IoT • IIoT • internet of things • Industry 4.0

Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, announced continued development in driving major advances across its Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing initiatives. These advances and the introduction of Flexible Automation Modules (FAMs) further extend Molex’s Industrial Automation Solutions (IAS4.0) by empowering supply chain stakeholders to build software-defined machines, robots and production lines that meet…

By Kurt Michel, SVP, Marketing, Veea Intelligent systems have become an increasingly common part of everyday life. Using a combination of wireless communications networks, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), edge and fog computing and various other cutting-edge technologies and frameworks, providers are enhancing and improving both their operations and…

The AsteRx SB3 receiver family, enclosed in an IP68 housing, offers superior availability of RTK high-accuracy positioning due to its ability to track a wide variety of signals from all currently operating Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including not only GPS and GLONASS but also the European Galileo and Chinese BeiDou. Even in dual antenna…

Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, announced the results of a global survey of Industry 4.0 manufacturing stakeholders driving advancements in robotics, complex machines and device or control systems. The findings reflect steady progress in the development of Industry 4.0 initiatives across the industrial automation ecosystem, including smart automation, connectivity and analytics that…

Newark, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has published new research on the Internet of Things (IoT) which reveals the growing role of IoT for industrial automation and control applications essential to the delivery of Industry 4.0. The IoT Survey, which is run annually by Newark, generates new insights…

By Dr. Peter J. de Groot, Executive Director of R&D & Michael Schmidt, Market Development Manager, Zygo Corp. When looking at the place of metrology in the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” it is interesting to ponder whether industry 4.0 is being driven by developments in metrology or metrology developments are being driven by Industry 4.0. Today’s…

The news has been filled with cyberattacks on a number of companies’ networking systems, several of which are critical to the U.S. economy. As the IoT, IIoT, Industry 4.0, and similar networks inch forward, recent digital events on networking held sessions on how to secure the transmission of data. One of those sessions was at…

Since its launch five years ago, the Anybus Wireless Bolt has provided thousands of industrial applications with wireless Ethernet access. With a rugged and unique form factor for bolt-on-machine mounting, it is today proven and trusted in the most demanding industrial applications. Use cases vary from warehouse installations and AGVs to manufacturing of food, underground…

The OPC Foundation announces the launch of its academic outreach program called OPC UAcademics. The OPC UAcademics program provides post-secondary institutes with official, up-to-date OPC UA course content, ready-made for easy inclusion in their curriculums at no cost under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 license. The OPC Foundation invites interested education-providers to contact opcuacademics@opcfoundation.org…

The numerous barriers to deploying high-speed Ethernet-enabled instrumentation in hazardous process automation facilities are now resolved with the introduction of Ethernet-APL technology. Ethernet-APL is the new two-wire, intrinsically safe physical layer suitable for use in demanding process automation applications. Ethernet-APL’s benefits include dramatically improved communication speed, hazardous area reach, power to field instrumentation, and long…

Laird Connectivity, a global leader in wireless technology, has announced the Sterling 70 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) module with concurrent dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® 5.1. The Sterling 70 is powered by NXP® Semiconductor’s new 88W9098 wireless SoC, an industrial Wi-Fi 6 solution based on the latest IEEE 802.11ax standard with an innovative concurrent dual MAC Wi-Fi…

Advantech, a global leader in IoT technology, launces a next generation OPC UA I/O sensing module with Modbus protocol. ADAM-6300 is an IT/OT convergence series that integrates information technology (IT) systems with operational technology (OT) – representing a leap forward in smart IoT technology for factories and utilities. Moreover, through the OPC UA and built-in…

The Scalance MUM856-1 – the first industrial 5G router from Siemens – is available now. The device connects local industrial applications to public 5G, 4G (LTE), and 3G (UMTS) mobile wireless networks. The router can be used to remotely monitor and service plants, machines, control elements, and other industrial devices via a public 5G network…

It may be tempting to rest on your laurels when you finally have your IIoT networks up and running. Nonetheless, change remains the only real constant in life, and the world of industrial networking is no exception. Your IIoT network may be sufficient for your current needs—it may even be ready for your foreseeable application…

By Keith Higgins, VP of Digital Transformation, Rockwell Automation To help identify design issues earlier in the machine build cycle, machine designers look to virtually commission new production lines using digital twin technology. This technology can simulate nearly every aspect of machine operation without needing access to a single piece of physical equipment. It allows…

Siemens Digital Industries Software announces a partnership with Tangent Works to deliver simple-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to get more value from IoT data. The new AI for Everybody solution integrates the power of Tangent Works InstantML technology into MindSphere, the industrial IoT as a service solution from Siemens, to enable users to instantly leverage…

Data exchange is an important issue to look at when integrating the production (operational technology, OT) and management (information technology, IT) levels. This is due to the large number of variables and non-standardized interfaces, as well as the need to support access privileges and specific security requirements. Although OPC UA has now established itself as…

Heilind Electronics, a leading global distributor of electronic components, introduces Technology Now — a series of virtual expos for both new and existing customers. The expos are free to attend and will give attendees the opportunity to interact directly with representatives from leading manufacturers in the electronic components industry. Hosted virtually, Technology Now will allow…

Severe settings are tapping into real-time processing, advancing a new level of machine learning and AI. By Dustin Seetoo, Director of Product Marketing, Premio Inc. Deep, real-time data is foundational to artificial intelligence, making it imperative for industrial environments to capitalize on the deluge of data generated by intelligent, connected devices. Yet all too often,…

Industrial edge devices begin to show their value Is there any truth to the hype around edge computing? As a reminder, that term refers to a distributed computing concept where data processing and connectivity are available at the local process level rather than squirreled away in the network core or in the cloud. For a…

ODVA announced that The EtherNet/IP Specification has been enhanced to allow vendors to bring the network to resource-constrained devices in-cabinet, including push buttons and contactors. Cost, size, and power restrictions have historically limited the usage of EtherNet/IP at the edge, where many nodes are still hardwired. However, the continued decrease in the cost of semiconductor…

ODVA announced that CIP Security, the cybersecurity network extension for EtherNet/IP, has added support for resource-constrained EtherNet/IP devices. CIP Security will provide device authentication, a broad trust domain, device identity via Pre-Shared Keys (PSKs), device integrity, and data confidentiality for resource-constrained devices such as contactors and push-buttons. Additionally, a narrow trust domain, user authentication, and…

By Cliff Ortmeyer, Head of Marketing at Newark Manufacturers seek new technological innovations to improve productivity and, ultimately, their market competitiveness. It’s why the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has drawn the industry’s attention to the benefits of making their factories smarter and more data-driven. Yet, large changes in ways of working can cause confusion,…

IIoT technology can often benefit industrial processes without a large capital investment. James Wiczer, Ph.D. • Sensor Synergy, Inc. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has long been viewed as a means of improving manufacturing in a variety of ways. Although there are many definitions and interpretations of IIoT, at the most fundamental level, IIoT…

Worst suspicions confirmed: The terrible security of internet routers Here’s the latest IDT security nightmare: All of the wireless routers through which most loT traffic passes are probably vul­nerable to botnets and other kinds of security breaches. That’s the conclusion of researchers at Fraunhofer FKIE in Germany who analyzed 127 different routers sold by seven…