B&R Industrial Automation announced the launch of two industrial internet of things (IIoT) apps that enable artificial intelligence (AI)-powered optimization of packaging machine health, while enhancing efficiency and performance.
The first app, called the IIoT Connector, serves as the core enabler of data-driven services to provide access to the B&R device across both edge and cloud environments.
The second app, ACOPOStrak Monitor, builds on the data captured by the IIoT Connector and applies AI-based analysis to support real-time performance and optimization, along with predictive maintenance from B&R’s products, the company said.
“Machines are already telling us everything we need to know. The key is finding the right way to listen and understand,” said Richard Achatz, B&R global product manager of industrial IoT, in a statement.
Transforming data into action
IIoT Connector is a self-contained application that gives users open access to data from B&R devices across any system setup – edge, cloud, or hybrid – in both new and brownfield installations, according to the company. It features automatic asset discovery and selective data forwarding, which can simplify costly tasks.
Built on open communication standards, it works with OPA UA, MQTT, and open edge orchestration frameworks such as Margo, and with application programming interface (API) to allow direct integration with third-party tools. Users can also integrate data from B&R devices.
The company says the app is designed to simplify complex B&R-specific datasets, so the data is readily available for use in cloud environments and enterprise infrastructures, while streamlining everyday operations with visibility into hardware configurations, software versions, and available updates.
AI-Driven insights
B&R’s ACOPOStrak Monitor uses AI algorithms to process data from B&R track systems into insights, which the company says helps operators move from reactive maintenance to early-stage optimization.
User-friendly dashboards provide live status, historical trends, and automatic notifications that can be viewed locally or remotely on human-machine interface (HMI) panels and mobile devices.
“Like the dashboard in your car, ACOPOStrak Monitor tells you what you need to know at a glance – helping your track system run better and last longer,” said Achatz.
Users can use the dashboards for faster, more informed decision-making throughout the life of the machine, the company said. Real-time feedback during assembly and setup identifies issues early, said B&R, therefore speeding up launch and reducing time to market.
The company says the ACOPOStrak Monitor gets its information from existing shuttle data, therefore, no additional sensor hardware is needed.
Learn more
Both apps feature APIs to allow easy integration into any system. To learn more about B&R’s IIoT Connector or the ACOPOStrak Monitor, click here.
