IIoT
What is it?
The Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, brings the benefits of IoT to industries such as automotive, energy, and manufacturing. By installing sensors to collect data and by using computers to work with the data, much of the production process can be automated or otherwise improved. This will lead to increased production and reduced waste. A lot of technological innovations, such as 5G communications, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, deep learning, and edge computing, will really come into their own once the IIoT has been successfully implemented in factories and on assembly lines.
Why do you need it?
Just like how an intelligent transportation system (ITS) makes driving safer and faster because vehicles are connected over the V2V network and the V2X network, the harvesting of resources and the manufacturing of goods can be improved by connecting everything over the IIoT. Here are a few examples:
Agriculture: On a large farm or ranch, sensors can be installed in the fields, the irrigation systems, or even the livestock to keep farmers apprised of weather changes, soil conditions, crop health, and herd location. A sector that is notoriously susceptible to environmental factors can be made more reliably profitable by implementing IIoT solutions.
Energy: Like on a farm, field work in the energy sector can be spread out over a vast area, such as an oil field or oil rig. Installing sensors and computers can aid in the detection of dangerous leaks and the scheduling of preventative maintenance. A smart power grid is another example of IIoT at work in the energy sector. It uses smart meters, distribution boards, and other tools to optimize energy use and reduce waste, which is especially important as more and more renewable energy is injected into the grid.
Manufacturing: In the era of Industry 4.0 and industrial automation, the IIoT has a major role to play in the smart factories of tomorrow. Not only can sensors and computers be installed on the assembly line to accelerate sorting, automate production, conduct quality checks, and protect worker safety, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can also help with material transportation and inventory management. "Lights-out" factories already exist in which everything is automated and every piece of equipment works together like a well-oiled machine—all thanks to the IIoT.
Agriculture: On a large farm or ranch, sensors can be installed in the fields, the irrigation systems, or even the livestock to keep farmers apprised of weather changes, soil conditions, crop health, and herd location. A sector that is notoriously susceptible to environmental factors can be made more reliably profitable by implementing IIoT solutions.
Energy: Like on a farm, field work in the energy sector can be spread out over a vast area, such as an oil field or oil rig. Installing sensors and computers can aid in the detection of dangerous leaks and the scheduling of preventative maintenance. A smart power grid is another example of IIoT at work in the energy sector. It uses smart meters, distribution boards, and other tools to optimize energy use and reduce waste, which is especially important as more and more renewable energy is injected into the grid.
Manufacturing: In the era of Industry 4.0 and industrial automation, the IIoT has a major role to play in the smart factories of tomorrow. Not only can sensors and computers be installed on the assembly line to accelerate sorting, automate production, conduct quality checks, and protect worker safety, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can also help with material transportation and inventory management. "Lights-out" factories already exist in which everything is automated and every piece of equipment works together like a well-oiled machine—all thanks to the IIoT.
How is GIGABYTE helpful?
GIGABYTE Technology's solutions for the IIoT can be separated into three categories: servers, embedded solutions, and e-mobility solutions covering Telematics Control Units (TCUs) and Automated-Driving Control Units (ADCUs).
Servers: As with just about everything in the digital age, the IIoT is connected to servers in data centers or server rooms that shoulder some of the more difficult computing tasks. However, there are also examples where the server is deployed on the factory floor. A North American logistics giant installed a bespoke GIGABYTE server under the conveyor belts in its distribution center to use computer vision and AI to accelerate the sorting process. The server was outfitted with a customized rugged shell to protect it against statically-charged dust. GIGABYTE's E-Series Edge Servers and W-Series Workstations are also a good choice for server solutions that are brought to the front line of smart manufacturing.
Embedded solutions: GIGABYTE and its subsidiary GIGAIPC offer embedded motherboards and IoT gateway devices that may be used for industrial automation, smart agriculture, access control, security systems, and more. The embedded motherboards come in form factors ranging from mini-ITX to 3.5" Single Board Computer (SBC), and they can operate in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +85°C. The embedded IoT gateway systems specialize in fan-less designs that consume less power, various I/O interfaces to fulfill the needs of the IIoT, and even advanced features such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), which can transmit both data and power through a single Ethernet cable.
E-Mobility solutions: GIGABYTE provides the In Vehicle Telematics Controller and IIOT Gateway, also known as the In-Vehicle Telematics Control Unit (TCU); the Telematics Module, an SBC; and the Autonomous-Driving Control Units (ADCUs), which is an AI-enhanced Mobile Edge Computing Platform. These devices can be used as part of a fleet management system (FMS). They may also be used as part of an AMR or AGV solution inside a smart factory, or on automated farming and mining equipment in the field.
Servers: As with just about everything in the digital age, the IIoT is connected to servers in data centers or server rooms that shoulder some of the more difficult computing tasks. However, there are also examples where the server is deployed on the factory floor. A North American logistics giant installed a bespoke GIGABYTE server under the conveyor belts in its distribution center to use computer vision and AI to accelerate the sorting process. The server was outfitted with a customized rugged shell to protect it against statically-charged dust. GIGABYTE's E-Series Edge Servers and W-Series Workstations are also a good choice for server solutions that are brought to the front line of smart manufacturing.
Embedded solutions: GIGABYTE and its subsidiary GIGAIPC offer embedded motherboards and IoT gateway devices that may be used for industrial automation, smart agriculture, access control, security systems, and more. The embedded motherboards come in form factors ranging from mini-ITX to 3.5" Single Board Computer (SBC), and they can operate in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +85°C. The embedded IoT gateway systems specialize in fan-less designs that consume less power, various I/O interfaces to fulfill the needs of the IIoT, and even advanced features such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), which can transmit both data and power through a single Ethernet cable.
E-Mobility solutions: GIGABYTE provides the In Vehicle Telematics Controller and IIOT Gateway, also known as the In-Vehicle Telematics Control Unit (TCU); the Telematics Module, an SBC; and the Autonomous-Driving Control Units (ADCUs), which is an AI-enhanced Mobile Edge Computing Platform. These devices can be used as part of a fleet management system (FMS). They may also be used as part of an AMR or AGV solution inside a smart factory, or on automated farming and mining equipment in the field.
