Manufacturing Change through Big Data, Predictive Maintenance & Remote Access
Although the manufacturing industry has seen some troubling times over the past few decades, new technologies are helping it make a resurgence. So what has manufactured this change, you might ask? The rise of automation and robotics across many sectors, and perhaps one of the most significant industrial impacts since the assembly line was created – the Internet of Things. IoT has given rise to advancements in sensor technologies and M2M (machine-to-machine) communications, along with edge computing analytics and business intelligence from big data. These new methods are fundamentally changing the way goods are designed and produced. We recently wrote a blog highlighting some of these impacts and challenges that coming along with it. Below, however, we’ve gathered a handful of recent industry news articles for you to explore and learn how the industrial IoT is changing the manufacturing landscape as we know it. The Hunt for Zero Defective Parts Per Million When it comes to highly scrutinized and regulated industries, automotive manufacturing is near the top of the list. Understandably, then, automotive manufacturers are quite keen on the pursuit of zero Defective Parts Per Million (DPPM). This recent article from Manufacturing Business Technology discusses the driving forces behind this movement, namely the advent of autonomous vehicle technology. While on-vehicle computer systems of the past may have controlled entertainment or emissions systems, in the near future almost every vehicle system will rely on a piece of silicon in one way or another. With the stakes higher than ever, the advanced capabilities of the IIoT are coming into play to drive manufacturing processes. Moving Outside the Plant: Remote Access Is Quickly Evolving Just a handful of years ago, remote access technology was not a standard. However, as noted in this article from Automation World, a recent survey discovered that 72% of respondents are using remote access to monitor plant equipment and data. While the usage of remote access does vary by industry, the growth in this segment of the IIoT has been strong and shows no signs of slowing — and the applications for remote access are diverse. As Matt Wells, GM of Automation Software for GE Digital said, ““Anyone dealing with distributed fleets has a strong demand to be able to see, manage or control it from a remote spot,” he explains. “It all comes down to the difficulty of accessing that remote asset.” Big Data and Shale 2.0 As oil prices seem to have stabilized (for now) at a lower new norm, oil companies are having to get creative to keep margins healthy and profits rising. One of the ways companies are accomplishing this is through Big Data and the IIoT. This article from E&P Magazine highlights some of the challenges and hesitancies that are emerging within the industry, often fueled by cultural difficulties. However, Mark Slaughter — longtime Halliburton employee and current venture capital advisor — believes in just 10 years, smart analytics will give oil companies the ability to produce the most economic barrel of oil. Preventing Machine Failures through A.I. Automotive recalls are a massive expense for car manufacturers, not to mention the significant public relations disaster that can arise. In an effort to avoid this expensive and unseemly events, automotive companies are turning towards next-gen analytics and automation technologies to help prevent this issues before they become widespread problems. This article from IT Brief states that a recent McKinsey study shows that predictive maintenance could save global businesses an incredible $630 billion a year by 2025. In a world where recalls are pricey PR nightmares, this is music to automotive manufacturers ears. The IIoT’s Role in Product as a Service and Predictive Maintenance Models This recent article from Plant Services explores how the IIoT is changing the way equipment manufacturers and service providers approach their business, particularly through Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Predictive Maintenance (PdM). PaaS is the idea of charging for the output of a piece of equipment, rather than an upfront fee for the equipment itself. For example, the volume of compressed air generated by an air compressor. With PdM, advanced analytics are used to monitor the various systems in a piece of equipment, and diagnose and fix potential issues before they become larger (and more expensive ones). As the IIoT continues to grow, and more applications become mainstream, it will be interesting to see how manufacturing processes adapt and change. What new manufacturing promise do you think the IIoT holds? Where industry do you see IIoT gaining a foothold in next?
Happy Independence Day!
As we prepare for fireworks, barbeques and all of the excitement that comes along with tomorrow’s holiday, we’d also like to recognize what Independence Day means to the U.S. By definition it’s the celebration of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our incredible country as an independent nation. On this holiday, we’re also reminded that millions of people have sacrificed (and continue to sacrifice) in order for us to gain and retain our freedoms and liberties. As a company that has had the honor of working in the military and defense industry for more than two decades, we are humbled and grateful to all of the men and women in the armed forces. From the bottom of our hearts, with respect and admiration, we’d like to thank all of brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for this great country — including those who are currently serving today. FreeWave and the Military The government and defense industries have been woven into FreeWave’s story from early on. As previously noted, we have worked in the defense markets for more than two decades providing wireless communication solutions – including command and control (C2) links for unmanned systems. Our embedded communication solutions for drones and robotics have logged more than 2.5 million flight hours without a single link failure. As the number of unmanned systems for air, land and water increases, it is imperative for manufacturers and operators to use rugged, reliable and secure C2 solutions with high-speed data transmission. We are dedicated to continuing to provide robust and trusted solutions. Not only do we focus on providing a great technology, but a solution that can be trusted to operate when human lives are at stake. We hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July holiday!
