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Machine Connectivity and Industry 4.0

In 2018, we find ourselves in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution. The first took place in the 18th and 19th centuries and saw the industrialisation and urbanisation of rural Europe and America. The second industrial revolution took place in the decades leading up to World War 1, and saw the development of such technologies as the light bulb, the telephone and many others that still impact our lives today. Industrial Revolution number 3 brought the world into the digital age and continues to do so with such advancements as the personal computer, the internet and ICT. Now in 2018, the fourth industrial revolution is largely characterised by the many ways in which technology ingrains itself into society and even the human body.

Also known as Industry 4.0, this revolution is largely marked by the significant technological breakthroughs in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, The Internet of Things and machine connectivity. This blog article looks at Industry 4.0 in greater detail and its relationship to machine connectivity.

What is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 is the name given to the existing industrial trend of improved automation, communication between human and machine and machine to machine, artificial intelligence, and digitisation across many manufacturing industry processes. It’s the combination of IT and manufacturing operations and it’s deeply driven by four crucial factors, those being:

  • Increasing volumes of data, computational power and connectivity.
  • The arrival to the forefront of analytics and business-intelligence abilities.
  • Brand new forms of interaction between humans and machines such as augmented reality systems and touch screens.
  • Improvements in communicating digital instructions in a physical world through the likes of 3D printing and robotics.

Industry 4.0 is a trend that has permeated every industry globally and is expected to change the way businesses interact with each other the world over. It’s expected to significantly modernise contemporary manufacturing processes and increase the competitiveness of western industry.

How are Industry 4.0 and Machine Connectivity Linked?

Machine to machine connectivity, also referred to as machine to machine communication, is the term used to describe the direct communication between two communications channels (wired or wireless). It provided the starting point that in time grew into the Internet of Things. While machine to machine connectivity refers to singular instances of communication, IoT refers to connectivity on a much grander scale and is considered a key element of Industry 4.0.

For more information on Industry 4.0 and machine connectivity, contact HYDAC today.

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