UTC Telecom & Technology 2019

Edge Computing to the Rescue:  How Edge Computing Healed an Existing IIoT Network. (Room 203BC)

19 Jun 19
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Tracks: Using Data for Innovative Telecom Solutions

Speaker(s): Dhruva Maharaj, Senior Product Manager, Siemens Canada LTD; John Poisson, President, Ritec Enterprises

There has been an increase in IoT devices deployed throughout the grid.  These devices can improve remote monitoring and control applications with a path for big data analytics.  Cellular gateway devices are popular solutions to provide connectivity as they are cost effective and easy to integrate into existing systems.  They are not without issues and maintenance of these devices can be costly.  This paper explores how deployed cellular gateways in an energy distribution network needed critical maintenance update.  An edge computing solution was derived to provide a cost-effective automated process.  Additional edge computing enhancements were included to increase functionality and usability of the deployed gateways.  Lastly, this solution provided a histogram of collected data points that yielded insight into the RF functional health at each installation.  Analysis of this information provided valuable information to validate further activities to improve the network.  Edge computing was cost effective and efficient in stabilizing other cellular connected devices and provided additional functionality that can be used for deep analysis to improve the network.