Embedded devices are increasingly interconnecting with the enterprise and have become the least expensive method to implement. Leading experts say that cloud architecture in automation could become a long-lasting trend.
So what does this mean in the context of industrial automation?
Embedded systems are increasingly connecting to the networks of medium and large organizations, which is the most cost-effective way to implement better methods of delivering results faster than usual. In industrial automation, the usual targets for uptake of cloud computing are manufacturing execution systems (MES) and production planning systems (PPS). There is no requirement for other discrete servers in industrial setups, where very few machines or especially manufacturing processes can run more efficiently when the cloud is incorporated.
In industrial automation, the incorporation of cloud services is already beginning to change the way things work - for example, the architecture of IT structures is being affected, with a shift from fixed client-server architectures to distributed architectures with local and global intellects being constituted.
This also impacts machine-to-machine (M2M) communications when using embedded clouds. Intelligent data and location - these paradigms seem to be getting better with the introduction of the cloud.
Now, the common question that arises is the benefits. Why would manufacturers want to use cloud-based embedded systems in their assemblies and processes?
Experts predict that the future of cloud networking and embedded systems will intersect in the days ahead. Efficiency, mobility, business productivity and capabilities will increase significantly thanks to the cloud. Costs will be lower and quality standards will be higher, as the cloud will enable the entire mechanism to function as more than just a "box". An important shift is expected to be the jump from a siloed, embedded world to a new enterprise using the cloud. This will involve better decision making and will also be cost effective.
Cloud computing in MES and PPS is already a hardcore application in industrial automation. Every machine parameter needs to be properly considered, analyzed and then collected. This will help in taking critical decisions in the blink of an eye.
How will the entire development process change with the addition of cloud computing?
The entire development process remains the same, but the actual architecture changes. But there are a few key points to remember:
- In the strictest sense, today's data is not local. The quality of that particular data will have an impact on the entire process.
- Data must be available outside of static label mapping.
- Data security is critical to avoid process disruption.
- There needs to be a scale from discrete services to intelligent systems to allow workload consolidation
- Industrial automation is critical, so security is a primary concern for the smooth operation of the entire process.
So what should developers keep in mind when trying to integrate cloud services?
- Use of open communication systems and standards
- The need to eliminate complex architectures
- Critical to ensure that the architecture provides enough separation to scale into the cloud.