Industrial Internet of Things - IIoT

What is IoT?

IoT is Internet of Things!!! Inter-networking of Things. What are these things? Things are any devices which you can touch physically. OK! Let us understand in exact words. IoT is connecting your physical devices in the network and bring their information on your handhelds or computers in the easy to understand form.

Just to get a right feel, here is the simple example. We had always been driving vehicles with a hidden worry whether our vehicles' Tyre pressures are within limits or not. Because it's a threat if suddenly Tyre temperature shoots up or it gets punctured it may lead to accidents. What if we can be notified on our mobiles about this major change in Tyre pressure? That's IoT!!! Vehicle's Tyre act as Things i.e. Physical devices. And their parameters like temperature, pressure can be seen and notified on our mobiles. 

This world where the information about Things is read from sensors or controllers connected to physical things and data displayed and alerts notified on handheld devices, computers is IoT!

Is it this simple? May be Yes, may Not be yes. There are couple of more important elements involved. One is Protocols to communicate with sensors or controllers and another is Data storage on Intranet or Internet. Protocol is a set of rules which helps sensors communicate with software. The protocols needed can be single or can be combination of multiple. Data of Things read using these protocols needs to be stored somewhere and that's where Intranet or Internet data server is needed.

I hope you have understood basic meaning of IoT by now. Let us talk about IIoT now.

Industrial IoT

Industrial IoT is IoT for Industry. When we say Industry we refer to any manufacturing industry, packing industry, labeling industry, Material handling like warehouses or logistics industry and any industry which has some or the other physical device used in their plant or area. Physical devices can be material pallets, racks, weighing scales, various machines, valves, pumps, temperature transmitters and whichever useful device which gives you some or the other information. Analyzing the information, Preventive and Corrective Actions related to your own plant are very important aspects for management to have enhanced industry. IIoT plays an important role in achieving these value-additions.

 

When we say we need information about raw materials or finished goods entered in the plant, issued for use and dispatched from plant, it is IIoT. RM details like quantities, suppliers info, weighment, storage location, issuing info etc are needed to track the goods movement, consumption and outward supply. The physical Things like Gate system, Bar code / RFID system, Weighing Scales, Pallets, storage racks are to be monitored, controlled, tracked and analyzed. All this data if given in easy to access form on our mobile app, it is IIoT!

When we say we need to monitor all energy meters in the plant on a single user friendly, handy platform, it is IIoT!

When we say we need alarms or alerts of critical plant elements on your mobile handsets in the form of notifications, it is IIoT!

The examples are never ending. I hope by now it's pretty clear what is IIoT. Now, let us talk about technical elements of it.

Sensors or Controllers talking to Things, Software talking to sensors, Databases (either locally or on web or cloud) involved in storing data from this Software. And finally represent this data in the form Windows or Android or iOS Apps which shall have easy to understand and handy screens, dashboards, trends, reports, alerts etc. Beauty adding in is notifications for pre-alerts! These are probable integral elements of IIoT. 

Let us talk about each element.

Sensors are small instruments which senses the related parameters data from Physical Things and ready to transmit information based on various protocols to communicate. Sensors may or may not need controller or central device which shall be connected in network to various sensors in the plant.

For example, temperature sensor senses temperature of equipment (Physical Thing) and is enabled with Bluetooth or Ethernet protocol for communication. Another example can be weighing scales which have inbuilt sensors having Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.

Next is software talking to sensors! Various programming languages and software can be used to read and write data from and to sensors hardware. Raspberry Pi, Python etc. are commonly used to program controller to communicate with database.

Database for storing this data either continuously or condition based are located on local intranet server or web/cloud/internet server. These databases are secured and robust. The data logged contains timestamp to ensure the date and time of value logged of particular parameter.

Apps with GUI! The Applications (Apps) can be developed on various platforms like Windows, Android or iOS. Windows based Apps are useful for clients using PC based machines or Windows based laptop or tablet computers for viewing Information about Things. While Android/iOS Apps are installed on clients' handheld devices like Smart phones, Apple phones, Tablets. These Apps read and write data from and to database. Apps developed are interactive and aesthetically and professionally designed with advance features by Android Enterprise Solution. We can also integrate advanced graphics features within Android / iOS for easy access of data to clients as per business demand.

Alerts, Alarms, Notifications can be integral part of App to notify user about value exceeding or proceeding beyond expected thresholds. Dashboards giving MIS / KPI reports are part of such apps. The reports can be in the form of line charts (trends), bar graphs, pie charts, tabular and many more.

With implementation of IoT in Industry, Traditional Industries are now migrating to 4th Industrial Revolution to withstand in the Global Market Place.

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