Smart Manufacturing

Emerson brings enhanced AI capability and streamlined application deployment to the industrial edge

Emerson Automation Solutions 17 seconds ago

25 4 minutes read

Emerson brings enhanced AI capability and streamlined application deployment to the industrial edge — Emerson's PACEdge™ 3.0 helps teams more intuitively secure, deploy and standardize edge applications to drive the most efficiency and productivity from their operations.

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PACEdge software platform simplifies IIoT application development, deployment and administration

Emerson launches PACEdge™ 3.0 to bring AI and advanced analytics to industrial edge devices.
PACEdge 3.0 aggregates siloed IIoT data to support artificial intelligence, machine learning and real-time industrial insights.
IIoT enablement software simplifies industrial edge deployment and management through secure, intuitive tools and group-based device control.
Containerised workloads and an integrated application marketplace help accelerate the deployment of industrial applications at the edge.

Global automation leader Emerson has announced PACEdge™ version 3.0, the latest development of its Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) enablement software platform. The new release is designed to bring enhanced AI capabilities and streamlined application deployment to industrial edge devices.

The latest PACEdge platform enhancements are aimed at helping teams across life sciences, oil and gas, packaging, food and beverage and other industrial sectors to more intuitively secure, deploy and standardise edge applications.

By simplifying the way applications and industrial data are managed at the edge, the platform is designed to help organisations make greater use of their operational data while supporting efficiency and productivity improvements.

Bringing AI and analytics to the industrial edge

Modern manufacturers are increasingly using the large volumes of data generated by IIoT devices to support AI vision applications, inference and advanced analytics.

These technologies can provide the real-time information needed to support more informed operational decisions and help businesses respond to changing production requirements.

However, industrial data is often spread across a wide range of disparate IIoT technologies and systems. This can create challenges for manufacturers looking to bring data together and turn it into actionable information.

PACEdge version 3.0 builds on the platform’s ability to aggregate data from a wide variety of technologies before making it available to containerised applications.

These applications can include AI-based analytics, machine vision systems and visualisation tools, helping organisations make greater use of industrial data directly at the edge.

The approach is particularly relevant as manufacturers look to expand the use of AI in industrial environments. Processing and making data available closer to where it is generated can support applications that require timely access to operational information while reducing some of the complexity associated with managing data across multiple systems.

“Amidst increasing competition, workforce shortages and the rise of AI, deploying software in the most performant and cost-effective way is a critical enabler of competitive advantage,” said Sean Saul, vice president of product for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “The PACEdge 3.0 software platform provides a suite of tools and services to make it easier for teams to deploy or build their own analytics, AI and machine learning applications, dashboards, graphics and data visualisations as close as possible to where work is performed. This version release helps customers realise operational value from edge applications faster through a simpler, more scalable deployment experience.”

Simplifying industrial edge deployment

One of the latest enhancements to the PACEdge platform is the introduction of a group manager designed to provide a more intuitive approach to device management.

The group manager enables teams to remotely manage groups of devices across a facility or throughout an enterprise. This provides a centralised way to manage multiple industrial edge devices and deploy changes across groups of equipment.

Through an intuitive graphical interface, users can deploy new features and updates across managed devices. This includes updated dashboards, security updates and operating system updates, as well as other changes required to support industrial applications.

For organisations managing multiple edge devices, the ability to apply changes remotely and across groups can help simplify administration while providing a more consistent approach to deployment. It also supports the wider objective of standardising industrial edge applications across operations.

Containerised workloads support faster application deployment

PACEdge 3.0 also introduces improved integration with the application marketplace, making it easier for users to run containerised workloads at the industrial edge within a secure environment.

Users have access to a single repository for applications available through the PACEdge marketplace. They can browse or search for applications designed to support their individual operational requirements and deploy them with minimal intervention.

The use of containerised workloads provides a flexible approach to deploying industrial software applications at the edge. Rather than requiring applications to be managed as isolated deployments, the PACEdge environment is designed to provide a more streamlined route for installing and managing applications across industrial devices.

The improved marketplace integration therefore complements the new group management capabilities, giving industrial teams tools for both application deployment and device administration.

Supporting industrial AI and IIoT applications

The latest PACEdge release comes as manufacturers increasingly explore how artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics can be incorporated into industrial operations.

Industrial AI can encompass technologies including IIoT, edge computing, sensors, operational technology and real-time operational data, with applications ranging from predictive maintenance and quality control to production optimisation.

For manufacturers, the ability to bring these technologies together is increasingly important as industrial operations generate growing volumes of data from connected equipment and systems. Edge computing can provide a way of processing information closer to the point at which it is generated, supporting applications where timely access to operational data is important.

PACEdge 3.0 is designed around this industrial edge model, providing tools intended to make it easier for teams to collect and use IIoT data while deploying AI, machine learning, analytics, dashboards and visualisation applications.

For sectors including life sciences, oil and gas, packaging and food and beverage, the platform provides a route towards more standardised deployment of edge applications while supporting the growing demand for industrial AI and real-time operational insight.

The new version also focuses on reducing the complexity associated with managing applications across industrial environments. Through group-based device management, containerised workloads and marketplace integration, PACEdge 3.0 is designed to give industrial teams a more scalable approach to deploying and administering edge applications.

As manufacturers continue to look for practical ways to move AI and advanced analytics from experimentation into operational environments, the ability to deploy these technologies securely and efficiently at the industrial edge is becoming an increasingly important part of digital transformation strategies.

For more information, visit Emerson.com.

Contact Details

Emerson Automation Solutions

0870 240 1978
uksales@emerson.com
Meridian East, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, Leicestershire LE19 1UX GB

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