The revolution that will see billions of connected devices is increasingly driven by industry, and not just the tech companies that once led the way. Andrew Wade reports
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of those mind-boggling concepts, the scale and implications of which can be difficult to comprehend. At its core, it will involve billions of connected devices and sensors, all sharing data, supposedly making our lives better. Exactly how this will happen is still a matter of debate though, and there are several concerns over how the technology will be delivered, as well as how to make sense of the torrents of data these devices will produce.
The lines between industry and tech are becoming ever more blurred
When the internet first started gaining major traction in the early 1990s, naturally it was tech companies that led the innovation. Today, the lines between industry and tech are becoming ever more blurred, with companies such as Google making waves in the automotive market, and manufacturers moving towards ‘smart’ factories and supply chains – commonly referred to as Industry 4.0.
This blurring of two worlds promises to be a hallmark of the IoT revolution: the physical and the digital melding together, connecting not just people, but also everything around us with which we interact. According to the soothsayers, the result will be a network with many billions of nodes including autonomous vehicles, orbiting satellites, factory machinery, smart homes and connected power grids.
Bosch is currently testing smart solutions across many of its production plants around the world
While the possibilities appear almost unlimited, up until now mainstream IoT applications haven’t moved much beyond controlling a dimmer switch with your smartphone. Hype and conjecture have been the order of the day, and questions abound on security protocols and power requirements, as well as the new types of interfaces and standards we will use to integrate the real and virtual worlds. However, solutions to these problems are emerging and the potential is gradually being unlocked.
One company looking to lead the way is German manufacturing giant Bosch. With business units dedicated to mobility, buildings, energy, industry, and consumer goods, its portfolio is tailor-made to ride the IoT wave. Bosch is currently testing smart solutions across many of its production plants around the world, establishing best practices and learning through trial and error. According to Dr Werner Struth, Bosch
board member and head of industrial technology, these in-house deployments will form the basis for third-party solutions in the future.
“We now have 276 factories,” Struth told The Engineer on a recent visit to Bosch’s Stuttgart headquarters. “There’s a huge bandwidth in manufacturing systems, from semiconductor light manufacturing in our Renningen factory, producing billions of sensors a year, to single-piece production of our Rexroth equipment, for example in the new elevator in the Eiffel Tower, or for the Panama Canal [expansion].”
Bosch develops IoT solutions and apps for these various business strands internally, then sends them out to its factories for testing. Only once they are mature will they become available to external customers. The manufacturing facilities at the heart of the company for 130 years have now also become the test beds for the Industry 4.0 architecture of tomorrow, and Bosch sees itself as both a major user and supplier of connected solutions moving forward. “Now we have our own platform from which we can sell these solutions,” said Struth. “It’s a very holistic perspective that we take on connected industry.”
In total, 150 solutions have been trialled, and many of those are now being rolled out across the company, with plans to make them available to customers over the course of the next 12 months.
“Of the 150, we have 28 that we are developing on a standardised basis for the entire group,” said Struth. “These applications will be available for external customers by 2017. The cloud that we have is currently for internal purposes only, just to get a refinement.”
Among the first solutions available will be TraQ (Track Quality), a logistics application that uses embedded sensors to provide real-time information while goods are being transported. Readings for temperature, vibration, light and humidity can indicate whether sensitive goods such as semiconductors are travelling in optimum conditions. Deviation outside pre-set limits can trigger alerts, and notification of any damage could help minimise impact downstream in the supply chain.
Unsurprisingly, Bosch is also working on solutions to improve factory operations, its Process Quality Manager being one example. Data from machinery is analysed in real time, notifying workers of potential problems and allowing for predictive maintenance to be carried out. A similar platform for production and building management is also in development, where energy requirements such as heating, cooling and hydraulics can all be viewed and managed centrally.
The XDK kit will be a “midwife” for a host of new Industry 4.0 applications yet to be conceived.