Diving Deep Into the Internet of Underwater Things
Much has been said and done regarding the Internet of Things (IoT) across the terrestrial and aerial environments – just look at the proliferation of robotics, drones and unmanned vehicles being used across the globe. But, what about our submarine world? Does the IoT only apply to systems above water?This week we are going to take a “deep dive” into the life aquatic and see what forms the IoT is taking underwater. As many scientists and researchers continue to demonstrate, there is much to be learned about life underwater, especially when it comes to the largest bodies of water on the planet – the seas and oceans. The development of an Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) would certainly help make the discovery, recording and transmission of information a lot easier, especially if it would in turn be limiting the manual intervention of humans. Collecting and transmitting data throughout large bodies of water could enable a system of roaming, autonomous vehicles and underwater sensors, all communicating with each other and relaying information to networks above the surface. This could be used for a wide range of underwater tasks, from pipeline repairs and crash site surveys to seismic and ecological monitoring applications. As Richard Mills, director of sales at Norwegian AUV and marine robot developer Kongsberg Maritime, states in an interview with NauticExpo e-magazine, “there are an incredible number of possibilities for IoUT and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The technology has finite bounds, but new applications are only limited by our imagination.” Underwater Apps Bound by Tech Limits Before the IoUT can become a practical endeavor, engineers, scientists and researchers still have plenty of work to do to make it a reality. One of the biggest challenges surrounding the IoUT is the fact that underwater data communications are somewhat limited and unconventional as compared to the systems that work above water. The science behind underwater communications requires different thinking and technology requirements – for example, the electromagnetic waves used by conventional WiFi networks only travel a few centimeters in water. Furthermore, background noise from marine life and anthropogenic activity can also lead to signal interference. Also, the cost of implementing remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) comes at a significant cost as compared to autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), which looks to be the replacement in the near future. An AUV’s ability to function without manual human intervention is already a huge advantage and the cost of deploying an AUV is significantly lower than that of an ROV, while their autonomous nature minimizes the human effort needed during missions. As the IoUT develops, it will facilitate new ways for AUVs to interact with the subsea environment. Such vehicles increasingly will be used to harvest data from instruments on the seabed for scientific monitoring and surveying oilfield infrastructure, for example. With better submarine communications, the use of AUVs is already diversifying. There is an increasing number of deep-water and under-ice research projects, and new applications in defense and shallow-water seabed imagery rising to the surface. At FreeWave, we’ll be keeping a close eye on these developments as the possibilities for underwater IoT applications abound.
Robotics & IoT Merging Together
The Internet of Things (IoT) has made its appearance in a substantial number of industries, most recently manifesting itself in the the realm of robotics. IoT technologies and standards open the door for new robotic capabilities that are powered by cloud computing, communication with other robotic systems and sensor input from the environment around them. Recent research has pointed to a new opportunity for robotics to operate beyond the scope of what was possible just a few years ago. As we look at a future of data and connectivity at every end point – from our cars, to our homes, to our businesses – it’s clear that we’ve just begun to scrape the surface of what is possible with the rapid expansion of IoT throughout the world. In a recent report, ABI research coined the, “Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT),” defining the concept, “where intelligent devices can monitor events, fuse sensor data from a variety of sources, use local and distributed ‘intelligence’ to determine a best course of action, and then act to control or manipulate objects in the physical world, and in some cases while physically moving through that world.” The research certainly backs recent claims that robotics are going to leave a significant mark on the IoT industry. Take a look at the key statistics that Forbes recently reported on Robotics: 4% of developers are building robotics apps today. 45% of developers say that Internet of Things (IoT) development is critical to their overall digital strategy. 4% of all developers are building apps in the cloud today. RF Technology in the IoRT World As the entire technology landscape changes it is more important than ever for RF technology to adapt in order to meet new industry demands. Manufacturers in the hardened, wireless communication industry have taken note and set their eyes on all things IoT by developing Sensor-to-Server (S2S) communication solutions. Some of these wireless IoT communication solutions providers are offering platforms to host third-party applications in addition to creating the communication links for devices. This is an entirely new class of wireless IoT communication solutions that has the staying power needed in the midst of technology evolution. Robotic IoT Future Some companies using wireless S2S solutions, have already begun to incorporate IoRT into their networks. Real-life use case examples of robotics for IoT networks that are in the works today include: Semi-autonomous robotic geophysical surveying platforms for detection of unexploded ordnance. With an S2S communication solution, this use case will provide real time kinematic base station GPS corrections and combined geophysical data to a mobile command and control vehicle for concurrent advanced data processing by rear support group linked by MiFi or Satellite communications. A ‘ship-to-shore’ link for an ocean going wave-powered autonomous robot. As robotics systems adapt to the new technology landscape, they will increasingly integrate with IoT networks. With these new advanced robotics capabilities, businesses will see new opportunities for automation and efficiency to further advance operations and will be able to leverage this new technology for competitive advantage.