In line with our mission of delivering the Home Of Things (HoT), and the Building Of Things (BoT), I am sharing a model proposal that leverages open source software – such as OpenHAB, for simple through to complex, holistic facility management systems.
Initially it was considered that a platform like openhab would not practically scale to a complex industrial scenario. However once we examined the design of distributed instances, and displays – incorporated with our AI-genie gateways, and machines it appears more feasible.
This is simply a demonstration of what we at Gensix Technology do – we have commercial building management systems that we deploy, but we are always looking to push the envelope.
OpenHAB Model for a Complex Industrial Environment
This model leverages OpenHAB for centralized control and visualization within a complex industrial environment with distributed processing power and legacy systems.
Components:
- OpenHAB Server Instances:
- Multiple OpenHAB instances run on separate servers, each dedicated to specific system management functions (e.g., production line 1, environmental controls).
- Each instance manages its own Things (devices), Items (representations of device data), Rules (automations), and UIs (dashboards).
- Gateways:
- Gateways bridge communication between legacy systems and protocols (e.g., Modbus, BACnet) and OpenHAB, allowing integration of existing equipment.
- High Compute Servers (HCS):
- Separate HCS equipped with GPUs handle computationally intensive tasks like machine vision, AI, and ML algorithms.
- OpenHAB communicates with the HCS, sending data for analysis and receiving results.
- Display Monitors:
- Multiple monitors display dashboards from each OpenHAB instance, providing detailed information specific to its managed system.
- An additional monitor shows a high-level overview dashboard.
- Centralized Broker (Optional):
- For complex setups, a message broker (e.g., MQTT) can facilitate communication between OpenHAB instances, enabling data exchange and coordinated actions.
Data Flow:
- Sensors and Devices: Data flows from sensors and devices (Things) through gateways or directly to their dedicated OpenHAB instance.
- OpenHAB Processing: Each instance processes data using Items, Rules, and persistence services. It interacts with the HCS for tasks requiring high compute power.
- Visualization: OpenHAB generates dashboards displaying real-time and historical data specific to each managed system.
- High-Level Overview: Data from each instance can be aggregated and displayed on a separate high-level overview dashboard, providing a consolidated view of key system parameters.
Benefits:
- Scalability: Adding new systems or functionalities only requires a new OpenHAB instance and potentially an HCS.
- Modularity: Isolated instances prevent cascading failures and simplify troubleshooting.
- Legacy System Integration: Gateways allow utilizing existing infrastructure.
- High-Performance Computing: HCS enables advanced processing for machine vision, AI, and ML.
- Centralized Monitoring: Multiple dashboards offer detailed views, while the high-level overview provides a holistic picture.
Implementation Considerations:
- Security: Implement robust security measures for each OpenHAB instance to protect sensitive industrial data.
- Network Infrastructure: Ensure reliable network connectivity between all components.
- Data Persistence: Design a strategy for historical data storage based on needs and regulations.
- User Management: Control access to different OpenHAB instances based on user roles.
Open Source Alternatives:
- Consider alternatives like Node-RED or FHEM for specific tasks depending on project requirements.
This model provides a flexible and scalable framework for managing complex industrial processes using OpenHAB. Remember to tailor the specific components and data flow to perfectly match your unique industrial environment.
