Field Communications
Connect equipment through Modbus, serial communications, device interfaces, sensors, controls, and other available protocols.
Connected Operations Platform
Integrating remote energy equipment with a centralized operating platform.
Field communications, edge computing, telemetry, cameras, cloud services, monitoring, and remote control were integrated into one system.
The Situation
Remote equipment needed better visibility and control.
Operating data, alarms, camera information, equipment status, and control functions existed across different devices and interfaces.
The objective was to bring those functions together without making remote connectivity a requirement for every local operation.
Scope
- Field communications and Modbus
- Edge computing and local processing
- Telemetry and normalized data
- Camera and event integration
- Cloud services and dashboards
- Remote commands and acknowledgements
Edge-to-Cloud Architecture
Local systems and cloud systems have different responsibilities.
The field layer collects and interprets equipment data, monitors health, buffers information during outages, and handles appropriate local functions.
The cloud layer provides broader visibility, history, user access, monitoring, and authorized remote interaction.
Platform Components
Several technical layers operate as one system.
Edge Processing
Collect, translate, normalize, buffer, monitor, and process information close to the equipment.
Cloud Monitoring
Present operating status, telemetry, trends, alarms, cameras, and site health through a centralized application.
Remote Control
Send authorized commands and retain acknowledgement, status, and visibility around the result.
System Integration
The operator interface is only one part of the platform.
Reliable monitoring and control depend on the equipment, communications, local computing, data structure, cloud services, application, and command path working together.
The architecture was developed across the full path from physical equipment and field communications through edge processing and cloud services to the operator interface.
Related Services
Do your connected systems require coordination across multiple platforms?
ballastIQ works across field equipment, controls, edge computing, communications, telemetry, cloud services, monitoring, and automation.