Claudio Fayad, vice president of technology for Emerson’s systems and software business explains how the modern OT edge will serve as the backbone of modern automation, enabling data to be more accessible from the Intelligent Field to the Cloud.
Ask ten people for their definition of `the edge’ and you are likely to get twelve answers. Introduced by IT several years ago to describe the periphery of a computing network and the strategy to push computing power further to that periphery, the edge can be interpreted and defined many ways – and they can all be true. But there is a new, operational technology (OT)-specific definition of the edge that is forming, accelerating the transformation of automation.
Over the last four decades, organizations have invested heavily in automation technology to improve production efficiency, safety and to gain a better understanding of equipment health. The traditional automation architecture was relatively simple, with sensors and valves in the field connected through wired I/O to a centralized control system or other function-specific software systems, like maintenance and reliability, safety and more. The structure of this technology architecture was roughly the same last year as it was 40 years ago, with only one major change in computing platform technology happening in the mid-1990s.
The demand for more actionable information from more applications, delivered faster to more people, is driving a revolutionary rethink of the automation architecture. The backbone of this new architecture is the OT-specific edge, where new technologies are making data more securely and freely accessible, pushing computing power to all levels of the operation – both on-premises and off – while simultaneously simplifying the management of ever-increasing technology density.
Here are a few trends that demonstrate how the OT edge will redefine the architecture of on-premises computing:
I/O and controller decoupling: This massive transformation of field connectivity simplifies how field devices are connected to systems. Emerson’s CHARMS technology was the first of its kind to provide this capability. Soon, Ethernet-APL will continue that journey, using the power of Ethernet to decouple I/O from the control system. Ethernet equivalents of current protocols will bring more data types into the control system and directly to cloud analytics.
Hyper-convergence: Traditionally, the idea of expanding or reconfiguring control system capacity required a capital project, considerable expense and lots of time. New hyper-converged solutions, where computing resources themselves are flexibly functionally partitioned via software, change that paradigm. The deployment of new control capacity can be accomplished in half the time, with a much simpler technology footprint, delivering greater speed and flexibility, without capital investment or new physical infrastructure.
Software-defined control: Today, the distributed control system (DCS) is designed with hardware controllers designed for extreme temperature, humidity and vibration conditions, though only about 25% of applications really require it. Most controller hardware is safely tucked in cabinets, placed in climate-controlled rooms. Software-defined control empowers users to select control software and hardware independently and scale as needed, providing flexibility of deployment and system management, without sacrificing determinism, accuracy or system integrity.
Software containerization: By decoupling software functions from the operating system while retaining necessary OS kernel functionality, lightweight software containers can be more easily deployed across an infrastructure, providing greater flexibility and security of computing architectures and data utilization. Workload deployment can reduce bottlenecking and expand accessibility to software functionality, in context of where it’s needed.
Unifying data fabric: Making data more uniformly accessible by more applications, including cloud analytics, will be made possible through distributed standard data models and data integration tools like AspenTech’s Inmation. A unifying data fabric deployed across the OT edge helps connect the intelligent field to the cloud, with contextual data delivered to the right person, no matter where they are, enabling easier analytics and new operating models with expert support anywhere.
IT/OT technology integration: As IT and OT need to better converge to deliver secure enterprise connectivity and better integration between OT systems and IT platforms, the OT edge works as the main integration point between both disciplines. This convergence is making it easier to deploy DCS data throughout the enterprise, with technologies like Emerson’s DeltaV™ Edge Environment.
Secure, open access: Traditional automation security solution restrict data access within the plant environment. Creating more open yet secure access through tools like Emerson’s AMS Device Manager Data Server enables remote experts to monitor and advise corrective actions on equipment health, accelerating prioritization and response time of on-prem resources.
Innovations like artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins and embedded computing are driving the demand for richer data sets, and easier access. Not only are central systems providing more powerful computational capabilities, but nearly every piece of equipment or asset now also has the possibility to perform software-enabled computational tasks onboard, immediately. The modern OT edge is making this possible.
A great industry example is in the power industry. Net zero ambitions globally are driving greater demand for electricity from renewable energy sources. It is also changing the very structure of the `grid’, with decentralized generation driving demand for more flexible control solutions. As a result, the resilience, flexibility, and responsiveness of our electrical grid infrastructure becomes even more critical. Emerson’s Ovation™ grid edge solutions help to provide high-resolution grid data from field devices, distributed control systems and grid management software. Grid edge controllers expand control options beyond the control centre and into the field, where equipment like voltage control systems, breakers, distributed energy resources (DER’s) like solar arrays and electric vehicle chargers must be monitored and controlled.
Advanced technologies like these are helping companies evolve their operating models, making cloud-based enterprise operations and engineering possible in ways only dreamed about a few years ago. The OT edge is the backbone that will make this possible.
Learn all about Boundless AutomationSM in “Innovations in Automation”.
