PLC

Smart Factories and Industrial IoT Architectures Smart factories connect machines, sensors, and software to make production faster and more reliable. The goal is to turn data into actionable insights while keeping operations simple to manage. A clear IIoT architecture helps teams deploy new features without breaking existing systems. A practical stack has four layers. Perception collects data from sensors, PLCs, and meters. Transmission moves data to gateways or edge devices. Processing cleans, stores, and analyzes signals, either at the edge or in the cloud. Applications present insights to operators, planners, and engineers through dashboards, alerts, and automated actions. ...

Industrial Automation with Sensors and Controllers Industrial automation relies on sensors to monitor conditions in real time and on controllers to decide what to do next. This pairing creates fast, repeatable actions that improve quality and safety on the factory floor. A simple example is a pasteurizer: the sensor reads temperature, the controller compares it to the setpoint, and an actuator adjusts the heater or valve to maintain steady conditions. ...

Industrial Automation and the IoT Edge Industrial automation has moved beyond fixed sequences. The IoT edge brings data processing closer to machines and sensors, inside the plant floor or a nearby gateway. Edge computing means that many decisions happen where data is created, not only in a distant data center. This shift improves response times, reduces bandwidth use, and helps protect sensitive information. In practice, this means faster feedback loops, more reliable operation during network outages, and clearer insights from live equipment data. ...

Industrial IoT: Operational Technologies and Connectivity Industrial OT refers to the hardware and software that run machines, sensors, and control systems in factories, energy plants, and utilities. When we add the term Industrial IoT, we mean connecting these operational technologies to a data network to collect, analyze, and act on information in real time. This connection helps managers spot problems early and keep the production lines moving smoothly. Connectivity in this space usually follows a layered approach: field devices like sensors and PLCs, gateway devices that translate between protocols, edge computers that run analytics close to the machines, and cloud or data centers for deeper analysis and long-term storage. Each layer plays a role in reliability, speed, and security. ...