Siemens Industrial Edge offers users the possibility of executing a range of descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytical applications at the shopfloor via Industrial Edge with Sinumerik, for machine tools, and Industrial Edge with Simatic, for other control duties.
Edge devices are the platform for Edge Apps from Siemens, third party providers or end users themselves.
With Siemens Industrial Edge, the company is offering users the chance to close the gap between classic, local data processing and cloud-based data processing to suit individual requirements.
Edge Computing allows large volumes of data to be processed locally and Siemens is releasing a broad spectrum of applications to users, including data processing, data visualisation via webservers, data transfer to the cloud or IT infrastructures, and quick innovation cycles in the development of apps. There is also an additional reduction in memory and transfer costs as large volumes of data are pre-processed locally and only the relevant data finally transferred to a cloud or IT infrastructure. Siemens Industrial Edge supports cloud transfer protocols for MindSphere, Siemens’ own open, cloud-based operating Siemens AG.
Industrial Edge with Sinumerik provides a machine-level platform for software applications that captures, pre-processes and analyses high frequency data. In addition to this, calculations can be carried out for complex machine tools and auxiliary process times or workplace monitoring can also be optimised. Both operating system and application in Industrial Edge for Sinumerik are installed and continuously kept up to date via backend services on MindSphere, the open, cloudbased IoT operating system from Siemens. Industrial Edge for Sinumerik thus provides users with continuously stable process and condition monitoring, as well as significantly higher productivity.
For Industrial Edge with Simatic, automation components such as Simatic controllers are provided with supplementary support through Edge Devices in order to process greater volumes of plant data profitably and to gain information for a continuous increase in productivity.
Siemens Industrial Edge includes Edge Management, Edge Devices and Edge Apps. The Edge Management System provides central control of all connected Edge Devices, as well as condition monitoring. Users can use the Edge Management System to install software applications (Edge Apps) onto the required Edge Devices from the Edge App store in the backend system – for example MindSphere.
Edge Devices are equipped with Edge runtime software that guarantees the connectivity for both data capture from the connected automation element and for Edge Management. It also has a driver toolbox for access to device functions. The Edge runtime software also provides a secure app environment for executing functions on Edge Devices.
Edge Apps for Siemens Industrial Edge are available from Siemens as well as third-party providers. In addition, it will also be possible for users to develop their own Edge Apps tailored to individual requirements.
