Dear Readers,
3
V
iewpoint
April 18
Punctual with the publishing date
of this issue of B&S/ECE, Hanover
Industry Fair takes place, the largest
and most important exhibition for the
industry in general, held at the Fair-
grounds in Hannover – and again the
connected industry including Internet
of Things (IoT) and Industrie 4.0 is the
main topic this year but in a broader
context. The combination of CeMAT
with Hannover Fair according to the
motto “Logistics 4.0 meets Industrie
4.0” is just one proof. Machine learn-
ing and artificial intelligence are influ-
encing the embedded world and vice versa. Machine learning best
demonstrates its opportunities in any situation where companies are
looking to derive new knowledge frompast experience. The technology
enables digital systems to identify recurring patterns in data and apply
the resulting findings to new data streams e.g. for maintenance. In this
way, trends and anomalies can be detected – in real time and within
the running system. This allows manufacturing companies to use their
petabytes of data in a way that benefits their business.
But Artificial intelligence is a growth factor for various other busi-
nesses. There is no master plan for using it – but some basic rules
apply in every case. Intelligent robots and self-learning computers
will have a huge impact on German industry in the coming years:
Artificial intelligence (AI) could increase the gross domestic product
by ten billion euros a year by 2030, according to McKinsey. They cre-
ated five rules to build an AI-centric environment. First: Defining a
business case is no easy task when it comes to artificial intelligence,
the management consultancy wans, because information about AI
remains incomplete and doubts can be widespread among employees.
Second: Connect internal and external skill bases because AI experts
are still fare too scarce. In Germany there is a gap of some 5.000
workers. Third: Store granular data. Data forms the foundation for
every artificial intelligence. Companies must therefore store as much
granular (i.e. sufficiently detailed) data as possible and make this
information available in a relational, table-based database. Fourth:
Combine existing knowledge with AI. AI will not lead to successful
outcomes without careful attention to context. McKinsey recom-
mends codifying your company‘s own knowledge, i.e. recording and
storing it, and integrating it into the AI algorithm, to best support
machines‘ self-learning. Fifth: Introducing AI should be an agile
process. Simulations and tests in subsections of the company serve to
continuously optimize results.
And consequent this issue is full of corresponding content. It starts
with our cover story which describes the data transfer of IoT com-
puting from Edge to Fog to Cloud with boards in the new SMARC
form factor. Another two examples are the articles about the QorIQ
processor which integrates four technologies needed for Industrie
4.0. and the protection of intellectual property for sensors in the IIoT.
The remaining content round up this IoT issue.
I hope you´ll enjoy this issue!
Yours Sincerely
Wolfgang Patelay
Editor