Perhaps the product with the greatest potential is Bosch’s XDK development kit. This is a combination of sensors and software with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity that users will be able to tailor to their own needs, creating unique IoT offerings. The package will include an acceleration sensor, a yaw-rate sensor and a magnetometer, as well as temperature, pressure, humidity, noise and light sensors. According to Bosch, the XDK kit will be a “midwife” for a host of new Industry 4.0 applications yet to be conceived.
“We have sensors, we have software and we have services,” said Struth. “That from our perspective is somehow unique at Bosch.”
Services and software can be hosted centrally and distributed via the cloud, but sensors obviously need to be at the point where you want to collect sensory data. When those sensors are attached to machines in a factory or a vehicle, power requirements are not really an issue. But what about sensors with no freely available power source? What if you want to set up a network of temperature sensors throughout a building, for example, or a motion sensor in a remote corner of an industrial space?
Low-energy sensors like this can of course be powered by battery, but in a future where billions of these devices exist, swapping them out would be the mother of all Sisyphean tasks. An alternative solution has been engineered by Drayson Technologies, the company founded by the Labour peer and amateur racing driver Paul Drayson. Last year it unveiled its Freevolt technology, a rectifying antenna that harvests residual radio frequency (RF) energy from transmissions over networks such as 4G and WiFi. By converting these transmissions into electricity, it can keep them operating indefinitely.
Radio frequency waves are being generated all around us, at different levels, all the time. Some of this wireless energy goes unused.
“Companies have been researching how to harvest energy from WiFi, cellular and broadcast networks for years,” said Drayson. “But it is difficult because there is only a small amount of energy to harvest and achieving the right level of rectifying efficiency has been the issue until now.
“Whether we live in a big city or an increasingly urbanised area in the developing world, radio frequency waves are being generated all around us, at different levels, all the time. Some of this wireless energy goes unused. At Drayson, we’ve figured out a way to make it useful.”
We saw the first commercial application of Freevolt with the CleanSpace Tag, a carbon monoxide sensor powered by the technology. When paired with a smartphone over Bluetooth, the tag can track the air quality, with a map highlighting potential black spots on your daily commute. Collating data from all the CleanSpace users in a particular area allows a real-time picture of air quality throughout a city to be drawn up, which anyone can access.
CleanSpace is a great example of what Freevolt can do, and also of the potential that the Internet of Things has to fundamentally impact our lives. But much like Bosch’s XDK sensor kit, Freevolt’s real power will inevitably come from developers who devise ingenious ways to use it, acting as another “midwife” for the creativity of customers. According to Drayson, tech companies are keen to get their hands on the technology to see what it can do.
“For designers and developers, Freevolt offers a totally new approach to powering the low-energy Internet of Things,” he said. “Since the launch at the end of September, we have been inundated with requests from thousands of leading technology companies and innovators to become part of our developer programme.”
Whereas Freevolt is designed to sustain low-energy sensor networks with a minimum of human interaction, there are also IoT applications where humans and machines will be able to interact in entirely new ways. At its recent LiveWorx event in Boston, US software company PTC showcased how it envisages augmented reality (AR) becoming a tool for bridging the worlds of the physical and digital, worlds that are becoming increasingly blurred as technology becomes embedded in almost everything.
“We’re in the midst of a fundamental transformation in our world, and in our relationship to the things that are all around us,” said PTC CEO Jim Heppelmann. “The things I’m talking about are the things that we create, that we operate, that we depend on, that we entertain ourselves with. They’re all evolving from being relatively simple physical objects, to becoming complex physical/digital systems.”
“Everything from your watch, to your car, to your home, to your factory, to the infrastructure of the city you live in, is headed down this path… the notion of physical/digital convergence must expand to incorporate the way that humans experience products, and that’s why [we’ve] spent so much time and energy pursuing augmented and virtual reality in the past year.”
Launched at Liveworx, Vuforia Studio Enterprise is PTC’s platform for creating these AR experiences. Designed to work with a range of 3D modelling tools, Vuforia allows users to publish animated AR sequences to instruct or inform. It operates in tandem with the company’s ThingWorx IoT platform to add an AR component to connected machines, from manufacturing and factory equipment to solar panels and medical devices.
On stage in Boston, Heppelmann and Terri Lewis, Caterpillar’s digital and technology director, demonstrated how AR could work in an industrial environment. Using a connected Caterpillar generator set, the pair showed how a handheld tablet could provide an AR overlay on the equipment, providing step-by-step guides for operation and maintenance.
“When our customers rent our products, they want to make sure it can run,” said Lewis. “They want the whole experience of rental to be easy… They can also connect remotely to the product, understand where it’s at, know whether it’s being used and if it’s ready to be used.”
Caterpillar is working with PTC on a Beta version of Vuforia, and the live demo showed that AR could have a role to play in this new connected world that is evolving. But this connectivity also raises concerns over security. A generator set that can be controlled remotely is a powerful piece of equipment that could also be hacked remotely.
Security is one of the issues most frequently raised whenever IoT is discussed. According to Gartner, more than 20 billion devices will be connected by 2020, by which point it expects more than 25 per cent of all attacks on enterprises will come via IoT. If every device is a potential weak point, IoT technology will inevitably be held back in some areas.
One possible solution gaining traction is blockchain, the self-regulating, decentralised technology that underpins cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. For Bitcoin, blockchain acts as a sort of ledger where money/value can be transferred securely and anonymously across a distributed peer-to-peer network. Every transaction adds a new ‘link’ to the chain, and the collaborative network of users authenticates each transaction in an automatic, auditable and transparent way.
Recently, however, blockchain’s potential for other uses has begun to be explored, and one of the most exciting areas is with IoT. Blockchains could be used to keep ledgers of data exchanges between devices, applications and humans, underpinning transactions and adding a much-needed layer of security.
But blockchain’s potential goes way beyond security.
It could act as the catalyst for devices to become truly independent, performing what are known as ‘smart contracts’: self-executing protocols carried out by connected machines. Imagine if a vending machine could not only monitor and report its own contents, but also request bids from suppliers and automatically release funds once restocked. What if a network of home appliances could coordinate their workload in order to take advantage of reduced energy costs?
The huge potential has prompted companies such as IBM, Dell, Microsoft and Samsung to explore blockchain technology and the role it could play in IoT. But the road ahead will certainly not be straightforward. An organisation holding Ethereum, described by some as a Bitcoin 2.0 with smart contract capability, recently had roughly US$50m stolen through an organised attack, sending the price of the currency tumbling. The attack led to something of a crisis regarding Ethereum’s future direction, with users eventually voting in favour of a “hardfork” in the underlying code. This will return the the hackers’ ill-gotten gains to the original owners, while also securing against future attacks. What initially looked like a disaster for Ethereum may yet prove to be a successful rescue mission, and could perhaps even be a bellwether for a future where blockchain users can come together and fix issues democratically – something Bitcoin has struggled to do.
Hacks such as these might slow blockchain’s infiltration of IoT, but it seems inevitable that the technology will play a fundamental role in the internet’s next stage. As billions of devices come online, blockchain could well be the final piece of the puzzle needed to unlock IoT’s true power.
Its good that internet of things are reshaping our world, I have also read an article which might be helpful to you @ http://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/internet-of-things-moving-towards-a-smarter-tomorrow-market-industry
Some years ago, I had the privilege of teaching several German Erasmus exchange students, from the Stuttgart area, on secondment to Coventry uni. They had all been Bosch apprentices: and indeed they described themselves as from Bosch families. Grandfather, father, son, grandson…had all followed the same path.
These students were well ‘schooled’ in practical Engineering during their apprenticeships: and had shown enough ‘academic’ promise to be allowed to add academic qualifications to their skills. They were highly complimentry of Coventry: as if nothing else we taught them to ‘ask that first question!.
