GE has recently announced alliances with Intel and Cisco to create “Predix Ready” devices. Predix is a software platform developed by GE that aims to unify how devices connect to the Internet of Things, which the company refers to as the Industrial Internet.
Devices and sensors running on the Predix platform will include metadata as well as open and secure communication frameworks that run to cloud-based services. As a result, assets and equipment from a variety of different manufacturers can be connected to each other and to people through a centralized network. Predix’s architecture can also tie cloud and data center computing resources to the Hadoop framework for analysis.
Intel plans to embed Predix compatibility into its processors, which in turn can power all kinds of devices with the added benefits of fluid interoperability and improved security. Cisco will include it in routers and other networking gear with the ability to optimize assets and operations through connectivity and compute at the edge.
"From networked systems utilized in railways and electric power grids to edge switches and client devices that connect assets such as laptops, field devices and wireless access points, Cisco and Intel enable Predix to be distributed to the edge, even in some of the most severe conditions,” said Bill Ruh, Vice President of GE Software. “Without our ecosystem of partners, we would not be able to achieve our vision of interconnecting brilliant machines, analytics and people in a way that allows for true asset management and optimization.”
GE announced that the Predix platform will be made available to developers in 2015. The platform will enable the creation of customized industry apps and include asset tracking and management as well as robust firewalls to protect infrastructure.
By relying on a unified network of devices and computing power, industrial operators will gain better insight into the performance of their equipment and success of their operations. GE emphasizes how a move in this direction can bring substantial cost savings while minimizing unplanned downtime.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
