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Funded by the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre, this paper proposes a smart, edge-centric Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform for dairy processing. Revolutionizing Dairy Processing with Smart Edge IIoT
By leveraging IoT, AI, and edge devices, the solution improves productivity, reduces operational costs, and enhances real-time monitoring in dairy plants. The platform supports use cases like real-time milk quality monitoring, predictive maintenance, and collaborative robotics, showcasing its potential in optimizing dairy processing operations.
Imagine a dairy processing plant where milk quality is monitored in real-time and the farmer knows in advance when a machine will need maintenance? This paper focuses on just this – making the plant smarter and more efficient. Instead of sending all the data from machines to distant servers (the cloud) for processing, the data is handled right where it’s generated using small, powerful devices called edge devices. These devices can monitor milk quality in real-time, predict when machines need maintenance, and even allow robots to perform different operations such as the mixing of milk. The goal is to make dairy processing faster, cheaper, and safer. So, in simple terms, this research is about using advanced technology to make dairy production better and more efficient.
The next step in this research involves expanding the smart dairy processing platform by incorporating advanced techniques like Federated Learning (FL) and Federated Transfer Learning (FTL). These methods would allow different dairy plants to share and learn from each other’s data without sending all the data to a central location. This approach will enable more efficient use of resources and ensure that the models used by edge devices are robust and accurate, even as the amount of data grows. Future plans also include developing algorithms that automatically select and distribute optimized models to edge devices based on their specific needs and capabilities. Additionally, integrating business intelligence tools on the cloud will provide deeper insights into production and operational data, further enhancing the efficiency of dairy processing.
The findings from this research have wide-ranging industry applications, particularly in dairy processing and other food production industries. Currently, the proposed edge-centric IIoT platform can be used to monitor milk quality in real-time, predict equipment maintenance needs, and enhance automation through collaborative robots (COBOTS). In the future, these technologies could be expanded to other sectors, such as meat processing, beverage production, and even pharmaceutical manufacturing. The ability to process data on-site with edge devices will reduce operational costs, improve product quality, and minimize downtime across industries. Moreover, the integration of business intelligence tools will provide companies with valuable insights to optimize their operations further, making the entire supply chain more efficient. This research paves the way for smarter, more responsive, and cost-effective industrial processes.
Publication Title: An Edge-Centric Industrial IoT Solution for Smart Dairy Processing
Authors: Rahul Umesh Mhapsekar; Norah O’Shea; Steven Davy; Deirdre Kilbane; Lizy Abraham
Publication Date: 23rd August 2024
Name of Journal: IEEE Internet of Things Magazine https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract