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羅克韋爾自動化大型控制器營銷經理 Kris Dornan 表示，工業(yè)邊緣計算設備為使邊緣應用成為可能奠定了基礎。這些設備通過將您的車間計算硬件移動到您的控制器機柜、控制器機箱甚至控制器本身來取代車間的“白盒”PC。
在此基礎上，工程師可以部署操作系統(tǒng)和軟件應用程序，使用數字孿生、分析和機器學習等功能，為您的運營創(chuàng)造新的可能性。
“工業(yè)邊緣計算設備可以是與控制器位于同一機箱中的工業(yè)計算機、與控制器位于同一機架上的計算模塊或帶有內置計算機的工業(yè)控制器，”Dornan 說。
“無論你選擇哪個選項，你都會得到相似的結果。您將獲得一個計算解決方案，該解決方案可以與您的控制器安裝在同一位置并加以保護。通過將您的控制和計算組件彼此靠近，或者將它們組合到一個平臺中，您可以加快操作中的信息流，”他補充道。
Dornan 說，終結果是邊緣計算設備的可能性幾乎是無限的。例如，您可以將它們與視覺系統(tǒng)結合使用，以檢測高速輸送線上的異常情況，從而提供原本無法實現的時間戳保真度。您可以通過創(chuàng)建一個計算過程值的應用程序來提高過程可見性，否則該過程值難以測量或傳感器易受環(huán)境因素的影響。您可以使用“試錯”模擬在安全的虛擬環(huán)境中測試生產變化，然后再將其實施到您的物理操作中。
羅克韋爾自動化公司設計軟件營銷經理 Matt Masarik 表示，出于安全原因，越來越多的 PC 被移出并禁止帶入車間。
“工業(yè)邊緣計算設備提供了一種保留這種關鍵計算能力的方法，同時加強網絡安全，提高響應能力和決策能力，”他說。
首先，邊緣計算設備提供了固有的網絡安全優(yōu)勢。它們不僅可以讓您從車間移除 PC，還可以移除將 PC 連接到您的系統(tǒng)所需的電纜和交換機等組件，從而減少您的攻擊足跡。邊緣計算設備還允許您使用語音或面部識別軟件等功能來創(chuàng)建對資產的更安全訪問。
此外，為邊緣設備創(chuàng)建軟件應用程序的能力可以幫助您以新的方式監(jiān)控、管理和優(yōu)化您的運營。例如，無需員工篩選歷史性能數據并手動進行更改以改進您的流程，您的邊緣應用程序可以不斷學習您的流程并實時優(yōu)化它。或者您的邊緣應用程序可以將您的實際性能與理想狀態(tài)進行比較，并確定您的不足之處。
“除了解決網絡安全挑戰(zhàn)之外，工業(yè)邊緣計算設備還可以幫助解決另一個問題：不斷變化的勞動力，”馬薩里克說。
許多習慣于連接控制室并使用梯形邏輯和功能塊編程的操作員和工程師正在退休。隨著他們退休，他們將被具有不同才能和技能的新一代工人所取代。這些員工對技術有不同的期望——特別是“智能”并連接到移動設備。他們也更熟悉其他編程語言，如 Python 和 Java。
“邊緣計算設備符合這些工人的期望和技能，”他補充說。“例如，一些邊緣計算設備包括一個應用程序編程接口 (API) 庫，允許不同的編程語言與控制處理器進行通信。這可以讓工程師使用他們喜歡的編程語言來編寫控制器的部分甚至全部邏輯。”
Dornan said that the end result is that the possibilities for what you can do with edge computing devices are nearly unlimited. For example, you can combine them with vision systems to detect anomalies on high-speed conveyance lines, providing a fidelity of timestamp that may not otherwise be possible. You can improve process visibility by creating an application that calculates a process value that otherwise is difficult to measure or where a sensor is susceptible to environmental factors. And you can use “trial and error” simulations to test production changes in a safe, virtual environment before implementing them in your physical operations.
According to Matt Masarik, design software marketing manager at Rockwell Automation, PCs are increasingly being removed and prohibited from the plant floor for security reasons.
“Industrial edge computing devices provide a means of retaining this crucial computing capability, while at the same time strengthening cybersecurity and improving responsiveness and decision making,” he said.
For starters, edge computing devices offer inherent cybersecurity benefits. They can reduce your attack footprint by allowing you to remove not only PCs from the plant floor but also components like cabling and switches that are required to tether the PCs to your systems. Edge computing devices also allow you to use advanced capabilities like voice- or face-recognition software to create more secure access to your assets.
Additionally, the ability to create software applications for an edge device can help you monitor, manage and optimize your operations in new ways. For example, instead of staff sifting through historical performance data and manually making changes to improve your process, your edge application can continually learn your process and optimize it in real time. Or your edge application can compare how your actual performance compares against the ideal state and identify where you’re falling short.
“In addition to addressing cybersecurity challenges, industrial edge computing devices can help address another concern: the changing workforce,” Masarik said.
Many operators and engineers who are accustomed to tethered control rooms and who use ladder logic and function block programming are retiring. And as they retire, they’re being replaced by a new generation of workers who have different talents and skillsets. These workers have different expectations for technology – specifically that it be “smart” and connected to a mobile device. They’re also more familiar with other programming languages, like Python and Java.
“Edge computing devices align with the expectations and skillsets of these workers,” he added. “For example, some edge computing devices include a library of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow different programming languages to communicate with the control processor. This can allow engineers to use their preferred programming language to code some or maybe even all of a controller’s logic.”
