications that generate business information from raw data;
- storage for the data that is generated by the IIoT devices; and
- people.
These edge devices and intelligent assets transmit information directly to the data communications infrastructure, where it’s converted into actionable information on how a certain piece of machinery is operating. This information can be used for predictive maintenance, as well as to optimize business processes.
Who coined the term Industrial Internet?
GE coined the term Industrial Internet in late 2012. Leveraging the promise of the Industrial Internet, or IIoT, GE has been driving its own digital industrial transformation.
And, based on its experience and deep technology and industry expertise, GE is helping customers accelerate their digital transformation journeys with GE Digital’s portfolio of industrial software applications that help them to solve their toughest challenges by putting industrial data to work.
With the industrial world primed for digitization, GE Digital is leveraging the power of the IIoT with software that transforms data into action by collaborating with customers, jumping into uncertainty, and applying rapid experimentation with speed and scale.
In building a world that works, we are using targeted Industrial AI technologies to transform industrial assets and systems so that they become more predictive, prescriptive, safer, intelligent and more profitable. This includes using Digital Twins, learning, living models that combine domain knowledge and physics with Industrial AI to detect, prevent, and predict critical issues in order to uncover insights that drive business value. And, the remote capabilities enabled by the Industrial Internet help critical industries manage assets, design functional systems and collect data from anywhere in the world.
Is IIoT secure?
Early on, manufacturers created IoT devices with little regard for security, resulting in a perception that IoT devices are inherently insecure. Given the similarities between IoT and IIoT devices, it’s worth considering whether it’s safe to use IIoT devices.
As with any other connected device, IIoT devices must be evaluated on a device-by-device basis. It’s entirely possible that one manufacturer’s device is secure while another isn’t. Even so, security is a bigger priority among device manufacturers than ever before.
In 2014, several technology companies including AT&T, Cisco, General Electric, IBM and Intel came together to form the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC). Although this group’s primary objective is to accelerate the adoption of IIoT and related technologies, it’s making security a priority, even going so far as to form a security working group. The IIC’s other working groups include Technology, Liaison, Marketing, Industry and Digital Transformation.
What are the risks and challenges of IIoT?
The biggest risks associated with IIoT use pertain to security. It’s relatively common for IIoT devices to continue using default passwords, even after they have been placed into production. Similarly, many IIoT devices transmit data as clear text. These conditions would make it relatively easy for an attacker to intercept the data coming from an IIoT device. Similarly, an attacker could take over an insecure IIoT device and use it as a platform for launching an attack against other network resources.
Security is a big challenge for those who are responsible for an organization’s IIoT devices, but so, too, is device management. As an organization adopts more and more IIoT devices, it will become increasingly important to adopt an effective device management strategy. More specifically, organizations must be able to positively identify IIoT devices to prevent the use of rogue devices. Establishing a means of identifying each individual device is also crucial for tasks such as replacing a failed device or performing a device refresh.
Patch management presents another big challenge regarding IIoT devices. It’s becoming increasingly common for device manufacturers to issue periodic firmware updates. Organizations must have an efficient means of checking devices to see if they have the latest firmware installed and deploying new firmware if necessary. Additionally, such a tool must adhere to the organization’s established maintenance schedule so as to not disrupt operations.
What is the difference between IoT and IIoT?
Although IoT and IIoT have many technologies in common, including cloud platforms, sensors, connectivity, machine-to-machine communications and data analytics, they are used for different purposes.
IoT applications connect devices across multiple verticals, including agriculture, healthcare, enterprise, consumer and utilities, as well as government and cities. IoT devices include smart appliances, fitness bands and other applications that generally don’t create emergency situations if something goes amiss.
IIoT applications, on the other hand, connect machines and devices in such industries as oil and gas, utilities and manufacturing. System failures and downtime in IIoT deployments can result in high-risk situations, or even life-threatening ones. IIoT applications are also more concerned with improving efficiency and improving health or safety, versus the user-centric nature of IoT applications.
What are IIoT applications and examples?
In a real-world IIoT deployment of smart robotics, ABB, a power and robotics firm, uses connected sensors to monitor the maintenance needs of its robots to prompt repairs before parts break.
Likewise, commercial jetliner maker Airbus has launched what it calls the factory of the future, a digital manufacturing initiative to streamline operations and boost production. Airbus has integrated sensors into machines and tools on the shop floor and outfitted employees with wearable tech -e.g., industrial smart glasses-aimed at cutting down on errors and enhancing workplace safety.
What is the future of IIoT?
The future of IIoT is tightly coupled with a trend known as Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is, essentially, the fourth Industrial Revolution.
Industry 1.0 was the first Industrial Revolution and occurred in the late 1700s as companies began to use water-powered or steam-powered machines in manufacturing. Industry 2.0 started at the beginning of the 20th century and was brought about by the introduction of electricity and assembly lines. Industry 3.0 occurred in the latter part of the 20th century and was tied to the use of computers in the manufacturing process.
Industry 4.0 is where we are today. Industry 4.0 is based on the use of connected electronic devices-particularly, IIoT devices.
Going forward, IIoT devices will play a major role in digital transformations, especially as organizations attempt to digitize their production lines and supply chains. Additionally, big data analytics will evolve to incorporate IIoT data. This will make it possible for organizations to detect changing conditions in real time and respond accordingly.
Although IIoT devices have been around for several years, real-world adoption is still in its infancy. This is sure to change as 5G becomes increasingly prevalent and more and more organizations begin to realize what IIoT can do for them. There are a number of resources available online for organisations that want to get up to speed on IoT and IIoT.
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