First question a well educated Engineer should ask: “why are we doing this anyway?” –
I too question the ‘why’.
There seems to be a desire to produce ‘optimum’ systems, where everything is operating at peak efficiency. Unfortunately it is a characteristic of such systems that they have no resilience. For example, if every household has optimised its energy demand and the suppliers have optimised their capacity to supply what happens when a supply unit fails? An ‘inefficient’ design might see all generators running at 90% but at least that ‘inefficient’ 10% is there as a reserve when things go wrong.
Usually someone comes up with “a perfect defence” and this lets everyone invest heavily. Then some years later we find out that the defence is not implemented properly everywhere and that there are several ways around it anyhow. Eventually the defence itself is found to have flaws but there are millions of devices out there that are not longer suported or updated. To me it seems like a recipe for a gigantic security disaster. I’m a programmer and although not an expert in security I am aware of the impossibility of creating anything without bugs and when it comes to security any bug is an opening.
Among the hype & buzzword salad there is a real potential networked infrastructure to make industrial activities more flexible or efficient much like how networked desktops have allowed offices to become increasingly paperless.
Currently the internet of things (as far as consumers are concerned) is a solution searching for a problem.
But surely capitalism and market forces demand constant improvement: and of all the professions (with our constant search for increased efficiency, what some term Value Engineering and the Internet of Things is surely just another step along our road….-) we Engineers should be the highest respected, best paid, best just about everything. Did I miss something? Oh, I forgot. There are several groupings who have actually insulated themselves from capitalism, Market Forces, even (if things continue and we end with a One-Party ‘state’ comprised of the conflict groups ) from Democracy itself. Near where I live is the gracious town of Knutsford. Its Medieval name was Canutes-ford: demonstrating its link with that king who thought he could order the waves -one of Nature’s Forces to obey. I believe that the successive ‘waves’ of technology -the “white heats” if you prefer are just about to give those presently supposedly in charge much more trouble than just wet feet!
Just for the sake of accuracy, in the legend of Cnut the king knew perfectly well that he had no power over the tides. His demonstration was to curb sycophancy among his courtiers
Love this ‘take’ upon the fairy-story! Perhaps like all parables (and PR?!) the ‘science’ is one thing but there can be ‘faith’ that allowes rational thinking to be superceded. Surpisingly, I would always subscribe (and have!) to the idea of the senior in any group having the right to say “we are going to do it-whatever it is- this way, for no other reason than that I am the senior” -they would get my full support.
As long as in return, and if/when it (whatever it is) goes pear-shaped, they allow me to reserve the right to say “I bl**dy well told you it would?” Sadly, it is this last concept which appears to be so difficult for those in power to accept.
Perhaps Cnut was right after all. Best
MJB
That truth won’t suit Mike’s world view very well though Stuart.
sorry the word Truth should have appeared in “quotation” marks to quote Pilate, “We Both Have Truths, Are mine the same as yours?” (Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Interesting – many points to consider – many facets to look at and from many perspectives. However, lets just stand back a little to look at the overall picture!
Now I am an engineer – aged 57 have seen many new technologies come (and go) which would have astounded my Father many years ago.
I applaud any innovative practice that will help Mankind to grow and expand.
We currently have millions of refugees (stay with me here please – I’m coming back on track shortly) who have had little or no education, so cannot benefit from technology evolution – as far as jobs markets are concerned.
I was privileged to have spent time working in Malaysia when Bosch and Siemens were setting up their manufacturing centres (to produce ICE and Engine Management Systems in Penang) for their developing Automotive Industry (some 15 years ago) and most of the labour was made to sit / stand on assembly lines lift and closing and fitting units together (low tech manual working – you can see where I’m going with this?)
The actual manufacturing process of fixing electronic components onto boards, testing circuits, programming EProms etc. was all handled by “Intelligent Manufacturing Systems”.
