The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to deliver unprecedented access to real-time data and insight into our physical world. To take advantage of these possibilities, organizations are looking to the power of Edge-Computing, which enables processing to occur at or near the device without the need for a centralized server.
Edge-Computing provides a variety of advantages for IoT solutions. For example, leveraging edge-computing reduces or eliminates the amount of data that needs to be sent back to a centralized server, providing a lower latency response time to devices and allowing organizations to better monitor and control their devices. In addition, edge-computing helps reduce operational costs by increasing efficiency and reducing CPU power requirements, while making it easier to scale an IoT deployment.
To get started with edge-computing in IoT deployments, organizations need to consider the four primary steps:
The first step to deploying an edge-computing solution for an IoT deployment is selecting the appropriate hardware and platform. There are two main types of edge platforms: totally on-premise and cloud-based.
On-premise edge solutions often involve dedicated hardware, such as routers or network switches, with all of the connections and necessary software already installed. Cloud-based edge solutions, on the other hand, involve leveraging cloud-based services, such as Amazon Web Services, to provide more of a turnkey approach.
Organizations need to select a platform that can meet their specific needs, such as budget, scalability, power requirements, and security.
Once the edge platform is selected, organizations need to develop the application that will run on the edge platform. This application will contain the logic and telemetry data that enables it to monitor and control connected IoT devices.
The development process will depend on the type of platform that is chosen, but typically involves a combination of low-level programming languages, microcontroller-based languages, and web development technologies. Many organizations also use an open-source edge platform, such as EdgeX Foundry, which provides the necessary APIs and components for developing applications.
Once the edge application has been developed, it must be deployed to the edge platform. This will involve pushing the application to the edge device or cloud-based platform and ensuring that it is running correctly.
Organizations will also need to consider how to manage the deployment, such as setting up authentication and authorization, establishing communication between the edge device and the IoT devices, and configuring the system to auto-update the application.
Lastly, organizations will need to ensure that the application is running correctly and is able to meet the needs of the users. This will involve regularly monitoring the application and its performance, as well as troubleshooting and resolving any issues that may arise.
Organizations should also consider implementing a regular update schedule, which will ensure that the edge application is regularly patched and running the latest version.
Edge-Computing is a powerful and increasingly important tool for IoT deployments. By selecting the right platform, developing applications, deploying the application, and regularly monitoring it, organizations can easily take advantage of the power that edge-computing provides.