Edge Computing (EC)
is an emerging field worth researching.
We have been thinking about how to introduce edge computing in an interesting way.
Until one day, I stumbled upon an octopus…
The Fascinating Octopus
Before discussing edge computing, let’s first talk about one of the most fascinating creatures on this planet— the octopus.
Aside from basic skills like ink spraying and color-changing camouflage,
the octopus can open bottle caps from inside bottles to escape,
performing various spectacular escape plans,
or quietly throwing unwanted food down the drain.
They can even actively change their RNA,
which alters the properties and functions of proteins in their bodies to adapt to environmental changes.
Okay, the octopus is indeed smart and unique,
but what does this have to do with edge computing?
Natural “Edge Computing” Problem Solvers
In fact, the octopus uses “edge computing”
to solve practical problems.
As one of the most intelligent animals among invertebrates,
the octopus has a massive number of neurons,
60% of which are distributed in its eight arms,
while only 40% are in its brain.
This means:
Back to Human Edge Computing
Specifically,
edge computing processes data,
runs applications, and even implements some functional services,
by delegating tasks from the network center to nodes at the network edge.
Edge Computing: “I’m Here for the Pain Points”
Public and enterprise facility monitoring and maintenance have always consumed a lot of human and material resources; industries like power and manufacturing have a strong demand for real-time, intelligent processing of massive data during digital transformation.
If we build the Internet of Things (IoT) using conventional methods, with the rapid increase in devices, the amount of data generated at the network edge will be enormous. If all this data is managed by a cloud platform, it will:
However, if we can adopt edge computing like the octopus, massive data can be processed nearby, enabling numerous devices to work efficiently together, solving many problems. Therefore, edge computing can theoretically meet the critical needs of many industries in terms of agility, real-time processing, data optimization, application intelligence, as well as security and privacy protection.
What Are the Applications of Edge Computing?
We understand the principle,
but where should it specifically be applied?
Let’s take a look at the following case of “Elevator IoT”:
Elevators are a common yet special public facility,
with over 4 million elevators in China alone.
The safety and reliable operation of elevators have always been a concern for all sectors; how can we achieve predictive maintenance and energy management for massive elevators?
At this point, the “Elevator IoT” comes into play.
This means that each elevator in the Elevator IoT acts like an independent thinking “arm” of the octopus, capable of real-time collecting and transmitting operational data, while the backend data center utilizes big data analysis to integrate decision-making with external systems, enabling remote management, operation, and predictive maintenance.
The Elevator IoT not only achieves efficient preventive operation and maintenance management through “edge-cloud collaboration” but also opens up more advanced elevator management modes and broader business opportunities.
To implement the Elevator IoT,
Edge Gateways (integrated IoT gateways), Agile Controllers
and other “octopus arms” are essential.
Coupled with the brain of the IoT, the “cloud management platform,”
intelligent connections and efficient management can be achieved.
Not only is it applied to elevators,
Huawei collaborates closely with international leading manufacturers
like IBM, SAP, GE, and Honeywell,
to create an edge computing IoT,
which has already seen practical applications in power, manufacturing, water supply, and smart buildings.
Meanwhile, the Edge Computing Consortium (ECC),
jointly initiated by Huawei, the Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Intel, ARM, and Softcom in late 2016,
now has over 166 member units.
The Internet of Everything, Edge First
A recent BI Intelligence report predicts that the manufacturing, utilities, energy, and transportation industries will be the first to adopt edge computing. Given that the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence are still in their early development stages, edge computing has vast room for growth. Its good development relies on an open industrial ecosystem and collaborative resource cooperation.
In summary,
compared to the octopus,
human edge computing is far superior.
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