So now we are developing the IoT and “Industry 4.0” with components being manufactured with chips and sensors to track where they are within the manufacturing cycle, automated assembly and packaging and despatch – it is quite easy to envisage a time not too far off where we need “NO HUMAN WORKFORCE” to produce parts in the future.
Which leads me to my main point – great that we will be able to produce more parts more accurately and much faster but who is going to buy them?
Orwellian this may be but Big Brother has been here for years now and is growing in sophistication – I just wonder what the effect on our society will be with millions of unemployable poorly educated people seeing even the most basic of jobs being performed by Intelligent-Machine systems.
In other words I believe our Global Society needs to catch up with Technology now before the gap widens too far between “The Have’s” and the “Have-not’s”
Food for thought?
An interesting point and I wonder how close we will be then to the “Leisure economy” I was told to expect when I was 18 (1982) since I would not (have to/be able to) work for 40 hours a week for the next 40 years by all of those in power. I have 15 years left before my pensions kick in and I don’t really see it yet. However there may be the vaguest of twinkles in the eyes of those suggesting a universal dole system such as the Swiss have recently rejected.
The internet of things, is surely the beginning of the ultimate feedback loop, My car has a sensor on the brake pads, it lights up a dash light to say the brake pads are loosing friction surface, replace it, Roughly the same as my hand might say to my brain as I dig in the garden too long and create a blister on the palm. As sensors and the ability to feed back more information about it’s running condition get better the industrial machine will be able to self predict failure, maybe even to allow another system in the machine to arrange its own repair, “Bearing on no 4 line is loose,” small robot system approaches and completes repair,” Bearing No 4 operational” So that the small incremental changes in product from time to time become even smaller. Productivity rises, A bunch of out of spec stuff is avoided, waste is reduced, longevity of equipment increases. All good engineering outcomes.
I guess at some point mechanics will become more like doctors than surgeons, gardeners than chefs, the point being to create a way for units to fix themselves and grow on their own, and it will all have started with the use of feedback from those crude sensors like the one in the disc brakes pads of my car
Very profound views expressed: as Engineers start to see the results of their inspired, continuous and continued advance of the uses of and links between technology. Fellow bloggers are probably sick and tired of my comments: pointing out that we are certainly at a pivotal point in such. Because even though we surely are! When ‘our’ integration and technical advances are literally (and practically and sociologically) changing the very way that ‘ordinary’ persons throughout our world will live their lives (because ‘we’ have allowed them no alternative, as long as they remain semi- or un-skilled. The leaders of society (who they?) have in the past arranged self- destruction to deal with such threats to their continued domination in the past: but the ‘standards’ of destructive power are now so high, I doubt if that type of ‘engineered’ conflict will work again? Cyber-conflict? Why not -like financial crime, its victimless? Well isn’t it? Welcome to a cowardly new world?
I believe it was Eliot TS who reserved the right to say what his poetry meant! may I do the same for my comments. Constantly, I seek to expand the horizons of fellow Engineers, where such might/may be necessary. Though i am constantly humbled by the outstanding knowledge of their particular fields that others show. They are standing upon the shoulders of the giants of our Engineering past, looking forward with inspiration. Far too many of our apparent leaders and betters? only look backwards for precedent. It is the reverse by them that I seek: making them follow our example: of if they will not, stepping aside. If a single remark, comment, thought, point of view, recollection, approach that I offer or describe causes one young Engineer to enhance their own approach, developing their professionalism and skill, it was surely worth the trouble.
I don’t see IoT as being the kind of thing that replaces engineering and the human element, I agree with the comments above that if used in the right way the IoT can be a great tool to develop business practises and make them more efficient. Although machines can be used to do many amazing things it’s unknown where the limitations stop. FSI (http://www.fsi.co.uk/) recently demonstrated simple feedback loop examples of how IoT elements can be used now to make things more efficient and streamlined. However the human interaction element is as important as IoT data. For instance their computer aided facilities management (CAFM) software allows facilities managers (FMs) to work on things with the assistance of tech data.