In the rapidly developing IIoT field, edge acquisition gateways are gradually becoming a bridge connecting the physical world and the digital world, playing a vital role. For those who are new to the industry, understanding the importance and functions of edge acquisition gateways is the foundation for mastering industrial IoT knowledge. This article will introduce the edge acquisition gateway in a simple way and explain why it is the guardian of edge intelligence in industrial IoT.

1. Definition and function of edge acquisition gateway

The edge collection gateway, also known as the industrial edge gateway or data collection gateway, is an intelligent embedded network device that has the ability to mine industrial equipment data and access the cloud platform. It supports data collection, protocol analysis, edge computing, and can provide users with long-distance big data transmission capabilities and the ability to access industrial cloud platforms through wired or wireless networks such as 4G/5G and Wifi.

Data Collection: The edge collection gateway can connect to various types of external devices, such as sensors and PLCs, and collect data from these devices in real-time using communication protocols like Modbus and OPC UA.
Data point configuration: In the edge collection gateway, by configuring data points, the data of external devices is associated with internal data points to ensure data accuracy and consistency.
Data reporting: According to the preset reporting mode, reporting time, and change range parameters, the edge collection gateway reports data to the cloud or central server. In this process, by setting reporting conditions, unnecessary data transmission can be reduced and the use of network resources can be optimized.
Edge computing: The edge collection gateway can also perform simple calculations and processing, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, to achieve preliminary analysis and processing of data.

2. Advantages of edge acquisition gateway

● Real-time response and data processing

The edge collection gateway can complete real-time data capture and preliminary processing at the edge layer of the network architecture. Due to the collection and processing of data near the source, the response speed is greatly improved. At the same time, only valuable data that has been preprocessed is transmitted to the central server, reducing the pressure on network transmission. This is crucial for application scenarios that require real-time response, such as autonomous driving and telemedicine.

● Reduce operating costs

Through local processing, the edge acquisition gateway only uploads key data to the cloud, reducing data transmission volume, effectively alleviating network bandwidth pressure, and reducing operating costs. In addition, the edge collection gateway also supports the resume function, which can continue to operate even in the case of unstable or interrupted network conditions, ensuring the continuity of critical services. This is particularly important for remote areas or application scenarios with harsh network environments.

● Data Security and Privacy Protection

Sensitive data is initially processed and encrypted at the edge layer, reducing the risk of data leakage. The edge collection gateway can also serve as a security barrier to resist external attacks and protect the security of the entire IoT system. By encrypting and decrypting transmitted data and desensitizing sensitive data, the edge collection gateway effectively protects users' private information.

● Protocol conversion and device interoperability

The edge acquisition gateway has powerful protocol conversion capabilities and can meet most of the market's equipment data acquisition needs. It supports multiple communication protocols and interfaces, making it easy to integrate into existing systems. As business demands grow, it is easy to increase computing resources to meet future expansion needs. At the same time, the edge collection gateway can convert the data formats of different devices into a unified format, which improves the interoperability between devices and facilitates the reception and processing of data by the upper-level system.

● Remote management and maintenance

The edge acquisition gateway supports remote management and maintenance functions, allowing technicians to access devices in other locations with full permissions, significantly improving monitoring and maintenance efficiency and effectively saving maintenance costs. Through remote management, users can achieve intelligent management of equipment and improve the reliability and stability of the equipment.

3. Practical application of edge acquisition gateway

The edge collection gateway has a wide range of application scenarios in the field of industrial automation. For example, in intelligent manufacturing, it can collect equipment data and environmental information on the production line in real time, and monitor and optimize the production process in real time. In the field of industrial big data analysis, edge acquisition gateways can aggregate data from various sensors and devices to form massive industrial data sets, providing support for enterprise decision-making.

In addition, the edge acquisition gateway can also be applied to many fields such as environmental protection, water affairs, and energy, to meet the IoT needs of most industrial equipment. Using edge computing gateways to realize device IoT is the first step for enterprises to take in the digitalization of equipment. The edge computing capabilities of gateways help enterprises further improve the efficiency of equipment operation and management.

The edge acquisition gateway has become the edge intelligent guardian of the industrial Internet of Things with its advantages of real-time response and data processing capabilities, reduced operating costs, data security and privacy protection, protocol conversion and device interoperability, and remote management and maintenance. For those who are new to the industry, understanding and applying edge acquisition gateway technology will help them better grasp the knowledge of industrial IoT and play a greater role in practical work. With the continuous development of technology, edge acquisition gateway will play an increasingly important role in the field of industrial Internet of Things, and promote the development of intelligent and automated processes.