The emerging of the advert of Edge AI is expected to shake the IoT world and help to accelerate the ongoing transformation to smart manufacturing.
Because of its ability to take artificial intelligence capability closer to the point of data generation, Edge AI is increasingly seen as a game-changer, delivering unprecedented real-time processing, more robust security, and great cost advantages.
Typically IoT devices send big blocks of data to big cloud analytic engines. Though suitable on some applications, this cloud-based model is largely latency-prone, has high bandwidth requirement, and brings privacy challenges.
Edge AI, does change this game entirely. AI algorithms directly run on edge devices like sensors, cameras, and industrial robots also enable data to be processed and analyzed at the “edge” of the network.
This local processing capability brings immediate advantages for IoT expansion. Real-time decision-making comes to life, important for applications needing immediate feedback such as autonomous vehicles, robotics and real-time inspection of infrastructure.
What’s more, thanks to low data transfer to the cloud, the bandwidth that the EdgeAI consumes is minimal and cost effective, especially in remote areas or places with stringent constraints of bandwidth. Data security and privacy are also greatly enhanced by the fact that sensitive data are kept on the device reducing the risk of breaches in transit.
In smart manufacturing, Edge AI is establishing itself as a building block of the fourth industrial revolution. Factories are driving Edge AI applications in predictive maintenance – the sensor data is used to predict and prevent breakdown of equipment, thus reducing factory downtime and saving on maintenance cost.
Quality control is evolving thanks to AI vision systems that identify defects immediately with a very high accuracy, leading to less waste and ensuring uniform quality of a product. And there’s process optimization – Edge AI can react in real-time, to adjust machine settings and resource allocation to be as efficient as possible, with the maximum throughput.
In the future, Edge AI combined with the new generation of technology trends such as 5G networks will magnify its role. 5G’s low latency and high bandwidth will allow more advanced Edge AI, resulting in greater independence and intelligence in industrial applications. With the world is set to witness massive growth in the global Edge AI market, its game-changing nature when it comes to mainstreaming IoT and leading a smart manufacturing revolution is clear.
