Internet of Things vs Industrial Internet of Things: 10 Differences That Matter

兰博

Internet of Things vs Industrial Internet of Things: 10 Differences That Matter [Copy link]

Product managers must consider these additional requirements in design and engineering.

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables disruptive transformation across multiple market segments, from consumer, enterprise, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and utilities to government and cities. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a subset of the larger IoT that focuses on the specialized requirements of industrial applications, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and utilities.

While IoT and IIoT share common technologies (sensors, cloud platforms, connectivity, and analytics), the similarities end there. This article highlights the key differences that product managers and buyers must understand when planning Industrial IoT solutions.

10 ways the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things are different

While many believe that functionality differentiates IoT from IIoT, the reality is not that simple. A consumer IoT device may have the same functionality as an IIoT device but still not be considered an industrial product.

For example, both consumer and industrial activity trackers collect and monitor heart rate information. But industrial trackers include additional design parameters that their consumer counterparts may not have. Parameters that differentiate IoT from Industrial IoT include:

Safety

Interoperability

Scalability

Precision and Accuracy

Programmability

Low latency

reliability

Elasticity

automation

Repairability

As a product manager launching your first industrial solution, or a buyer considering using a consumer IoT solution for industrial use, it is important to understand these differences.

1. Security
Security is critical for all IoT solutions, but Industrial IoT solutions require even stronger measures. Disruptions to high-volume manufacturing processes can result in millions of dollars in lost production per day. Power grid outages can affect economic activity for millions of people and jeopardize national security.

IIoT solutions employ a variety of advanced security measures, from secure and resilient system architecture, dedicated chipsets, encryption and authentication, threat detection, to management processes.

2. Interoperability
Industrial IoT solutions must coexist with a host of traditional operational technologies (OT), including SCADA, M2M, and other purpose-built manufacturing execution systems. These traditional OT systems are not going away. Industrial IoT solutions must integrate, support a variety of protocols and data sets, and work reliably with these manufacturing systems. Equally important, IIoT solutions must integrate with back-office enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

3. Scalability
Industrial networks are specialized, large-scale networks that support tens of thousands (or more) of controllers, robots, machinery, and other specialized applications. IIoT solutions deployed into these networks must scale seamlessly now and in the future to support tens of thousands of new sensors, devices, and controllers, as well as existing non-IoT devices. This support includes interoperability, scheduling, workflow integration, data collection, analysis, decision making, and integration with manufacturing and business execution systems.

4. Precision and Accuracy
Industrial operations require higher levels of precision and accuracy. Automated high-volume, high-speed manufacturing processes are synchronized to milliseconds. Quality assurance systems detect minute variations and take immediate corrective actions based on these measurements. In this environment, “close enough” is not good enough, resulting in loss of efficiency, downtime, and revenue. Industrial IoT solutions must support “business as usual” operations with high precision and accuracy.

5. Programmability
Industrial and OT systems, from programmable logic controllers to processing equipment, are frequently reprogrammed and reconfigured to support new processes. This programming is done remotely, on-site, or on-site. Industrial IoT solutions that support industrial and manufacturing applications must provide the same flexibility and adaptability to support operations.

6. Low Latency
In high-speed, continuous production systems equipped with sensors monitoring every aspect of operations, every second counts. Anomalies must be detected and corrective actions taken in near real time. Any delay in detection, evaluation, decision-making, and execution can be costly in terms of worker safety, product quality, cost, and lost revenue. Industrial IoT solutions must be similarly architected to support the low latency requirements of certain industrial applications.

7. Reliability
Industrial systems operate for a long time before replacement - twenty to thirty years is not uncommon. They operate in harsh environments, sometimes subject to extreme heat, cold, high vibration, pressure and dust conditions. They may operate in remote locations far from headquarters.

Industrial IoT solutions may be subject to the same conditions and requirements. They must be hardened to support high availability, withstand high duty cycles, and operate reliably within tolerances, day after day, year after year, with only downtime for maintenance.

8. Resilience
Mission-critical industrial processes and systems are designed with resilience in mind, where downtime (or even service access) is not an option. The failure of one part of the system does not stop operations. While there may be a loss of operational capacity, the task is taken up by a backup system, or the process may be routed to a part of the system with extra capacity.

In mission-critical operations, IIoT solutions must support fault tolerance or recovery capabilities in their design. From sensor loss to connection loss, IIoT systems and architectures must compensate for failures in use and still be able to complete their processes and operations satisfactorily. (Source: Hanyun Digital Factory)

9. Automation
Many industrial processes are highly automated from start to finish with little human intervention. IoT solutions operating in industrial environments need to support a range of autonomous requirements. This may require building intelligence into edge devices, combining control and automation logic in gateways, or incorporating deep learning capabilities in system design. In addition, it must be programmable and integrate with legacy or new manufacturing execution systems.

10. Maintainability
Industrial systems must operate reliably and predictably under harsh conditions year after year. Supporting this level of performance requires regular maintenance by both in-house and field service technicians. IoT solutions operating in industrial environments must be available to maintain the required performance levels. From replacing sensors and updating firmware to configuring gateways and servers, the ability to maintain an Industrial IoT solution throughout its lifecycle is an essential requirement.

Key Takeaways

Functionality is important, but it is not the only determinant of whether an IoT solution is “industrial” ready. There are ten other parameters that must be considered. In fact, IoT and IIoT solutions may contain all of these parameters but differ in what and how they are implemented.

Industrial processes place heavy demands on IoT solutions. Product managers must consider these additional requirements in design and engineering. They must understand the specific application, as well as the environment in which the solution will be placed.

Buyers evaluating IoT solutions for industrial applications must ask some tough questions. Today’s IIoT solutions are emerging and evolving in a very dynamic market. Vendors offering IIoT solutions may come from adjacent markets, and their solutions may not be sufficient to meet the needs of all industrial applications.

石榴姐

As expected, the requirements of the Industrial Internet of Things are higher.