Locomotives to be connected through Predix IIoT technology.
Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are all about being connected, from individual machines in a factory to vehicles running down the supply chain.
Many companies are working towards the goal of an interconnected industry, including GE. The company recently expanded its Predix software platform with a new focus on trains by developing a central processing “brain” to tie it all together.
The GoLINC system, a networking, communications and application management platform, is capable of turning any locomotive into a mobile data center. The system was developed in collaboration with Intel and carries a 6th gen Core i7 processor to handle the heavy lifting.
GoLINC enables the train to connect to other Predix-enabled devices and systems to ensure no data is lost, while maintaining onboard control of all the locomotive’s sensor information on the condition of the train. This is intended to allow for fine tuning of all the train’s parts—improving efficiency across the board.
GE’s Predix platform operates as a gateway to the data collected from all aspects of the connected industry, giving relevant information to everyone who can use it.
Here’s an example:
When a train’s sensors identify a potential failure in a part, it alerts the crew. It will also notify the trainyard that there may need to be a replacement locomotive waiting—this new train would have all the data needed to continue the journey of the first, without any manual handing over of written logs, shipping manifests or location information. The result is less lost time—a crucial component in the shipment of goods—and fewer repairs on the first train before the problem becomes bigger than it needed to be.
“Our partnership delivers the most advanced connectivity across the rail industry to create a smarter rail ecosystem,” said GE Transportation president and CEO Jamie Miller. “It enables operators to transfer data, host applications and interface with third-party systems, and can boost operational productivity.”
Click here for an infographic on GE’s efforts in IIoT, or check out the GE Transportation website. To find out more about how interconnectivity is changing manufacturing, check out these five examples.
