Bring Factories Online with IoT Controllers

Integrated Solution Combines Gateway and Controller

Manufacturers are enthusiastic about the Internet of Things (IoT) but face significant barriers to connecting their equipment. Most plants are full of legacy devices that run on closed-loop intranets separate from corporate networks. To create a smart factory, manufacturers need to bring this equipment online without an expensive factory overhaul.

In this article, we explain how a new generation of IoT controllers solves this problem using the fanless NEXCOM NIFE 100 as an example. We show how the NIFE 100 connects fieldbus networks, enterprise systems, and smartphone and tablet operator interfaces – and we demonstrate how this connectivity helps manufacturers increase competitiveness, anticipate trends, and improve the bottom line.

We also illustrate how the NIFE 100 consolidates multiple factory functions – including logic control, human-machine interface (HMI), and communications – using multicore Intel^® Atom™ processors. We consider how supporting tools like CODESYS SoftLogic facilitate control programming and remote management. Finally, we show how as an Intel^® IoT Gateway solution, the NIFE 100 simplifies network design and security.

The print edition of this article was published in the 11th edition of Intel's Embedded Innovator Magazine.