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Connecting machines
and systems to the IoT
through the use of smart
components
Introduction
Control system solutions based
on industrial PCs are firm fixtures
in the design of machines and
systems, having demonstrated
operational reliability. Now that the
automation sector has merged with
the first generation of information
technology, the next step is for the
use of smart components to be
networked and connected to the
Internet of Things (IoT).
Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial
revolution, requires that machines,
devices, sensors, and people are
enabled devices that are able to
make independent decisions based
on the available environmental data.
In this way they become intelligent
components - or smart devices.
Rather than being considered at the
end of the machine development
process, these devices should
become the first module for a
machine designed for Industry 4.0.
From smart device
to a cyber physical
production system
A component such as a motor, when
used in conjunction with sensors
and a smart device can become a
cyber physical system (CPS). With
a machine with multiple motors,
these CPSs can communicate
Machine Preparation for Connection to the Industrial
Internet of Things (IoT)
EATON
able to communicate and share
data seamlessly, lowering the cost
of production and to give a clear
advantage in the competitive global
environment. Utilising cloud-based
services, production resources
and even entire production sites
can be networked together. In
automation technology, it is often
more efficient to develop modular,
distributed (or rather decentralised)
systems, presenting the opportunity
to reduce development effort,
perform upgrades easier and lower
maintenance costs.
To achieve this aim, it is necessary
for simple components such
as variable frequency drives,
protection, switching and push-
buttons to become communication-
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