GE Predix Overview
GE Predix is an industrial Internet of Things (IoT) software platform developed by GE Digital, designed to network, manage, and analyze vast amounts of data collected from industrial devices. This platform is a cornerstone in the Industrial IoT (IIoT) space, aiming to optimize industrial operations through advanced data processing, analytics, and automation.
Key Functionality
- Edge-to-Cloud Connectivity: Predix Platform facilitates seamless connectivity between industrial assets and cloud services. This is achieved through Predix Edge, an on-premises software product that enables bi-directional communication with industrial assets via protocols such as OPC-UA, Modbus, or MQTT.
- Data Processing and Analytics: Predix Edge allows for local data processing and analytics, enabling near-real-time decision-making. It supports running applications and analytics in various programming languages, including C, C , Python, Node.js, and Java, within a Docker-based edge execution environment.
- Secure Data Transmission: The platform ensures secure data transfer to Predix cloud services, with features such as encryption, key management, and incident response services. It also supports storing and forwarding data during periods of intermittent cloud connectivity.
- Fleet Management: Predix Edge Manager is a cloud application that provides centralized fleet management of edge devices. This includes device enrollment, application lifecycle management, and the ability to send commands to edge devices. The manager is built on a modular microservices architecture, allowing for extensibility and scalability.
- Security and Governance: Predix offers robust security features, including device authentication using Predix cloud identity and certificate-based device enrollment. It also provides security profiles that can be audited and managed centrally, ensuring assets are connected, controlled, and managed securely.
- Extensibility and Customization: The platform is highly extensible, allowing users to extend its functionality through custom commands, custom software packages, and additional protocol adapters. This is facilitated through multi-container Docker applications.
Key Components
- Predix Edge OS: A secured Operating System deployed as a Virtual Machine, which manages the state of the edge device, including applications and the OS itself.
- Predix Edge Manager: A cloud application consisting of microservices such as Gateway, Tenant Management, Global Device Filter, and Application Configuration and Management. This enables comprehensive fleet management and application lifecycle management.
- Predix Cloud: Hosted on AWS, Predix Cloud provides a multi-tenancy model with network-level data isolation and encrypted key-management capabilities. It supports the integration of various analytic engines and languages to process and analyze data.
Benefits
- Rapid Deployment: Predix Edge technology enables the rapid transformation of industrial machines into smart, connected machines, enhancing their operational efficiency.
- Better Asset Insights: The platform provides faster and more efficient use of machine data, enabling quick decisions on performance, availability, and production optimization.
- Reliability and Manageability: IT teams can track, manage, and communicate with all edge devices and connected assets anytime, anywhere, ensuring reliability and manageability.
In summary, GE Predix is a powerful IIoT platform that integrates edge and cloud capabilities to enhance industrial operations through secure data connectivity, advanced analytics, and robust fleet management. Its extensible and customizable architecture makes it a versatile solution for a wide range of industrial applications.