One of the biggest questions companies face when surveying IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) technology is where to invest. The IIoT can be a pretty foggy and technologically diverse topic for anyone to understand. And there are so many competing standards out there today that it’s tough to identify which path to take.

But a new platform built upon an open source, extensible framework for IIoT technology called EdgeX was recently announced, and it may be just what the industry needs to part the clouds of confusion and shine some clarity on the IIoT.

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, PACs, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, EdgeX

In several previous posts we talked about some of the software technologies automation professionals should put on their radar in preparation for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications.

JavaScript, node.js and Node-RED offer a ton of benefits to those looking to build their IIoT application. Learn more about the Industrial Internet of Things in the State of the IIoT white paper.

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, PACs, API, REST API, REST, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, MQTT

We've just released groov Admin 1.570.46, with a new feature some of you have been asking for: the ability to use data from serial devices with your GROOV AR1 Box.

Using a USB-to-serial converter and Node-RED software (included in the GROOV AR1), you can connect RS‑232, RS‑485, or RS‑422 serial devices (2‑wire or 4‑wire) to the groov Box.

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, Node-RED, OptoNews 2017-04-12

If you're using Node-RED and the nodes for SNAP PACs and groov—or if you're thinking about it but haven't started—check out our new Node-RED examples on developer.opto22.com. 

Node-RED is the open-source tool for digitally wiring together hardware devices, cloud services, databases, and more in simple logical flows.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, OptoNews 2017-03-29

Have you tried AT&T's Internet of Things (IoT) platform, M2X? 

If you're looking at IoT platforms, you'll want to see this new technical note. It shows you how to get real-world data, in this example a temperature in degrees F, to an AT&T M2X device in the cloud.

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, Data acquisition, OptoNews 2017-03-29

In a recent developer survey conducted by the Eclipse IoT Working Group, IEEE IoT, and Agile IoT, 40.8% of respondents indicated that the IoT solutions they were either currently building or planning to build are IoT platforms or IoT middleware.

Almost every large IT or OT company today has some form of IoT platform or middleware.

In fact, right now there are over 150 self-described IoT platforms in the market today. Not neccessarily created equally.

Topics: Energy management, PLCs, IoT, PACs, REST, IIoT, Node-RED

We've just released version 3 of Node-RED for the GROOV-AR1 groov Box. 

Node-RED is an open-source software tool for digitally wiring together hardware devices (like the groov Box), APIs (application program interfaces), and online services.

If you have a GROOV-AR1, Node-RED is included starting with groov Admin 44.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Updates, IoT, optonews, Integrators, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, OptoNews 2017-03-01

This week Opto 22 is exhibiting at the Open IoT Summit in Portland, Oregon. The IoT Summit is a Linux Foundation event, packed with a ton of technology workshops and product demos.

We also exhibited at the IoT Summit last year. It’s a great chance to connect with the Linux developer community and get their perspective on things, since it’s so much different from what a typical industrial automation professional is exposed to.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, PACs, API, REST, mobile, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things, Node-RED, GPIO

In a recent developer survey conducted by the Eclipse IoT Working Group, IEEE IoT, and Agile IoT, 40.8% of respondents indicated the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions they were either currently building or planning to build were IoT platforms or IoT middleware.

Almost every large IT or OT company today has some form of IoT platform or middleware, with the current number of self-described IoT platforms exceeding 150.

Topics: groov, Remote monitoring, Tips, IoT, Networking, IIoT, Node-RED, Data acquisition

Did you miss any of these technical tips?

Now's a good time to review some automation basics—and look ahead to new technologies in our field.

Accuracy and resolution. Specifications for both of these are included for our analog modules. What's the difference?

Sinking and sourcing. What do these terms mean when you're wiring digital DC outputs, and which is the better way to wire? Lots of questions and answers on this one.

Topics: Discrete control, Tips, optonews, I/O, SSRs, Node-RED, OptoNews 2017-01-04, Raspberry Pi, Digital I/O for Raspberry Pi