Industrial IoT (SCADA & M2M) Solutions over ASTRO® 25

In this webinar you will get an overview of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) portfolio and learn how you can utilize your IIoT solution over your existing ASTRO® 25 infrastructure.

00:01
Hello My name is Eitan and I am a member of the Industrial IoT Support team which is part of the IIOT development group in MIL.

00:13
This webinar deals with MOTOROLA Industrial IoT system over ASTRO P25.
The objectives of this webinar are to understand: What is an Industrial IoT Solution? And how can a Motorola ASTRO P25 system, be utilized for an Industrial IoT Solution.

00:38
First let us clarify the terminology used when dealing with INDUSTRIAL IoT aka SCADA and M2M. SCADA which stands for- SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION refer to real-time process control systems used to centrally monitor and control remote or local equipment such as motors, valves, pumps, relays, sensors, etc. SCADA is a combination of telemetry and data acquisition. M2M which stands for - MACHINE-TO-MACHINE refers to intelligent electronic device (aka IED as acronym) is used for data connectivity and communication to expand the user’s operational view and control.

IoT which stands for INTERNET OF THINGS refers to a network of physical objects that feature an IP address for data connectivity and communication across a network of networks. The term NETWORK OF NETWORKS stands for a combination of communication networks capable of working together to collect and communicate data across operations. INDUSTRIAL IoT stands for connecting operational and information technology across industrial and critical infrastructure environments to leverage data for the process automation and monitoring necessary to increase productivity.

The figure in front of us displays the key entities in Motorola IIoT solution. Our SCADA RTU serves as an IOT gateway to various IOT sensors and operational technologies. The collected data is transported over LMR or other communication networks to an HMI via the FEP which stands for Front-End-Processor gateway. The FEP provides a two-way path to the communication system between the RTUs and the IIoT Manager Host entity. The HMI can be a manned control center or mobile applications devices such as smart phones, tablets etcetera.

03:04
The multiple IIoT RTUs, gateways and FEPs in the system may communicate over a highly sophisticated hybrid data communication network by utilizing a variety of radio and/or line communication links. Radio links may include conventional, analog trunked, digital trunked, and both analog and digital microwave radio technologies. Line links may include point-to-point, multi-drop, cellular packet data modems, and Local Area Networks (LAN). The IIoT RTUs may communicate with other RTUs, with one or more computerized control centers that are connected to the communication network and with third party PLCs and other devices.

Each RTU can communicate with the control center via other RTU that serves as a store & forward or network communication node in the overall network, hence extend the communication coverage and lower its costs. The IIoT RTUs communicate upward with control centers and downward with third party intelligent devices and PLC using a variety of standard protocols such as MODBUS, DNP3, and other specialized drivers.

04:34
Motorola offers several RTU and FEP module types in the company’s IIoT portfolio. The ACE3600 RTU combines the local processing of a PLC with the superior communications of a remote terminal unit for an all-in-one high-performance unit. It allows seamless integration with multiple PLCs, RTUs and Intelligent Electronic Devices.

It has a powerful processor combined with versatile input/output modules allowing this RTU to be used for the most demanding IIoT applications, such as Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater, Siren/PA and many more. The ACE1000 RTU facilitates high reliability and interoperability at a lower cost. Its powerful processer combined with FLASH and RAM memory allows this RTU to be used in the most demanding IIoT environments.

The ACE1100 FEP is used at the central site to provide a two-way path to the communication system and to remote ACE1000 RTUs from the IoT Manager entity. This FEP supports a standard IoT protocol to communicate with the IoT Manager and interface with the RTU via MDLC. It also provides the ability to mirror all information from the remote ACE1000 RTUs to the IoT control center so no direct interrogation from the control center to remote sites is required. The ACE IP Gateway, also known as ACE4600, is an IIOT gateway from the ACE1000/ACE3600 RTUs to the IIoT control center. It acts as an interface between the MDLC world and the TCP/IP world.