Discover TE Connectivity’s IIoT Testbed for Smart Factory Sensors

TE Connectivity is partnering with a consortium of companies to launch a new Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) testbed that connects sensors to the cloud and smart factory machinery.

A recent article in Control Engineering Europe highlighted the initiative, featuring insights from Daniel Walldorf and Michael Hilgner of TE Connectivity, a leading provider of connectivity and sensor solutions for diverse industries.

See also: Is security the biggest threat to industrial IoT?

The testbed enables the analysis of IIoT production data by integrating operational technology (OT) with information technology (IT) systems.

“TE Connectivity and three partners have set out to implement a testbed that demonstrates how existing sensors can be connected to the cloud and machines upgraded for smart applications under the umbrella of the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC),” said Walldorf and Hilgner.

They emphasized the role of IIC in the initiative. The Needham, Massachusetts‑based organization, with over 250 members, focuses on developing and testing IoT ecosystems for smart factories and other environments.

“The IIC is creating experimental platforms (testbeds) that will be used to validate future technologies, products and applications, assessing their feasibility and benefits for users,” the experts noted.

Infrastructure Needs Upgradeable Solutions

To build the new IIoT testbed, TE partnered with SAP, the OPC Foundation and ifm. The platform showcases how intelligent solutions can reduce energy consumption through optimized data capture, transport, and processing.

“The IIC testbed demonstrates how smart connectivity technology connects data from existing sensors to the cloud and then analyzes it in an IT system to increase process efficiency—here, monitoring energy consumption,” say Walldorf and Hilgner. “Existing infrastructures in particular need upgradable solutions that minimize downtime, save costs, and increase productivity. Pilot projects at TE’s own factories have shown that this approach also works in practice.”