We will examine the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) in this introductory guide. We’ll explain what IIoT is, what impact it will have on industrial technology, and the advantages and challenges behind this new technological revolution.
What is the Internet of Things?
Many people have heard of the Internet of Things (IoT), but what does it really mean? In short, IoT is a broad term that refers to all devices connected to the Internet other than the familiar personal computers, laptops, phones and tablets. It was originally used to describe digitally connected devices and products in the consumer sector.
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What is IIoT?
So, what is the Industrial Internet of Things? Simply put, the IIoT takes the concept of networked devices that connect to the Internet to share data locally or remotely in factories, industrial processes, and industrial buildings. Sensors collect information that is integrated into the local network through gateways and then through edge controllers to the Internet or the cloud – data servers in large data centres.
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IIoT and IoT
The biggest difference between IoT and IIoT is their application. Instead of wearable fitness trackers and voice controls, the Industrial IoT is centered on real-time collection and analysis of granular data from connected sensors, rapidly increasing efficiency and productivity, instant inventory control and massive cost savings.
Sometimes, the direct, automatic control of a device through a computer is called an information physical system.
The industrial IoT is based on an established approach to computer-controlled production: “distributed control systems.” These control functions are distributed across the network and multiple autonomous devices are interconnected, each of which can adjust and optimize its own production line without the need for a central control system and associated single point of failure risk. IIoT leverages modern cloud technology to share, visualize, and analyze data in near real time.
The Industrial Internet of Things has developed into a field with huge potential in just a few short decades. Today, more than 60% of manufacturers globally are leveraging IIoT technology for optimization and analytics, and manufacturers are expected to spend $70 billion on IIoT solutions by 2020.
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What’s the difference between Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things?
Many of you may have heard of another term related to IoT: Industry 4.0. Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. This is because IoT and IIoT are actually subsets of Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 is a broader concept that revolves around accelerating the use of all advanced automation technologies and the benefits they bring in industrial and intelligent manufacturing, including:
Machine to machine (M2M) communication
Deployment of automatic control system
Seamless cloud computing
Artificial intelligence and related “cognitive” technologies such as image recognition