The goal of sensor-to-cloud connectivity is to make sensor data available to information technology (IT) systems in near real-time, enabling advanced analytics. This is particularly appealing to managers of existing production facilities, as it offers the opportunity to increase efficiency, for example, through energy savings. Unlike new-build facilities, where connectivity can be incorporated from the initial design stage, existing industrial facilities (brownfield) require smart solutions that facilitate integration at both the operational technology (OT) and IT levels to reduce downtime and save costs.
“Working with IIC partners, TE has once again demonstrated its expertise in the field of smart solutions for the industrial data communications of the future,” says Ulrich Wallenhorst, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Business Strategy and Development at TE. “This testbed is an excellent demonstration of how our smart technology can be used to connect devices, sensors, and communication architectures that exist at different levels in existing industrial infrastructures, in order to ensure a smooth flow of information from the field to the cloud and enable data analytics.”.
The “Smart Manufacturing Connectivity for Brown-field Sensors Testbed” will:
• Introduce a retrofit hardware solution (the “Y-gate”) that leverages existing physical connectivity.
• Extract sensor data from the automation system without impacting operations.
• Deliver sensor data to the SAP IT platform via secure OT/IT communication based on OPC UA (IEC 62541).
• Define and implement a common device model based on an available open standard to enable easy integration of an IO-Link sensor with IT, allowing for remote sensor configuration.
“The IIC and its members are very interested in testbeds,” says Dr. Richard Soley, IIC’s Executive Director. “Our testbeds are where new technologies, applications, products, services, and processes—in other words, the innovation and opportunities of the Industrial Internet—can be launched, thoroughly considered, and rigorously tested to confirm their suitability and viability before they go to market.”.
