IoT: Tech. companies merge for IoT solutions R&D

Feb 29, 2016

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Global Integrated Solutions provider, National Instrument, last week announced a partnership with the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and various other technology companies.

In a press statement, the US headquartered National Instrument (NI) said its partnership with the IIC, Bosch Rexroth, Cisco, Intel, KUKA, Schneider Electric and TTTech is aiming to advance the network infrastructure for future Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4,0 applications.

The collaboration allowed the development of a Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) testbed for displaying the value of new Ethernet IEEE 802 standards in an ecosystem of manufacturing applications.

IoT solutions’ integration

The TSN, which NI claims is the world’s first, will allow integration of multiple IoT solutions for the development of improved IIoT solutions giving designers and users enhanced access to smart edge devices.

Christian Schloegel, chief technology officer of the KUKA group said: “We view TSN, combined with OPC UA Publish/Subscribe, as a core element to implement Industry 4.0 standards.”

Bosch Rexroth also wrote: “Standardized and open communication is a key feature in development of control automation solutions.

“…the testbed is a very important contribution for further improvement of vendor interoperability and of exchanging data in an IIoT infrastructure.”

Dr. Richard Soley, executive director of the IIC added: “…testbeds are where the innovation and opportunities of the industrial Internet – new technologies, new applications, new products, new services and new processes – can be initiated, thought through and rigorously tested to ascertain their usefulness and viability before coming to market.”

The testbed will also be used to assess the security value of TSN and provide feedback on the ability to secure initial TSN functions as well as deliver integration points for smart real-time edge cloud control systems into IIoT infrastructure and application.

IoT smart electric grids

The development comes at a time when utilities and technology providers are rallying towards the utilization of IoT to improve their network reliability, efficiency through improved communications.

In mid February, Telefónica announced the expansion of its M2M solution portfolio for enhanced operations of German utility companies.

In a statement, Telefónica annonunced the development and launch of its upgraded WAN solution Smart Meter Connect and CommsHub device.

The telecoms company claims that Smart Meter Connect provides improved availability and accessibility for smart meter gateways.

Telefónica says the solution will positively help German utilities to acquire data from smart meters connected in basements.

The CommsHub will also allow smart meter communication with utilities via IoT.

Utilities can plug CommsHub into existing intelligent metering systems resulting in the Hub creating a direct connection to the mobile network for transmission of meter data to the utility.

Telefónica said the development comes after an “extensive survey has shown that a mere 75% of electricity and gas meters in the Federal Republic of Germany can be reached with even one of the existing mobile networks.”