Industrial Edge

Industrial Edge

Expands the industrial automation technology with openness and flexibility for simple and intuitive processing, analysis and saving of production data.

Provides an integrated and secure runtime environment for running high-level programming language-based Edge applications (on the basis of the Docker IT standard) for local and powerful data processing and analysis at the automation level.

As compared to conventional PC-based systems, Industrial Edge enables an integrated connection to automation and cloud systems without additional programming workload and offers the option to manage Edge devices and software worldwide with one central management system. This makes data processing solutions future-proof to the maximum possible extent and enables new possible applications such as centralized software administration and versioning, for example for global recipe management.

Industrial Edge comprises the following products:

• Industrial Edge devices with Industrial Edge Runtime for running Edge applications at the automation level
• Industrial Edge applications
• Industrial Edge Management for central management of Edge devices and applications
• Industrial Edge Hub as central entry point for Edge-related software downloads and additional information, such as user documentation.

• Increase in flexibility and openness of existing and new automation systems allows innovative data processing concepts
• Long-term security and scalability of innovative data processing software solutions across hundreds of devices based on open application standards such as Docker
• Time savings during development of high-level programming language-based software solutions in industrial environments thanks to:
  • Security by default – Manual security hardening of open PC systems is no longer necessary
  • Integrated connectivity to field or cloud – Manual programming and implementation of connectivity, such as OPC UA or SIMATIC S7, is no longer necessary
• Time savings and reduced workload thanks to convenient central administration and diagnostics of Edge devices and Edge applications
  • Reduction of on-site service costs due to the central remote updatability of software on Edge devices
  • Time savings and reduced workload for software updates with 1-click bulk app downloads
  • Reduction of error sources through the standardization of software (apps) using integrated version management
• Decreased dependency of cloud systems and enhanced data processing intelligence in the field through native integration of Edge applications in automation systems
  • Realization of soft real time and latency-critical applications for data processing through integration of Edge Runtime in automation systems
  • Reduction of additional hardware usage through native integration in control and visualization systems (SIMATIC) and network components (SCALANCE)
• Ready-made Edge applications make for a simple start in intelligent data processing and usage

Proprietary Edge applications or those developed by Siemens or third parties allow a wide variety of uses:

• Local production data processing and analysis based on high-level programming languages and artificial intelligence – can be used directly on the process without repercussions
• Local data collection, logging and archiving using object-oriented and relational databases for error localization with hitlists, directly at the process
• Production data harmonization and conversion of legacy protocols such as Modbus TCP to Industry 4.0 protocols such as OPC UA for data exchange with MES/IT systems
• IoT Gateway applications: Data transfer from automation systems to corporate IT/cloud infrastructure with local intelligence for data selection and processing
• Local production data visualization using web server, e.g. based on HTML5
• Coordinated intervention in automation systems (closed-loop) based on local, calculated analysis results, e.g. a 2D behavior simulation of machine components.

In principle, Industrial Edge is useful wherever multiple PC systems, preferably widely distributed, are used which today require more or less time-consuming manual maintenance and updating.

• Production and process automation
• Building automation
• Power engineering and distribution

More information is available on the internet at this link