Harnessing Edge Computing for Enhanced Automation

Harnessing Edge Computing for Enhanced Automation | SPONSORED

In this interview during the Hannover Messe Fair 2024, Carlos Javaroni, Vice President of Industrial IoT & Edge Solutions at Schneider Electric, discusses the latest advancements in edge applications at the forefront of industrial automation. Schneider Electric is introducing new edge applications that complement its robust edge hardware solutions, including the Modicon series for control and Harmony and Pro-face for computing. These innovations are designed to harness data from edge devices to empower customers to address challenges in their plants efficiently.

Empowering Customers with Edge Solutions

Carlos highlights the main benefits of these edge applications, noting their proximity to data generation points like machines and production lines, significantly reducing latency. This proximity enhances cybersecurity and privacy, addressing common concerns among customers. These applications optimize operational responsiveness and security by processing data closer to where it’s generated.

Driving Productivity and Efficiency in Industrial Settings

The edge applications are not just about bringing computing power closer to the data but also enhancing productivity across Schneider Electric’s offerings. Carlos discusses how these applications transform maintenance operations, allowing for more efficient scheduling and execution of maintenance tasks. This capability is augmented through collaborations within Schneider’s ecosystem, addressing use cases across maintenance, quality, and cybersecurity.

Ecosystem and Interoperability at the Edge

Carlos elaborates on the importance of ecosystem collaboration, emphasizing Schneider Electric’s hardware-agnostic approach. This flexibility allows customers to integrate Schneider’s edge applications with various other edge hardware solutions they may already be using, ensuring seamless interoperability. Schneider’s open approach extends to its software solutions, fostering an inclusive environment where various partners can contribute and expand the range of applications.

Integration with Aveva Software and the Role of Connect Platform

Discussing the integration with Aveva software, Carlos points out that their edge applications are a key part of the Connect Platform—Schneider Electric’s industrial intelligence platform. Connect serves as a hub, bringing together the capabilities of Schneider’s applications and Aveva’s software, thereby enriching user data context and enhancing the ecosystem’s collaborative potential.

Future of Data Utilization and Community Engagement

Carlos also touches on a new initiative, Margo, an open interoperability standard developed with industrial automation peers and IT partners. Margo aims to democratize data from edge devices, enabling broader access and fostering innovation across the ecosystem. This initiative reflects an industry-wide effort to improve the utilization of industrial data, which currently sees only about 20% being actively used.

The Challenge of Increasing Data Utilization

When asked about his primary concerns, Carlos shares his focus on increasing the percentage of industrial data utilization. He sees significant untapped potential in leveraging more of this data to drive innovations and solutions that are easy to implement and scale, thus making a broader impact on the industry.

The interview was recorded by Lucian Fogoros from IIoT World during Hannover Messe 2024. This summary was created based on the video transcript with the assistance of https://chat.openai.com. It was edited by the IIoT World team.

Sponsored by Schneider Electric.