An Introductory Guide to the IIoT

The key distinction between IoT and IIoT lies in the application. Industrial IoT centres around the collection and analysis of real-time granular data from connected sensors, enabling rapid improvements in productivity and efficiency, instantaneous stock control, and significant cost savings.

An established approach to computer-controlled manufacturing underpins industrial IoT: the ‘distributed control system’. The control functions are distributed across the network and multiple autonomous devices are interconnected, making them able to adjust and optimise their own section of the manufacturing line without centralised control and the associated risk of a single-point failure. The IIoT takes advantage of modern cloud computing to allow data sharing, visualisation, and analysis – all near-real time.

Over the past few decades, the Industrial Internet of Things has grown into a huge sector. Over 60 per cent of global manufacturers now use IIoT technologies for optimisation and analysis.

This distinction highlights the difference between IIoT and IoT in manufacturing and industrial applications. It is also pertinent to note the comparison of the Internet of Things vs Industry 4.0.

You may also have heard the term Industry 4.0 in relation to the IoT. Despite sometimes being used interchangeably, the two are not synonymous because Industry 4.0 includes both IoT and IIoT.

Industry 4.0 is a broad term which encompasses the accelerating use of - and benefits derived from - all the innovations in automation now available to industry and smart manufacturing, such as:

• Seamless cloud computing
• M2M (machine-to-machine) communication
• Autonomous systems implementation
• Image recognition and other 'cognitive' technologies based on artificial intelligence

The Internet of Things may seem like a very modern concept but some of the core Industry 4.0 technologies date back to the 1960s. The programmable logic controller (PLC) - effectively an early industrial computer - was invented in 1968 and designed to fine-tune the manufacturing process. The first distributed control systems for industrial settings appeared in the 1970s, sparking the gradual supplementation of manual labour with automation within factories.

The Internet of Things as we know it today first came into focus during the following decade. However, it was not until the early 2000s that the IoT moved out of university laboratories and into purchasable products. This growth was accelerated by the development of enabling technologies like Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), and 4G/5G cellular networks.

Further developments followed in the 2000s, including the creation of now-ubiquitous cloud computing technologies which accelerated the evolution of the IIoT.

Who Coined the Term IIoT and Industry 4.0?

We know where the Internet of Things originally came from, but it is tricky to pinpoint who coined IIoT.

The term ‘Industry 4.0’ was coined as recently as 2011 by the German government to encourage the use of information technology in manufacturing. It was intended to suggest that modern automation and data-sharing technology are equal in significance to three previous industrial revolutions, namely:

• The development of steam and water-powered manufacturing technology in the latter half of the 18th and first half of the 19th Century
• Widespread electrification, alongside the spread of railways in the 19th century, enabled multiple technological and industrial developments. The telephone, the automobile, photography, and motion pictures all appeared between 1870 and World War One
• The digital revolution - i.e. the creation of modern IT in the second half of the 20th Century

We may not know who coined the term ‘Industrial Internet of Things’ for certain. However, the name ‘Industry 4.0’ makes logical sense and boosts understanding of the meaning behind the concept.

Industry 4.0 can bring benefits to a broad spectrum of industries and sectors.

Just a few IIoT applications and examples include:

• Smart factories
• Supply chain and inventory optimisation
• Data analytics
• Smart buildings
• Condition monitoring

To understand how IoT will impact different industries in the future, it is important to understand how the manufacturing industry uses IIoT now. Of course, manufacturing is not the only sector to benefit from Industry 4.0. It’s also clear to see how IoT is transforming the energy industry and the retail industry with connected devices and smart systems.

