A look at how edge devices and interoperability standards are paving the way for the fourth industrial revolution.

As we enter the so-called fourth industrial revolution, which aims to finally close the gap between distributed automation systems and business systems, let’s take a quick look back at some of the developments that got us here and where they point for the future. 

Opto 22 is actively recruiting for positions in engineering and manufacturing.

Team Opto is continuing to grow and we're looking for enthusiastic and dedicated people who are passionate about their work and ready to make a contribution in the field of industrial automation.

We've been in business for more than 45 years and financial stability is a cornerstone to our success, which is vital in the challenging economic state of the world today. The cutting edge technology found in our groov EPIC and groov RIO products is growing in demand, and therefore we are looking to fill more positions in both engineering and manufacturing.

Review some important bug fixes included in the latest groov EPIC firmware update 3.4.3.

Everyone here at Opto 22 knows that updating any controller's firmware is not a trivial task, and when in a production environment, it’s not something that can be done at the drop of a hat.

That said, sometimes we fix some bugs that require a minor point firmware update and the latest 3.4.3 release is just such a case. If you are using groov View or the new Data Services feature, then you should look closely at this release as you determine where updating your controller(s) should be prioritized in your jam-packed schedule.

Come along on a houseboat trip to Lake Powell to see what's possible when you bring a groov RIO and SpaceX Starlink on vacation.

Opto 22's VP of Product Strategy, Benson Hougland, has often described Lake Powell (which stretches from southern Utah to northern Arizona) as one of his favorite vacation destinations. A houseboat vacation has become a family tradition that always took him "off the grid" for a week. This year was a different story.

With a groov RIO edge I/O module outfitted with some temperature sensors, and the convenience of a Space X Starlink satellite internet system on board, this year's trip made for some memorable moments in remote automation.

Join Opto 22 at the next IntegrateLive! virtual workshop to discover better ways to maintain critical infrastructure.

Opto 22 is once again participating in an important demonstration of different industry technologies working together. IntegrateLive! returns this month with a new episode highlighting machine learning. 

You'll see product demos and presentations from Canary, HiveMQ, Avadine, APERIO and Opto 22...all working together!

Inductive Automation's Kevin McClusky suggests a different approach to make your industrial systems safe and secure in this month's featured guest blog.

What would it take to break into Fort Knox? As one of the most secure locations on the planet, it wouldn’t be easy. However, someone with the right amount of time, planning, and determination may be able to find a way.

The same is true for most industrial systems. So, how to protect what’s inside? Strategies that may work in the physical world—thicker walls or taller fences—don’t translate to digital systems. The tools of the trade here are a variety of high-tech solutions such as firewalls, SIEMs, IDS’s, and IPS’s. These are tools mainly to monitor network traffic and control the flow, and provide early alerts if there’s unusual activity.

However, what if we threw out all of those traditional tools and took a different approach?

Upcoming seminar introduces new Indiana statewide program to reduce energy costs for manufacturers.

Join us for an exciting preview of new digital transformation technology at Discovery Day Indiana, hosted by the Energy Systems Network (ESN) and the Emerging Manufacturing Collaboration Center (EMC2) in Indianapolis, IN. This month's event highlights the project that brought together the State of Indiana, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Inductive Automation, Cirrus Link Solutions, and Opto 22.

The annual Ignition Community Conference is celebrating its 10th year with a return to an in-person event as well as a virtual option.

The Ignition Community Conference gathers the leading minds in industrial automation to exchange ideas, inspiration, and technology. This year, Inductive Automation celebrates 10 years of ICC, and there are more ways to explore the event than ever before! ICC X features two ways to attend:

• In-person at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom, CA
• Virtual event (2 weeks later) hosted on the Hopin platform

Visit the Registration page to choose how you want to experience ICC X.

Part 2 of our interview with Industrial Cybersecurity Pulse addresses edge communications and reducing network complexity.

Last week in the OptoBlog, we shared a recent interview where Josh Eastburn had a discussion with ICS Pulse's Gary Cohen about using industrial devices on the edge of your networks and their effect on cybersecurity.

Their conversation continues in Part 2 of this Expert Interview series and covers: 

• OT data risks
• Different OT communication protocol models
• How MQTT addresses security threats
• Reducing network complexity

Hear from John Harrington, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at HighByte, as our guest series on the open automation ecosystem continues.

Many companies are looking to improve their business by collecting and making better use of industrial data. Whether you are performing AI/ML-based predictive analytics, setting up quality dashboards, measuring lean projects, or simply logging for traceability, you require consistent, reliable, and secure data. At HighByte, an industrial software company, we’re focused on providing the infrastructure to reliably manage data delivery at scale.