What is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)?

The term Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT for short) refers to the so-called Internet of Things in the industrial environment. The Internet of Things (IoT) is understood to mean Objects such as sensors, actuators or other physical objects which are networked with other systems and devices via the Internet..

Industrial Internet of Things applies this type of networking and connectivity in an industrial environment, which is why it is also often referred to as part of the Industry 4.0 is seen. Alongside machine-to-machine communication, cyber-physical systems and cognitive computing, the Industrial Internet of Things is seen as an integral part of Industry 4.0, which are also interconnected and interdependent.

How does the IIoT work?

Since IIoT describes a network that is used for systems and devices to communicate with it, at least the following components are necessary. On the one hand, the devices must be able to independently collect, store and communicate information. Secondly, the necessary network infrastructure must be available so that data can also be transmitted. Finally, applications are needed that can process the collected data in order to generate usable information that can ultimately be used for decision-making. The transmission of information between the device and the application or Data analytics for further processing usually works via gateways.

What is the benefit of the Industrial Internet of Things?

The use of the Industrial Internet of Things gives rise to some Advantages and opportunities in the industrial environment:

  • AutomationThrough technology and data processing, certain processes in production can be automated, flexibly designed and adapted at short notice. This can lead to increased efficiency of processes.
  • Failure forecast: With the help of Predictive Maintenance defects or malfunctions can be predicted and preventively remedied before they lead to damage or interruptions.
  • Customer satisfactionAnother benefit of the Industrial Internet of Things is the increase in customer satisfaction by collecting data on customer usage, which can be used in future product design.

In addition to the positive aspects, IIoT is also associated with some Disadvantages and challenges confronted:

  • EffortThe operation of the network and the devices leads, among other things, to a high effort in administration, as the devices must always be kept up to date with the latest software and security gaps must be closed immediately.
  • CybersecurityIn the area of security, it must be ensured that the transmitted data is secured against unauthorised access. In addition, it must also be prevented that IIoT devices can be taken over by unauthorised persons.
  • ProprietaryLack of uniform standards can lead to dependencies on certain manufacturers, as IIoT devices from different manufacturers are often not compatible with each other.

Which companies are the largest providers of IIoT solutions?

Some large companies have expanded their portfolio of offerings to include IIoT solutions. Examples include ABB Ability, Cisco IoT System or Siemens MindSphere.

What are examples of IIoT products or IIoT software solutions?

The basis for the operation of an IIoT solution is hardware such as Sensors, actuators, man-machine interfaces or other measuring instrumentswhich generate the necessary data. In addition, there must also be a wired or mobile network infrastructure that ensures the transmission of the data.

3. Edge computing approach the data is processed as close as possible to the source of origin, which means that the results of the processed data are available quickly. On the other hand, the data is processed Cloud computing approach stored centrally and processed there with great potential computing power, which also allows the use of computationally intensive tasks of the Machine Learnings enables. The Processing of data and the use of analytics or other Business Intelligence Solutions is another success factor in the field of the Industrial Internet Of Things.

What is the difference between IIoT and IoT?

While certain commonalities between IIoT and the Internet of Things (IoT) such as sensors, networked devices, connectivity or communication, there are also some distinguishing features. For example, the Focus on the Industrial Internet of Things in the precision and reliability of the devices in the industrial environmentwhereas IoT mainly in a private environment is used.

In addition, the Industrial Internet of Things interaction with humans tends to be the exceptionThe approach is designed to control and monitor production processes and systems, which sometimes have to function in adverse conditions without increasing the risk of failure.

Another noteworthy The difference is in the amount of data and the complexity of the data. With the Industrial Internet of Things, considerably higher and continuous amounts of data are collected, which are ultimately also processed.