So, what benefits does the Industrial Internet of Things have in manufacturing? Let’s look at a few examples of how the manufacturing industry uses IIoT:

• Optimising the manufacturing line: Industrial IoT sensors enable continuous monitoring of the production line from start to finish. This enables operators to continuously fine-tune the manufacturing process, saving time and money
• Inventory and supply chain management: manufacturing relies on the availability of raw materials and components. RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and similar technologies allow components and supplies to be tracked continuously, in real-time, from location to location, providing continuous monitoring of inventory and compensatory adjustments
• Packaging assessment: Industrial IoT sensors allow manufacturers to monitor packaging condition during transit and storage and even assess how customers typically interact with it, enabling improvements to design
• Real-time manufacturing data: IIoT devices can supply real-time operational data to suppliers, enabling responsive adjustments and remote management of factory units
• Maintenance data: Industrial Internet of Things devices can issue alerts when faults occur and maintenance is required. Similar alerts can be issued in response to operating issues, such as higher-than-recommended operating temperatures or excessive vibration, which could indicate an impending hardware failure. These alerts provide clear advantages in allowing maintenance to be scheduled in advance, minimising downtime and lessening accident risk. Such data can be combined with health and safety records to improve overall safety
• Quality control: IIoT data from multiple sources, including suppliers, manufacturing processes and end-users, can all be combined to enable overall improvements to product design and production

This is a complex question with no easy answer.

As with any huge technological change, there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes to make these changes a reality in everyday life. Many companies are working to ensure that the underlying infrastructure and connectivity can support the IoT, for both wired and wireless connections.

As the world becomes more interconnected, we become more dependent on networks. It is also essential to ensure that suitable regulations are in place and fully observed.

At its broadest, Industry 4.0 is a configuration of multiple networking technologies, so the biggest challenges focus on the maintenance of strong and secure inter-device connections. This is achieved via:

• Selection of robust, fit-for-purpose networks – either wireless or wired
• Adopting protocols which promote inter-operability e.g. OPC UA
• Maintaining vigilance about network security to ward off cyber threats

As a result, the principle challenges of the IIoT similarly revolve around data storage and digital security. There are privacy and security concerns at all levels. Technology will allow access to unprecedented amounts of data, and everyone involved will need to be vigilant and resilient to ensure this data remains secure.

In addition, there are additional technological requirements posed by the constant need for uninterrupted device connectivity. It is also imperative to understand security considerations and challenges in adopting the IIoT to ensure a smooth, efficient implementation.

So, what are the risks associated with IIoT?

As with all aspects of the digital environment, cybersecurity is crucial for the Industrial Internet of Things. Many consider the primary risk associated with IIoT to be online security, yet security issues are rare. Taking precautions, practising cyber security, and maintaining a secure system are the keys to avoiding IIoT risks while making the most of connected system benefits.

With that in mind, it’s critical to keep abreast of the latest technologies and updates to stay prepared and protected as the Industrial Internet of Things continues to evolve.

Both the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things are constantly evolving. As the latest technologies become available and businesses become increasingly interested in IIoT benefits, more possibilities open up. This also brings numerous predictions about where the Internet of Things is heading in the future.

While it’s difficult to know exactly what the future of IIoT holds, digital connectivity has the potential to change industry and impact businesses around the world.

For instance, in the near future, we may live in a world where buildings automatically adjust their temperature to outside weather conditions. Industrial refrigerators could restock themselves according to ingredient lists specified by chefs, or vehicles in a garage could automatically order parts as required.

These smart, networked devices will be able to publish data on the Internet. This information could be used in various ways to improve the products and services we use every day. It will provide the basis for smart grids and connected cities, improving energy use and consumption, traffic flow, and services for the public.

The IoT could solve numerous problems in two major areas - power and healthcare. For example:

• Buildings waste more energy than they use. With the IoT, this could be reduced to almost zero
• The IoT could enable continual monitoring of bodily functions without visiting a doctor

The IIoT is also likely to have a major impact on the logistics industry and supply chains, as objects can transmit their location and therefore be redirected more easily in the event of supply disruption.

Companies can take advantage of the new opportunities, business models, and revenue streams that are enabled by connectivity.

Sensors, on-device software, and adjacent technologies are all part of the IoT-connected world that shares data between systems, devices, and physical objects. It is the connectivity between the "things" of the IoT that enables these exchanges to take place.

