PROCESSING REAL-TIME MACHINE DATA IN THE CLOUD

With the IIoT-Starter-Kit, Pepperl+Fuchs has created a way of bringing sensor data from machines on the shop floor to the cloud and are thus leading their customers into the digital world. 

The IIoT-Starter-Kit includes all components that Pepperl+Fuchs customers need to connect their machines to the cloud.

The IO-Link Master is part of this kit and allows up to eight sensor devices to be connected via a 3-wire connection to an Ethernet interface. This interface can support real-time protocols such as OPC-UA and MQTT to connect to an AWS instance for data transfer and processing.

The IIoT-Starter-Kit also contains various sensors such as distance and vibration sensors, an RFID read/write head, a switch, and a power supply unit to transfer the sensor data to the cloud and process it there. In order to integrate the IO-Link Master into an AWS instance and to be able to process the data in the cloud and visualize it on a dashboard, Pepperl+Fuchs needed the support of an experienced partner.

Zoi helped Pepperl+Fuchs create the architecture concept; selecting the appropriate AWS services and configuring the AWS services in the AWS console. The configurations in the AWS console were carried out together in a hands-on workshop in order to pass on the relevant knowledge to the Pepperl+Fuchs employees.

On the IO-Link Master side, the MQTT broker and the certificate were configured to enable the data to be transferred to the cloud. The connection to the cloud and the dashboard are an important step for Pepperl+Fuchs in the further development of the IIoT-Starter-Kit. 

The automation of the infrastructure that now follows – for example through infrastructure-as-code templates and configuration scripts – should enable greater efficiency and scalability in the future.

PEPPERL+FUCHS, AWS, AND ZOI: STRONG PARTNERS FOR DIGITAL ADDED VALUE IN PRODUCTION

The Pepperl+Fuchs IIoT-Starter-Kit enables real-time transmission of sensor data to the cloud, enabling digital added value in production. AWS was selected as a suitable cloud partner due to the scalability and flexibility of AWS services, and the ability to process and visualize large amounts of data in real time.

FOUR AWS CLOUD SERVICES ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION OF SENSOR DATA

The transmission of sensor data to the cloud is based on four AWS services: AWS IoT Core, AWS IoT Rules, Amazon OpenSearch Service, and Amazon OpenSearch Service Dashboard.

The sensors on the shop floor collect the data and forward it to the IO-Link Master, which transfers the date to the AWS account via AWS IoT Core. Since this is a Serverless application, neither Pepperl+Fuchs nor Zoi has to manage the associated cloud infrastructure.

After being transmitted by the IO-Link Master and processed by AWS IoT Core, the data is forwarded to the Amazon OpenSearch Service. Amazon OpenSearch Service increases scalability and is able to efficiently process large amounts of data. AWS IoT Rules enriches the data – for example with a timestamp – and filters it if necessary. The data can then be visualized and customized using the Amazon OpenSearch Service Dashboard.

The data transfer takes place via the IO-Link Master and the four AWS Services.

ABOUT PEPPERL+FUCHS

Pepperl+Fuchs is a globally active, medium-sized company specializing in the manufacturing of electronic sensors and components for the automation industry. The company was founded in Mannheim in 1945 as a radio repair workshop and has since grown into a global technology leader in the automation industry. Pepperl+Fuchs manufactures a wide range of products, including sensors, controllers, imaging devices, and RFID systems. These are used in many industrial applications, such as in the automotive industry, materials, and merchandise management, or the pharmaceutical and food industries.

It was important to us to work with a competent partner who, on the one hand, supports us with technological expertise in getting to the next higher digital level and, on the other hand, can also help our customers. With Zoi, we have found such a partner who can solve cloud connectivity challenges for IoT devices.