When talking about Industry 4.0 it is easy to hear about Internet of Things and Industrial Internet of Things, although similar the two technologies are not synonymous
Internet of Things is one of the words we hear most when talking about Industry 4.0. The use of these smart objects is enabling a real revolution within companies which are now always connected and exploit data to optimize their production processes.
A less common but still very popular term within the context of Industry 4.0 is instead Industrial Internet of Things. Is this the same technology? The answer is no. An IIoT object is actually a newly developed IoT device designed exclusively for its application within the fourth industrial revolution. The purpose of IIoT objects is to optimize production processes through the connection between machines, realize useful data for an analytics center, have a preventive check on the health of the machines in use and control the timing of industrial production.
A company that invests in new technologies can use both, both IoT and IIoT. But the two technologies are not synonymous. Industrial Internet of Things is an evolution of IoT that allows a smart device to have multiple connections at the same time and work with more data.
Key features of IIoT
Compared to IoT objects, IIoT devices are more resilient, because they have to operate in extreme conditions. For example, they have to withstand high temperatures, corrosion and water immersion. IIoT objects also are almost always applied to cranes, probes and other large machinery. It is difficult for the worker to reach and replace these devices, which is why they are created with a long battery life. As mentioned, Industrial Internet of Things objects can work with a larger amount of data. This is because in a well-structured IIoT system, all a device does is analyze incoming data to prepare it and send it to a processing center. In addition, IIoT objects, thanks to special management apps, are very customizable for an SME that buys them. Finally at the cybersecurity level they have much more robust standards than IoT devices.