IoT has applications in various industries, leading to more efficient and productive industrial automation processes. Let's dive into some specific examples:
1. Manufacturing
A significant application of IoT in manufacturing is in quality control and assurance. In the past, quality control often involved manual inspection, which could be time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error.
However, IoT is revolutionizing this manufacturing area by enabling real-time, automated quality control. One example is Siemens' implementation of IoT in its electronics manufacturing plants.
The company has equipped its production lines with a network of IoT sensors to monitor their process in real time. These sensors can collect various data, including temperature, pressure, vibration, and visual information.
The collected data is then analyzed to detect deviations from the standard parameters that may indicate a quality issue. As a result, it helps reduce waste and ensure high quality and consistency in final products.
Also, take a look at this manufacturer’s guide to scaling Industrial IoT.
2. Agriculture
IoT is revolutionizing agriculture through precision farming. Sensors can be used to monitor various factors such as soil moisture levels, crop growth, and livestock health.
For example, John Deere, a leading agricultural machinery maker, has tractors equipped with IoT sensors and GPS. This is to provide farmers with precise data on crop health and weather conditions, thereby reducing waste and increasing yield.
3. Logistics and Supply Chain
Logistics is another field where IoT is making a significant impact. Take the example of DHL's SmartTrucks. They equipped their vehicles with IoT devices to track real-time to collect data like traffic conditions and delivery schedules.
In doing so, they were able to optimize the route planning and reduce fuel consumption and delivery time. The end result contributed to both efficiency and sustainability.
Learn more about how IoT is transforming supply chain management.
4. Energy
IoT in the energy sector plays a pivotal role in creating smart grids. A good example of this is Italy's Enel. The company has deployed over 30 million smart meters to monitor and optimize energy consumption.
The result?
Consumers could better understand their energy usage, while Enel could predict demand, manage supply efficiently, and quickly detect any faults in the system.
5. Automotive
IoT is transforming automotive manufacturing and post-production services. Tesla, for instance, uses IoT for its vehicle production lines to monitor and optimize processes. They also use IoT in their electric vehicles to provide remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and over-the-air software updates.
The development of electric vehicles is an intricate process. Manufacturers are finding it hard to find a smooth process as they had for ICE engines. Digital twins are helping them here. It's the future of manufacturing and uses IoT.
Follow the link to learn more about the usage of digital twins in electric vehicles.
6. Healthcare
IoT in healthcare brings about remote patient monitoring, smart sensors, and wearable devices. This enables personalized care and early detection of potential health issues.
An example is Proteus Digital Health's ingestible sensors. When swallowed with medication, these sensors send data to healthcare providers about patients' medication adherence. This allows for real-time adjustment of treatment plans and better patient outcomes.
Now that we have understood the applications of IoT in Industrial Automation, let's see the impact IoT had on industrial automation.