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Introduction

Summary​

optiMEAS smartCORE is an edge device software solution for cloud-based measurement data acquisition and automation (control) of user-defined applications (generally resulting from measurement and control technology tasks).

Measurement data acquisition​

As part of measurement data acquisition, physical variables (e.g. temperatures and pressures, voltages, currents, quantities, ...) of a process to be monitored are generally determined using sensors. These sensors can communicate directly with the edge device via a variety of different fieldbus systems, such as CAN bus, ModBus, ... or via the Internet, and can be read out via an API (driver interface) provided by the operating system. The task of the smartCORE is now to provide this raw sensor data in processed form. Data processing includes, in particular, bundling, calculation, filtering, interpretation and also provision of user-relevant data. User-relevant data is provided via the (in many applications mobile) Internet - either synchronously in real time or with a time delay (asynchronously).

The aim of the smartCORE solution, as well as the entire optiMEAS ecosystem, which also includes the cloud solution optiCLOUD, is to present this data in a user-friendly and fully recorded form. The benefits here include the identification of optimization potential as well as the possibility of predictive maintenance of industrial plants, machines and vehicles or similar.

Automation​

As communication between the user and their application is fully bidirectional, there are many possibilities for automation in the opposite direction (industrial automation) with the aim of system and vehicle control. For this purpose, corresponding actuators are also addressed by smartCORE via the above-mentioned bus systems and APIs. Control here can be asynchronous and unattended (e.g. in response to system status changes) as well as directly synchronous (e.g. via RPC) using a wide range of intervention options.

Integration of the edge device into the application​

In principle, the following options can be used to connect the smartCORE or the edge device to external sensors and actuators

  • field bus systems for standardized direct connection
  • So-called smartIO components for the direct connection of analog and digital components
  • Direct or indirect network connection of sensors and actuators (UDP, IPC over UDP)

The smartCORE Edge Device software supports the following fieldbus systems for connecting external sensors and actuators

CAN-Bus (Controller Area Network Bus) incl. CAN DBC interpretation logic

  • ModBus MVB (Multifunction Vehicle Bus) in reading direction for use in rail vehicles

optiMEAS offers a constantly growing variety of customized smartIO components.

Integration of the optiMEAS ecosystem into the user infrastructure​

In addition, both the edge device and optiCLOUD can be integrated into the user infrastructure in a variety of ways. The edge device allows (depending on the application) both synchronous and asynchronous bidirectional communication both to the optiCLOUD and directly to the user.

The following standards and protocols are supported, among others

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

  • MQTT (Message Queueing Telemetry Transport)
  • OPC/UA (Open Platform Communications / Unified Architecture)
  • SFTP and SSH (Secure File Transfer Protocol or Secure Shell)

There are mechanisms for IPC (inter-process communication). The configuration of the edge device is standardized as with measuring devices via SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments).