// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Industrial Edge
Computing infrastructure located close to the data source, like factory floors, rather than in a distant cloud. This allows for faster processing and real-time decision-making.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Industrial Edge refers to distributed computing architectures where data processing, analytics, and control logic are executed near industrial data sources (e.g., sensors, PLCs, machines) to minimize latency, conserve bandwidth, and enable real-time operational technology (OT) applications and AI inference.
BACKGROUND
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as 4IR, Industry 4.0 or the Intelligence Age, is a neologism describing rapid technological advancement in the 21st century. It follows the Third Industrial Revolution. The term was popularized in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum founder and former executive chairman, who asserts that these developments represent a significant shift in industrial capitalism.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Edge Computing
- Factory Edge
- Shop Floor Edge
- OT Edge
USAGE NOTE
Industrial Edge is critical for applications requiring immediate responses, such as autonomous robots or quality control.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Industrial Edge.
A global leader in industrial automation and digitalization, Siemens offers a comprehensive Industrial Edge platform that enables data processing and analytics directly on the shop floor, supporting applications from machine monitoring to predictive maintenance.
Specializing in industrial automation and digital transformation, Rockwell Automation provides FactoryTalk Edge Gateway and other solutions that bring computing capabilities closer to industrial assets, facilitating real-time data insights and operational efficiency.
Through its EcoStruxure architecture, Schneider Electric delivers industrial edge solutions, including edge control and edge computing, to manage and optimize operations in manufacturing plants, data centers, and critical infrastructure.
Microsoft Azure provides Azure IoT Edge, an extension of its cloud platform that brings cloud intelligence and analytics capabilities to edge devices, enabling industrial customers to deploy AI, machine learning, and other services locally.
AWS IoT Greengrass extends AWS cloud capabilities to industrial edge devices, allowing local execution of machine learning inference, data processing, and messaging, enabling faster responses and lower costs for industrial IoT applications.
A leading provider of industrial computing platforms, Advantech offers a wide range of industrial edge AI and IoT solutions, including industrial PCs, gateways, and embedded systems designed for harsh manufacturing environments.
Intel develops processors, software, and platforms optimized for industrial edge computing, providing the foundational technology that powers smart factories and enables real-time analytics, AI, and automation at the edge.
With its ThingWorx Industrial IoT platform, PTC offers robust edge computing capabilities that allow manufacturers to connect, monitor, and control industrial assets, enabling real-time data processing and analytics at the operational edge.
A specialist in drive and control technologies, Bosch Rexroth offers industrial edge solutions, including hardware and software for machine automation and connectivity, enabling data processing and analysis directly on production equipment.
VMware provides virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions that extend to the industrial edge, enabling secure and scalable deployment and management of applications and workloads in manufacturing and operational technology (OT) environments.