IoT GE Predix (General Electric)
In this article, we shall try and understand the concept of IoT GE Predix. Then, we will look at various topics like what GE Predix is, the different building blocks of GE Predix, and the partnership between GE, Microsoft Azure, and AWS (Amazon Web Services).
We will conclude by looking at the various versions of Predix and some of the advantages of GE Predix. So buckle up, sit down, take a sip of your coffee, and read till the end of the article.
What is GE Predix?
General Electric (GE) Predix is a cloud platform, which is a PaaS (Platform as a Service) that explicitly targets IoT applications and performs data analytics on large amounts of data for further maintenance and operations.
The main aim of the platform offered by Predix is to network, manage and collect data from industrial IoT devices. Predix provides digitalisation for large companies and organisations that want to transform their environments using IoT.
Predix allows these companies to scale their assets and profits and make better product and service decisions. The GE company predominantly focuses on companies that offer manufacturing and operations that strive for growth and technical development.
The Building Blocks of GE Predix
GE followed and incorporated a few building blocks in Predix to make it one of the best cloud platforms for IoT. Let’s take a look a look at them:
1. Security
We all know that one of the significant drawbacks of IoT is security, as the data collected and gathered could be obtained by cybercriminals and even exposed. Predix strives to offer system security and safety by cutting down risks and allowing a complete view of the ecosystem.
2. Machine Learning
When you pair IoT with powerful machine learning algorithms, it can do some pretty high-level stuff. As the name suggests, machine learning is the process of teaching machines to make well-informed and repetitive actions. When you combine IoT and ML, you can analyse the data collected by machines and perform operations such as monitoring, control, and management.
3. Predix System
The GE Predix system provides all the necessary software and other in-built applications to set up and get started with the cloud platform, as it offers numerous services that make machines intelligent to interact and connect with industries and platforms.
4. Industrial Analytics
Predix uses various tools for predictive analysis to contain and collect information about the assets to provide insight into the data and information of any organisation. As a result, it allows stakeholders and owners to make better and well-informed decisions.
5. Mobile Apps
The UI (User Interface) or mobile phone applications supply data synchronisation from remote locations and enable the tracking and managing of assets from different locations
6. Digital Twins
With the help of GE Predix, users can easily create dynamic models of systems to use digital twin applications more reliably and efficiently. The virtual representation of a system that is updated from real-time data and uses simulation and machine learning to make decisions is known as a digital twin.
What are the Features of the Predix Platform?
GE Predix has many features that set it apart from its competitors. Let us look at some of the highlighted features of the Predix platform.
1. IT/OT Connectivity
The GE Predix platform provides secure and reliable OT (Operational Technology Data) collected from various equipment, historians, sensors, HMI/SCADA, and other IT systems like EAM/CMMS.
2. Edge-to-Cloud Security
As we saw above, Predix offers incredible security. In addition, it has various features that vary from hardened edge processing to encrypted data transfer to secure cloud operations. In short, Predic provides end-to-end data and user access control and compliance.
3. Data Processing Fabric
The Predix platform supports streaming and batch data ingestion. It also has real-time data and analytics processing that allow Predix to handle various application needs.
4. Cloud Scalability
With proven data ingestion, analytics processing, and operations management, Predix meets the demanding workloads of industrial leaders.
5. Analytics Execution
Predix platform contains flexible analytics orchestration and execution of customer-developed analytics at both the edge and cloud.
6. GE Digital Application Features
GE Predix comes with many functions, including data visualisation, dashboarding, alerting, case management, and more that support APM and numerous other application workflows.
GE Predix Partnership with AWS and Microsoft Azure
Numerous industrial customers are supported and connected with the help of Azure and Predix thanks to the global partnership between Microsoft and GE.
Due to this partnership, the IoT platform is now available on the Microsoft cloud. It enables users and consumers to make use of the various cloud applications in a strategic manner.
Predix also takes advantage of external features such as AI and Natural Language Processing(NLP) to give customers more choices to interact with the data securely.
GE has also made considerable efforts to establish the Predix platform on all popular IaaS (information as a service provider). Moreover, since Predix runs on AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Azure, customers can choose from various applications.
GE Predix’s recent partnership with Apple allows customers to use Predix applications on their IOS-based devices like MAC, Ipad, Iphones, etc.
What are the various versions of Predix?
Predeix has a few versions that are inclined and focused on a more specific task at hand. Let us take a brief look at them:
1. Predix Essentials
The Predix platform offers a commercial platform called Predix Essentials that delivers customers a whole package of the core Predix Platform functions the GE Digital applications use. This version of Predix provides everything you need for solution success.
2. Predix Edge
We all know that IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) is driving new demands in edge computing, and Predix Edge provides precisely that. How? It simplifies data collection and forwarding while supporting any local computing need. In addition, this version of Predix securely handles advanced analytics and data processing.
Advantages of GE Predix
It is needless to say that Predix has a lot of advantages. Nonetheless, let us look at a few:
1. Agile and Continuous
The Predix platform reduces the time taken to deliver services and allows manufacturers to explore and conquer new capabilities.
2. Standardised
Predix has several pre-build tools and common products for consumers to use directly. In addition, the in-built service architecture reduces the time load to create operations.
3. Scalability
Since GE Predix is scalable, you can start with a smaller workspace for new startups, and as your business increases its size and profits, you can opt for bigger services.
4. Workload Optimisation
IIoT collects huge amounts of data that need to be optimised at a constant rate to ensure the system’s proper functioning. This is why Predix is so popular in Industrial domains.
Developer kits of GE Predix
GE partnered with companies like Intel to offer developer kits to its customers. These kits help us easily connect sensors to the industrial IoT and allow you to begin exploring IoT more easily and in a hassle-free manner.
These developer kits contain a Linux operating system, NUC gateway and flash memory with 4GM memory. It also includes vibration and temperature sensors.
Summary
As you have seen, General Electric Predic is a cloud platform, a PaaS (Platform as a Service) that explicitly targets IoT applications and performs data analytics on large amounts of data for further maintenance and operations.
You have now learned what Predix is, its features, the partnership of GE with AWS, Microsoft, and Apple, and the various building blocks of Predix. We finally concluded by looking at the two versions of Predix and then discussed a few advantages of GE Predix.