Different types of IoT connections are used, depending on individual device requirements. These vary in two contexts:

1. IoT-connected devices that rarely need to communicate with small amounts of data
2. Always connected devices with constant connectivity and high-speed, low-latency communication that require large amounts of data

There is a wide range of IoT connections available, which enable you to connect something ranging in size from a dental implant to large vehicles and machinery.

Linking these various things to the Internet of Things and incorporating sensors provides enhanced digital intelligence. This enables real-time communication between connected devices and participation in large-scale automated processes.

As the IoT evolves, connectivity accelerates rapidly. Forecasts for Internet of Things devices show an upward trend in implementation with a huge number of interconnected devices.

The IoT architecture typically refers to three core elements.

• Things: Any device that connects to a network (wired or wireless)
• Network: Cloud-based network or gateway connecting multiple devices
• Cloud: A remote server located in a data centre that consolidates and stores data securely and safely

These three elements are explored in further detail in the sections below.

The Internet of Things includes numerous devices. See below for some common examples of connected devices and what they are typically used for.

• Access Point: An access point is a wireless networking device that facilitates connecting devices in a local area network
• Device: A device is a piece of equipment or hardware programmed to perform at least one processing function in a system
• Beacons: Small transmitters connected to Bluetooth or BLE-enabled devices like tracked packages or smartphones
• Gateway: A "translating hub” that facilitates communication between devices, allowing them to exchange data and communicate with each other
• Hub: Hubs are hardware controllers that connect a central station to data transmission devices
• Sensor: A sensor detects input from its environment and converts it into data that can be analysed by a person or machine

What is required for devices and machines to communicate intelligently with the internet? Below is a list of key technologies.

• Actuator: A device that moves or controls a mechanism or system; opening a valve, for example
• Cyber-Physical Systems: Systems that integrate networking, computing, and physical processes through feedback loops in which computations affect physical processes
• Contactless: A technology that connects a mobile phone, smart card, or other device to an electronic reader wirelessly, without physical contact
• Digital Twins: Virtual replicas of physical devices, systems, places, people, and processes that can be used for a variety of purposes and integrate historical machine data
• Geofencing: Using GPS technology or RFID to define a virtual geographical perimeter within which devices may operate
• Geographic Information System (GIS): Used to acquire, handle, analyse, present, and manage geographical or spatial data
• Global Positioning System (GPS): A technology that enables localisation services
• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): A satellite constellation that transmits navigation, timing, and positioning data from space to GNSS receivers
• Haptics: Conducting human interactions with computer applications based on tactile sensations and control
• Hardware-Assisted Virtualisation (HAV): Using a computer's physical components to create and manage virtual machines (VMs)
• Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU): Measures angular motion, specific force, and magnetic field of devices, such as drones
• Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR): LIDAR is a type of remote sensing technology that collects measurements from laser pulses and uses them to map objects and create 3D models
• Mechatronics: Combines mechanical and electrical engineering with computer science, and includes robotics, electronics, information technology, telecommunications, product engineering, control, and systems
• RADAR: A radio-wave-based detection system that determines object range, angle, and speed
• Telematics: The use of GPS and onboard diagnostics to track assets and log their movements

The IoT must work in combination with suitable hardware and software, including:

• eSIM: An embedded SIM complies with GSMA specifications and allows remote management of multiple mobile network operator subscriptions
• Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID): The unique serial number embedded in SIM cards
• International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI): An individual, usually fifteen-digit number that identifies a device connected to GSM
• IoT Module: An embedded device connected to a wireless network that sends and receives information
• IP Address: An Internet Protocol address identifies a computer (or other device) on a network
• Modem: Hardware that allows computers to send and receive data over cables, satellite connection, or telephone lines
• Router: A hardware device that receives, analyses, and forwards IP packets
• Wireless Modem: A modem that connects directly to an internet connection via a wireless network, bypassing the telephone system