Digitalization projects are extensive undertakings that often require considerable investment in time, money and resources, but can also bring major benefits. Edge computing in industrial production, for example, enables the collection of real-time data as the basis for precise production and maintenance planning. This enables higher productivity, safety and ultimately also cost savings.

The Nerve Blue edge computing platform from TTTech Industrial provides a software infrastructure for manufacturing and the cloud that offers users a wide range of functionalities, such as

• Collect, store and analyze machine data:
  ◦ Real-time data access from PLC and I/O infrastructure
  ◦ Data exchange between time series database and applications
  ◦ Data connection to any cloud / ERP system
  ◦ Local and web-based data visualization

• Combine multiple functionalities on one device:
  ◦ Virtualized environment running Windows or Linux virtual machines
  ◦ Support for Docker containers
  ◦ Use of own applications or third-party software
  ◦ Integrated soft PLC (CODESYS®)

• Manage and roll out software remotely:
  ◦ Central repository for applications (Docker container, VM and CODESYS® programs)
  ◦ Over-the-air updates and upgrades of device software and applications
  Simultaneous roll-out of applications to multiple devices and locations
  ◦ User management for devices and software configuration

• Display connected devices and software:
  ◦ VPN-like connection to Docker containers and VMs running on active devices
  ◦ Remote access to devices and installed software via screen or console
  ◦ Remote connection of the CODESYS® engineering tool to devices

Successful use of Nerve Blue

Nerve Blue is already being used successfully by several companies in the machine engineering and automotive manufacturing sectors. One of these is Fill, a leading international machine and plant engineering company. Nerve Blue is used by Fill for its cybernetics solution for the Smart Factory. Nerve Blue enables Fill to offer its customers open and secure data connectivity at the machine, in the factory and in the cloud.

© FILL GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.

Nerve Blue runs on edge devices that are integrated into every Fill machine tool and aggregates machine data at top speed. The Nerve Management System enables centralized management of globally installed machine software and provides access to data for analysis. For example, Fill can use global data sets to check the wear of certain machine parts across the entire machine fleet. Among other things, customers are informed about critical machine conditions so that they can plan maintenance work, estimate outputs and reduce costs as a result.

"Nerve Blue offers us high-performance, real-time data access to reliably connect machines worldwide. At the same time, we can host our own software applications. By integrating our existing hardware and system environment, we were able to reduce costs and focus on our core competencies," says Stefan Murauer, Team Leader Software at Fill.

Start now with Nerve Blue

© TTTech Industrial Automation AG

"With our free trial, we enable users to get started with Nerve Blue right away without having to set up any hardware or install any software. Once users have registered and received their login credentials, they can go straight to a sandbox environment to try out Nerve Blue's features for themselves. We also provide a step-by-step guide so that anyone can use Nerve Blue without additional training," says Alexander Bergner, Director Product Management Industrial IoT, TTTech Industrial.

Key features of the free trial:

• Intuitive, web-based management system
• Workload hosting
• Workload and device management
• Data visualization
• Roll-out of demo workloads and applications

Start now: click here for the free trial version