Advantech Technology, July 2022 “Advantech’s 5G Edge Intelligent Industrial Gateway ECU-150 not only adapts to various devices in the factory but also helps our digital factory solve the pain points of cloud operation and maintenance through EdgeLink software. It can achieve high bandwidth and low latency data transmission through 5G networks, maximizing the digital potential of the Industrial Internet of Things. Additionally, the unique network frequency bands of 5G allow for private network communications, avoiding the interference of crowded WIFI bands, making information more secure,” said the equipment manager of a digital factory after testing the Advantech 5G Edge Gateway ECU-150.
As we know, for traditional manufacturing factories, achieving digital transformation requires building an Industrial Internet of Things platform for device interconnection, collecting operational data from key devices downwards, and transmitting data to upper application systems upwards. In the industrial field, more and more applications are beginning to use new technologies such as machine vision, edge computing, and artificial intelligence. These emerging technologies require industrial gateway devices in the industrial field to provide low latency and high bandwidth 5G network connections. Some sensitive application scenarios require network independence and security.
A digital factory faced such a challenge during its networking transformation. The factory already had information systems such as ERP and MES, but due to the numerous devices deployed in various areas, the devices were not interconnected, and each device remained a data island. Some construction information is confidential and requires adequate preparation for information security. Therefore, after repeated confirmations and comparisons, this factory tested the Advantech 5G Edge Gateway ECU-150 solution.
The Advantech 5G Edge Intelligent Gateway ECU-150 plays a crucial role in linking, collecting, and transmitting data. “On the cloud or edge side, ECU-150 can adapt to various devices in the factory. Due to the application of 5G technology, it can also achieve high-speed and stable mobile data transmission. Through software such as EdgeLink, it can analyze device operation data in real-time, allowing for early detection of potential device failures and formulating relevant maintenance plans, achieving intelligent device management,” said the person in charge of digital transformation at the factory during the product trial of the Advantech 5G Edge ECU-150.
Throughout the trial, connecting numerous production devices to the Industrial Internet of Things system not only realized interconnectivity among production devices but also enabled real-time data collection, monitoring, and analysis, making the entire production process “transparent.” Meanwhile, the 5G enterprise private network made information even more secure.
“Previously, I spent almost all day in the production workshop, checking the operational status of each production device one by one. Now, through the Advantech 5G Edge Gateway ECU-150, I can remotely see the operational status of all devices in the factory on my computer or phone without leaving my home,” said operation and maintenance engineer Xiao Zhang, expressing his excitement about the improvements in work intensity and the shift to an intelligent model brought by the product trial.
High-Spec Hardware Achieves5G Industrial Applications
In response to the current 5G network connection needs in industrial sites, the Advantech 5G Edge Intelligent Gateway ECU-150 not only allows for flexible expansion through modular design and open architecture but also provides performance support for more complex 5G industrial application scenarios with its robust hardware configuration.
• High computing power, large storage, and autonomous kit import: Supports i.MX8M quad-core Cortex A53 1.3G ultra-strong computing power ARM architecture CP and LPDDR4 2GB RAM, 16GB eMMC high-speed system storage.
• Rich ports, flexible expansion: Comes with 2 independent network ports, 2 independent serial ports, built-in USB3.0 slots, and programmable LED lights, with built-in Mini-PCIe for expandable SD/SIM card slots.
• Ultra-fast communication, secure transmission: Built-in 5G module, supporting dual 4G/WiFi/iDoor/NB-IoT, TPM2.0 encryption chip ensures more stable data and system.
• Compact design, flexible installation: Features a slim body of 30*93*100mm, Din-Rail wall-mounted dual-use, meeting the installation needs of compact industrial environments.
Cloud Operation and Maintenance Enhances Equipment Management Efficiency From simple interconnection between devices to edge-cloud collaborative computing and then to Edge AI, the rapid iteration of new technologies and the pursuit of extreme efficiency have led to an increasing variety of devices in the factory. The diversification of brands and the inconsistency of data interfaces have become persistent challenges hindering the digital transformation of factories. Therefore, how to interconnect a large number of devices in a short time and how to manage them remotely and effectively after connection have become two major pain points for enterprises deploying the Industrial Internet of Things.
To achieve interconnection between devices, it is necessary to unify the interfaces and data protocols of various brands. Therefore, Advantech has integrated powerful driver protocols in its Edge Intelligent Gateway ECU-150, which can connect to over 200 mainstream brand PLC devices such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Omron, and supports multiple industry-specific device communication protocols.
To simplify the configuration operations for device access to the Industrial Internet of Things and achieve remote operation and maintenance, Advantech has integrated its proprietary software WISE-EdgeLink into the ECU-150. As a cross-platform, independent, and lightweight edge communication software, its core functions include data collection, processing, backup, and forwarding. It not only supports uploading data to most cloud platforms on the market but can also upload data to customers’ private cloud platforms according to their needs.
• Windows interface flexible configuration gateway
• Multi-dimensional data collection, one-click forwarding, easy cloud upload
• VPN remote deployment, secure and convenient operation and maintenance
• Instant alarm mechanism for real-time insights into device dynamics
• C programming interface for high-level algorithms
Thus, the management operations of the Advantech 5G Edge Intelligent Industrial Gateway ECU-150 have been significantly simplified. This can not only enhance the reliability of the gateway system in industrial sites, reducing the occurrence rate of failures but will also significantly reduce the working time of operation and maintenance engineers, bringing enormous economic value to enterprises adopting the Industrial Internet of Things.
Harsh Environments, Complex Sites, Super Adaptability
The Advantech 5G Edge Intelligent Gateway ECU-150, due to its high stability and reliability, has passed rigorous CE, FCC certification tests. Additionally, it adopts a metal body with a special protective coating, aluminum extruded fins for strong heat dissipation, and supports 10~30 VDC wide voltage power supply, ensuring stable operation in harsh environments ranging from -40℃ to 70℃. The ECU-150 features an open Linux system and flexible EdgeLink SDK, supporting secondary development to meet the demands of rigorous industrial applications such as industrial site monitoring, production line intelligence, device networking, operation and maintenance management, and unmanned inspections.
In the process of industrial digital transformation, facing intelligent applications in fields such as device networking and remote operation and maintenance, the Advantech edge gateway, as an important component for IoT data collection, transmission, and cloud management, has been widely applied in industrial manufacturing, environmental monitoring, green energy, wastewater treatment, smart buildings, metallurgy, and mining, accumulating rich technical and application experience. In the future, it will continue to leverage advanced IoT technology advantages to provide reliable and stable edge-cloud connections for domestic and international partners and users, meeting the diverse and changing intelligent application needs across different industries.
About Advantech –Founded in 1983, Advantech has focused on three major markets: Industrial IoT, Embedded IoT, and Smart Cities, with the vision of being a “catalyst for a smart earth.” To meet the trends of IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence, Advantech has proposed IoT software and hardware solutions centered on edge intelligence and the WISE-PaaS industrial cloud platform to assist partners in connecting the industrial chain. Advantech’s business is distributed across 27 countries worldwide, with approximately 8,300 employees, providing localized and responsive services to customers through a strong technical service and marketing network. Additionally, Advantech actively promotes co-creation with industry partners to accelerate the construction and development of the AIoT ecosystem.
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