FEATURE AI & VR


The trusted certifi cation is unique to the OT device on which it resides and can easily be identifi ed by the IT server. The downside of on-premise servers is that they are not able to store infi nite amounts of data, so if an application requires huge amounts of data to be processed, a better solution would be to use a cloud-based server – however, this would require more stringent security considerations. The cloud can provide a scaleable data storage solution that is not limited by capacity and requires no architecture changes if storage needs change.


The downside of cloud-based servers is that they cannot provide a real-time connection. There will always be some latency when it comes to processing and reacting to data.


For data storage platforms, diff erent solutions off er benefi ts in diff erent applications. Tasks such as production visualisation lend themselves well to the use of on-premise servers because less data needs to be stored and less data processing is required. Predictive maintenance requires huge amounts of data and processing power, so it lends itself to the cloud to churn the data to get meaningful outcomes. Manufacturing traceability probably also lends itself best to the cloud since it requires vast amounts of information to be stored. Likewise, product quality


Many manufacturers are beginning to understand the power of data, and what traditional processing issues can now be solved


improvement projects are also suited to the cloud as real-time access is not required.


Moving to the edge Today, more operators are also seeing the benefi t of processing data at the edge – close to the device itself – making it possible to gain real-time operational benefi ts. Once again using the example of Omron’s Sysmac controller, an integral artifi cial intelligence engine allows data to be analysed in real time, allowing for fast reactions to the information at the point of its creation, which enables real- time predictive analysis. However, the limitation of edge technology is that it cannot handle large amounts of data. The best data management approach – which allows OT and IT environments to maximise the use of data created – is often a hybrid solution that sees data processed at the edge and then moved for storage and further analysis in on-premise or cloud-based servers for gaining most benefi ts.


It is useful to know that you can work with the same data in more than one place – for example, using it at the edge fi rst for real-time processing requirements and then post-processing it, if required. This is possible because data is time-stamped, so it can be referenced and synchronised in diff erent applications. For added data security, it is also helpful to employ controllers that can spool data,


so, in the event of a connection or data corruption problem, there will always be a backup – a particularly important consideration in FMCG sectors where compliance and product traceability are of high priority.


For most manufacturers, the on-premise server solution will off er the best fi rst step on the digitalisation ladder, as it is usually the easiest to achieve. Indeed, many manufacturers will already have some degree of IT infrastructure installed on the factory fl oor – so placing data on-premise gives easy access to it. It is also possible to achieve such a solution more cost-eff ectively if you already have a controller that has the capability to escalate data. Once there, it can be analysed using a range of low-cost software solutions. Data is opening many manufacturers’


eyes as they start to understand what it can achieve and what traditional processing issues can now be solved. When it comes to storage and processing options, there are a variety of platforms available – edge, on-premise or cloud-based servers – to suit the needs of all applications. However, storing data for the sake of it is a costly exercise, so make sure that you maximise its use. For engineers, it is reassuring to know that that digitalisation does not require a fundamental change in the method of manufacturing – its purpose is just to gather and handle data – an important tool.


CONTACT:


Omron Electronics www.industrial.omron.co.uk


automationmagazine.co.uk


Automation | November 2021


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