In scenarios such as digital factories, smart buildings, and energy management, you will find a common point: the number of devices is increasing, protocols are becoming more complex, and business operations are becoming more real-time.
In the past, we only needed to read data from devices and send it to the upper computer; however, now, for production efficiency, energy consumption analysis, and safety monitoring, data not only needs to be collected but also needs to be processed quickly, accurately, and flexibly..
This is where the BL118 Node-RED edge computing gateway shines.
1. Why does data acquisition require “edge computing”?
The traditional approach is to pull all data to a server or cloud platform for processing. However, in actual industrial scenarios, this solution has three inherent flaws:
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High latency Device collection → upload → platform computation → then issue back, the round trip can take tens to hundreds of milliseconds. This is insufficient for industrial control scenarios with high real-time requirements.
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Unstable network The network in factories, mines, and parks cannot be perfectly stable 24/7; once the network is down, data is lost, and alarms are delayed.
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Multiple and chaotic protocols Siemens, Sick, Mitsubishi, instruments, collectors… Each protocol has its own quirks, and the cloud cannot unify compatibility.
Therefore, more and more enterprises are beginning to delegate data preprocessing, protocol conversion, logical judgment, and local strategy control to the local gateway. The BL118 was born to meet this demand.
2. BL118: A Node-RED edge computing gateway that understands the field
The BL118 is a lightweight industrial gateway designed by Baile Technology specifically for the edge side. It integrates Node-RED visual orchestration, multi-protocol industrial communication, and edge computing capabilities into a device the size of a palm.
It does not solve a single point problem but rather the entire chain of “device access → data processing → cloud/local system”.
The core advantages of the BL118 can be summarized in four statements:
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Quick connection (full protocol support, lightweight configuration)
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Strong processing (local logic + real-time computation)
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Flexible expansion (Node-RED nodes can be assembled freely)
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Stable and reliable (industrial-grade system + watchdog + data recovery after disconnection)
3. Typical application scenarios of BL118 in data acquisition
1. Unified acquisition of multi-protocol devices
The BL118 has built-in mainstream industrial protocols:
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MODBUS RTU / TCP
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OPC UA
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MQTT
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S7 (can be paired with node-red-contrib-s7)
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Serial devices (485/232)
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Custom TCP/UDP communication
One gateway can connect to all devices on a production line without needing to purchase separate OPC servers or protocol converters.
Real-world scenario example (from customer experience): In the past, they needed three sets of tools to connect a Siemens PLC, an instrument, and a power meter; after switching to the BL118, everything was set up through Node-RED processes in just one hour.
2. Data cleaning, denoising, and computation on the edge
The advantage of Node-RED lies here: you can drag and connect data flows like building blocks to achieve:
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Dewatering and outlier filtering
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Data compensation (resume from breakpoints)
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Calculating power, energy consumption, and efficiency
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Triggering local logic based on conditions
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Edge-side alarm linkage (sound and light alarms, relay outputs, etc.)
This makes the BL118 no longer just a “data relay station,” but rather an intelligent processing unit.
3. Data upload to the cloud: MQTT / HTTP / Alibaba / Huawei / Private Cloud
The processed data can be pushed to:
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Alibaba Cloud IoT
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Huawei Cloud IOTDA
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Tencent Cloud
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User-built EMQX / EMQX Enterprise Edition
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Standard MQTT Broker
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Restful API / HTTP
More importantly: local caching during network disconnection, automatic resending upon reconnection ensures data integrity and reliability.
4. Local dashboards / small edge SCADA
The BL118 comes with browser visualization capabilities, allowing it to:
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Display real-time data dashboards within a local area network
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Show curves, tables, and device statuses
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Operate as a “small SCADA” system
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Support Node-RED Dashboard / Next UI
This is very sufficient for teams and small production lines.
4. Core advantages of BL118 in data acquisition
① Quick to get started, engineers can learn to use it in five minutes
Node-RED visual programming does not require coding; engineering personnel only need to:
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Drag nodes
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Connect data lines
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Set parameters
to run a complete data acquisition solution.
② Strong adaptability: hardware structure designed for industrial sites
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Industrial-grade wide temperature range
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Metal casing
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Interference resistance
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Watchdog to prevent crashes
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Dual network ports / multiple serial ports (model dependent)
Can be used in equipment cabinets, power distribution rooms, and production lines.
③ Local processing reduces latency and network dependency
Real-time performance improves from hundreds of milliseconds → tens of milliseconds as data does not need to traverse external networks, allowing independent operation even when disconnected from the cloud platform.
④ Freedom of expansion: Node-RED’s powerful open-source ecosystem
Want to connect BACnet? Want to connect S7? Want to connect a specific protocol from a manufacturer? Want to perform lightweight AI inference?
Node-RED has corresponding plugins, and the BL118 can run them directly.
This is something traditional gateways cannot achieve.
⑤ Controllable costs: one device replaces three
BL118 = protocol converter + data processor + small SCADA + cloud gateway
For small to medium scenarios, it offers excellent cost performance.
5. Why choose Baile Technology’s BL118?
Baile Technology has been developing edge computing products for over ten years, focusing on “real-world industrial scenarios.” The BL118 is not a laboratory toy, but rather:
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Extensively validated by customers
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Mature and stable
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Continuous firmware and Node-RED node upgrades
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Professional technical support team for debugging assistance
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BLRAT remote configuration tool for convenient remote debugging
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Quickconfig tool for rapid deployment
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AI-assisted programming for increased efficiency.
In short— the BL118 is not about learning new things, but about helping you do data acquisition more simply.
6. Conclusion: Making data acquisition no longer a challenge
In today’s industrial intelligence process, edge computing is no longer an “optional choice,” but a key infrastructure for data real-time performance, safety, and reliability.
The BL118 provides a lighter, faster, and more flexible way, making data acquisition no longer reliant on complex systems, allowing enterprises to truly achieve “visible → usable → optimizable.”.
If you are engaged in:
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PLC / instrument data acquisition
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Device cloud integration
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Energy consumption monitoring
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Small edge control systems
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Data preprocessing and protocol conversion
Then the BL118 will be your most worry-free choice.