September 2021

n TECHNOLOGY September 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com 18 MICROSOFT HAS teamed up with a German start-up, CloudRail, to integrate almost any sensor on existing or new machines with its IoT Plug & Play services such as IoT Central. CloudRail estimates that there are about 12,000 industrial sensors from suppliers such as ifm, Sick and Pepperl+Fuchs that could be connected in this way. Many companies are struggling to implement the IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things), because the process of connecting industrial assets physically to the cloud in IIoT projects is complex, and can take weeks or months. With CloudRail’s OT-to-cloud technology, industrial sensors mounted on machines can be connected to Microsoft’s Azure IoT cloud or to business applications with a few clicks of a mouse. CloudRail says the development will lower the entry barriers to IIoT applications. “Collecting data frommachines which are sometimes 30 to 40 years old was always a challenge,”explains CloudRail CEO, Felix Kollmar.“With CloudRail and Microsoft IoT Plug & Play, it becomes simple. We were able to reduce the time to connect a machine to Microsoft Azure IoT to just a few hours.” The technology is “agnostic” of equipment vendors, as well as IIoT applications. Besides offering IoT Plug & Play support for industrial sensors, it also supports standards such as OPC-UA, allowing it to connect modern equipment. CloudRail says the technology will allow users to standardise their IIoT architecture from the outset. They can achieve any kind of IIoT application on a scalable and secure platform. By combining Azure and CloudRail, they will be able run and manage a single connected machine – or millions of machines. In addition, software vendors and SIs (systems integrators) will be able to build applications on top of Microsoft Azure, that take advantage of the wide sensor support. “CloudRail changes the way IIoT projects are realised,” says Tony Shakib, general manager of Microsoft Azure IoT. “Companies can start small, prove value fast and quickly scale based on their learnings. Businesses around the world will benefit from faster results and lower device onboarding and management costs.” CloudRail was founded in 2018 to bridge the gap between the factory and the cloud. SIs are using its products to transform factories using the Industrial IoT. https://cloudrail.com 12,000 sensors on existing machines can now connect to the cloud p US-based Alef , which specialises in edge Internet technologies, has announced“the first platform that will make the edge Internet a reality and radically transform the way the world lives, works and plays”. Called Private Edge, the software-defined platform is a mobile edge- based host that helps enterprises to build and operate customised virtual private networks. It consists of three main pillars: Edge Points, a layer of edge nodes that allow enterprises to become virtual mobile operators; Edge Builder, a programmable edge where they can leverage edge APIs and build apps and solutions; and Edge Marketplace, where they can buy, connect, collaborate, and share pre-configured products (apps) built using these APIs. The service is available initially in the US. https://alefedge.com/ p igus has developed a blue tribo-filament for producing of 3D-printed parts for the food industry. The iglidur I151 material is said to have the best friction and wear values in its class. Because of its blue colour, parts can be produced that are visible in food applications, while compliance with FDA and EU 10/2011 regulations means the material is safe to be in contact with food and can be used in the cosmetics sector. The material can produce components with high wear resistance and because it incorporates solid lubricants, it does not need extra lubrication, ruling out the risk of contamination. www.igus.co.uk p Musashi AI has completed a proof-of-concept of a “control tower”technology for automating logistics at a large Japanese logistics company, Suzuyo , in partnership with the Israeli automation and mobility management software developer, 634AI . In the trial, an AMR (autonomous mobile robot) moved pallets autonomously from one location to another under the control of 634AI’s Maestro navigation and fleet management software. The technology combines AI with computer vision software to automate movements at industrial sites. The companies are now discussing deploying the software with MusashiAI AMRs at Suzuyo distribution sites across Japan. https://www.634.ai http://www.musashi.co.jp p The computer memory specialist Innodisk is assembling the hardware and software technologies needed for an all-in-one AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) cloud-to-edge solution for industrial applications that will streamline compatibility and reduce application implementation times. The“AIoT All- round Service”will provide an all-in-one package for smart automation, infrastructure and warehouse applications, as well as for autonomous vehicles and other vertical applications. www.innodisk.com p Candela , the Swedish developer of battery- powered hydrofoil boats, has announced its first vessel aimed at volume production. Powered by a custom- designed 55kWmotor and 44kWh lithium-ion battery, the 8.5m-long C-8 can carry eight people over a distance of 80km (claimed to be the longest range for any electric boat) at speeds of up to 30 knots. The silent, maintenance-free vessel is claimed to be“the most efficient boat ever”with running costs said to be 95% lower than those of combustion-engined rivals. The vessel will cost €290,000 (ex VAT) – said to be comparable to conventional powerboats of a similar size. Deliveries start in 2022. www.candelaspeedboat.com TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS CloudRail’s technology allows sensors on new and existing machines to connect to Microsoft Azure and other cloud services