Edge Computing : The Top 5 IoT Trends to Watch in 2023 - Part 2

Alright, now that we have spoken about IoT in general, let’s dive a little deeper into ‘Edge Computing’.

Simply put, it is a computing infrastructure that brings data processing and analysis closer to the source of data generation. This means that instead of sending all the data to a central cloud server, some or all of the processing is done locally at the edge of the network, which can be a device, a gateway, or a server.

Imagine a factory that has hundreds of IoT sensors installed to monitor different aspects of its operations. The data from these sensors is transmitted to the cloud for processing and analysis. Look at the blue lines where data from sensors flow till the ‘Algorithms’ block and then back to the ‘Actuators’. However, this can lead to several problems such as latency, bandwidth limitations, and reliability issues. In a critical scenario, where a sudden increase in pressure needs to be addressed immediately, this delay can have serious consequences.

Edge Computing

This is where edge computing comes in. By processing data closer to the source, edge computing reduces latency and enhances real-time decision-making capabilities. In the example of the factory, an edge computing device installed locally at the gateway can analyze the data from the sensors and make decisions based on predefined rules and algorithms. This can be as simple as shutting down a valve or as complex as optimizing energy consumption. Look at the architecture below where the computing is now done at the 4th block and decision is sent back to the actuators without doing a whole loop of data transfer.

Edge computing has several advantages over traditional cloud computing. It reduces the amount of data sent to the cloud, thus reducing bandwidth requirements and costs. It also improves security and privacy by keeping sensitive data local. In addition, it enables new use cases that require real-time processing, such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and augmented reality.

Of course, there are some challenges to implementing edge computing. One of the main challenges is managing the complexity of the distributed system. Another challenge is ensuring interoperability between different edge devices and cloud services. Nevertheless, the potential benefits of edge computing make it an exciting and promising technology for the future.