What’s New

• PICMG IoT.1 interoperable data modeling capabilities have been included in the latest release of the DMTF Redfish specification.
• Ongoing work will extend the Redfish job model to support factory orchestration and management via cloud-based platforms like AWS.
• A reference Redfish server based on PICMG IoT.x is being developed on GitHub to demonstrate the potential of plug-and-play Industry 4.0 use cases.

WAKEFIELD, MA. PICMG, the consortium driving open standards for modular, scalable computing, and DMTF, have announced that an IP submission containing the PICMG IoT.x firmware specification was accepted and included in the most recent Work in Progress phase of the Redfish^® standard. The extensions to Redfish will streamline the creation of plug-and-play Industry 4.0 systems by connecting interoperable data models on IoT.x-enabled endpoints to software-defined converged infrastructure via the Redfish API.

Redfish is an IT industry standard commonly used for data collection and device management in equipment such as data center fans and coolant pumps. Since 2018, PICMG and DMTF have worked collaboratively to extend the capabilities of Redfish to automation and factory equipment, enabling remote management and control of robotic motion platforms, contextualized sensing systems, and other advanced control endpoints.

The result of those efforts is PICMG IoT.1 and IoT.2, which add extensions to DMTF’s Redfish standard, now included in the latest publication.

“DMTF specifies protocols, data formats, and models for interoperable management on control plane infrastructure including edge systems,” said Jeff Hilland, DMTF president. “Since a lot of what we do is applicable to edge hardware, it makes sense to work with PICMG as part of our alliance partner program.”

Extending Data and Control Capabilities

The PICMG IoT.1 firmware specification defines a standard data model for sensor makers and systems integrators, while PICMG IoT.2 addresses the data model and network architecture requirements for the integration of larger sensor/effector networks.

Together, the two specifications accelerate the development and deployment of smart sensors in Industry 4.0 applications. Redfish extensions integrate these capabilities in a larger system of systems context while remaining fully compatible with the PICMG IoT.x specifications.

PICMG is also working on extending the Redfish job model to support cloud-based scheduling and orchestration of factory equipment. This will allow industrial operators to leverage powerful cloud platforms like AWS to manage jobs all the way to control endpoints on a factory floor.

“Imagine a modular factory where every component is interconnected and fully plug-and-play not just at the sensor and effector level, but across the entire assembly line,” said Doug Sandy, CTO of PICMG. “A factory where every piece of equipment has its own associated Redfish service, workloads, and processing could happen wherever they need to, while operators could manage and monitor everything through a top-down hierarchy of building, floor, and line controllers.”

“That’s what PICMG and DMTF ultimately want to support. And with our current work on Redfish, we’ve taken a big step in the right direction,” he added.

Building the Factory of the Future

PICMG’s IP submission recently entered DMTF’s Work in Progress phase and is slated for a projected full release in 2025. During the Work in Progress phase, the development community will have the opportunity to review and comment on the new content of the specification so changes can be incorporated prior to the next Redfish release.

PICMG and DMTF also currently have a team working on an example implementation of the interoperable data environment, expressed in the form of an open-source server. Accessible on the PICMG GitHub repository, new functionality is being added to the server each month with the goal of it becoming fully functional in time for the next Redfish specification release.

The PICMG extension is publicly available on the DMTF website at: www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/PICMG_DMTF_Work_Register_v1.1.pdf.

Learn More

• PICMG Industrial IoT Overview: https://www.picmg.org/industrial-iot-overview
• PICMG IoT Firmware Specification: picmg.org/product/iiot_firmware
• DMTF Website: dmtf.org
• PICMG Redfish Submission: dmtf.org/sites/default/files/PICMG_DMTF_Work_Register_v1.1.pdf
• PICMG Redfish Server on GitHub: https://github.com/PICMG/redfish_server_maker
• E-mail Contact: [email protected]

About DMTF

DMTF, an industry standards organization, creates open manageability specifications spanning diverse emerging and traditional IT infrastructures including cloud, virtualization, network, servers, and storage. Member companies and alliance partners worldwide collaborate on standards including Redfish, SPDM, SMBIOS, MCTP, PLDM, and more to improve the interoperable management of information technologies. Nationally and internationally recognized by ANSI and ISO, DMTF standards enable a more integrated and cost-effective approach to management through interoperable solutions. Simultaneous development of Open Source and Open Standards is made possible by DMTF, which has the support, tools, and infrastructure for efficient development and collaboration. For a complete list of our standards and initiatives, visit the Standards and Technologies section of the DMTF website.

DMTF is led by a diverse board of directors from Broadcom Inc.; Cisco; Dell Technologies; Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Intel Corporation; Lenovo; Positivo Tecnologia S.A.; and Verizon.

About PICMG

Founded in 1994, PICMG is a not-for-profit 501(c) consortium of companies and organizations that collaboratively develop open standards for high-performance industrial, Industrial IoT, military & aerospace, telecommunications, test & measurement, medical, and general-purpose embedded computing applications. There are more than 150 member companies that specialize in a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical and thermal design, single board computer design, high-speed signaling design and analysis, networking expertise, backplane, and packaging design, power management, high availability software and comprehensive system management.

Key standards families developed by PICMG include COM-HPC, COM Express, CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA, AdvancedMC, CompactPCI Serial, InterEdge, ModBlox7, SHB Express, IoT.x, and HPM (Hardware Platform Management).

For more information, visit https://www.picmg.org.

Highlights:

• Modular compute, switch, and I/O architecture enables interoperable standard for industrial PCs, PLCs, and distributed control systems.
• Supports IEC 61499 and IEC 61131 for compatibility with a wide range of automation systems.
• Hot-swappable modules can be replaced or upgraded while the system is running, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.

FEBRUARY 2024 ­­– WAKEFIELD, MA. PICMG, the consortium for open hardware specifications, today announced the release of InterEdge, a modular architecture for process control systems (PCS). The IEC 61499 and IEC 61131-compatible InterEdge specification promises to revolutionize the industry with an interoperable, multi-vendor alternative to proprietary Industrial PCs (IPCs), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and Distributed Control Systems (DCSs).

“Business needs evolve at an ever-increasing rate,” said Francisco Garcia, Americas Regional Instrument Lead at ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company and member of the InterEdge technical working group. “InterEdge delivers an interchangeable base hardware standard for industrial manufacturers looking to adapt to changing business needs. As a result, providers can deploy and scale dedicated physical assets and focus on value-added software and services.”

A Shared Standard for the Process Industry

InterEdge defines a vendor-neutral, open standard for edge computing and I/O module hardware. It segments hardware into Compute Modules, Switch Modules, and I/O Modules. All of these modules are connected via a common backplane, enabling easy customization and expansion of industrial automation functions.

An overview of the specification and an architecture diagram are available at https://www.picmg.org/openstandards/interedge/. InterEdge 0 R1 supports both single- and multi-channel I/O implementations and a forthcoming specification will be optimized for single-channel I/O.

The full specification is available to purchase. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in ongoing specification development efforts by joining the PICMG InterEdge working group by emailing [email protected].

With its modular approach, InterEdge can flexibly incorporate the functions of disparate automation systems into a single platform. This common platform can be deployed across automation, chemical refining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, metals and mining, pulp and paper, food and beverage, and a wide range of other process industries.

Upgradability that Breaks Free from Hardware Lock-In
By replacing proprietary edge devices, InterEdge eliminates vendor lock-in, simplifies integration and maintenance, and enables online upgrades, all of which contribute to significant cost savings.

In the past, edge components remained in place for decades with static functional capabilities due to the difficulties of upgrades. In contrast, the hot-swappable interoperability of InterEdge allows industrial organizations to quickly adapt to changing market demands and technological advancements. Now manufacturers can improve their competitive position through emerging trends in AI, Industrial IoT, and Industry 4.0.

“InterEdge allows industrial manufacturers to transition from proprietary hardware to an open architecture where they can choose fit-for-purpose components, replace obsolete hardware, add computational resources, and upgrade hardware security in a running plant at virtually zero switching costs,” said Matt Burns, global director of technical marketing at Samtec and chair of the InterEdge Technical Working Group.

“InterEdge does for industrial control systems what the Open Compute Project did for data centers,” Burns added.

Strong Support from Industry Leaders
InterEdge originated as part of the O-PAS™ (Open Process Automation) Standard from The Open Group® Open Process Automation™ Forum (OPAF), a consortium of 110+ leaders in process automation including system suppliers, engineering firms, governmental bodies, research institutions, and end customers.

With its new home in PICMG, InterEdge joins a growing family of multi-vendor hardware standards with a decades-long track record of success. PICMG and OPAF have committed to working together to push for the same widespread adoption of InterEdge.

“PICMG felt it was critical to release this because it lays the groundwork for subsequent iterations of the InterEdge specification that will address the broadest range of industry use cases possible,” says Jessica Isquith, president of PICMG. “We are eager to support the continued progress of InterEdge and its ability to revolutionize industrial edge environments.”

Learn More

Details of the InterEdge specification are available on the PICMG website. Solutions from participating hardware vendors are expected to be available in the coming months.

For more information on InterEdge, visit:
· InterEdge Specification Overview: www.picmg.org/openstandards/interedge
· License the InterEdge Specification: www.picmg.org/product/interedge

• CPU, Power Supply, and I/O units can be configured as redundant or non-redundant systems in transportation, automation, avionics, defense, and other markets
• 1.4” horizontal pitch (7 HP) per unit supports mounting on walls, DIN rails or side-by-side in a 19” sub-rack
• Modular, scalable architecture removes backplane for configurable, cost-effective low-, medium-, and high-volume production runs

WAKEFIELD, MA. PICMG, a leading consortium for the development of open embedded computing specifications, has ratified the ModBlox7 base specification. The first-of-its-kind specification addresses industry’s need for modular and interoperable embedded box PCs by defining a flexible mechanical architecture and “units” that fit a 1.4-inch horizontal pitch (7 HP) form factor.

The ModBlox7 architecture removes expensive components like backplanes and shelf controllers to enable the creation of price-competitive systems even at low volumes. Up to 12 of the 7 HP units can be interconnected and mounted on walls, DIN rails, or inserted in a 19” sub-rack.

“With ModBlox7, we combine the advantages of modular standards like CompactPCI and CompactPCI Serial with the demands we see from box PC customers like cost sensitivity, small form factor, and low weight,” explains Mathias Beer, CEO of Ci4Rail GmbH and member of the PICMG ModBlox7 working group. “By combining all of this in a PICMG specification, ModBlox7 addresses the design requirements of our clients and avoids vendor lock in.”

The Building Block Architecture of ModBlox7

A typical ModBlox7 system consists of Power Units, Processing Units, and PCIe or USB 2.0/3.0 Input and Output Units (IOUs), each of which measures 1.4” or 7 HP wide. Units can also be extended in 7HP increments to 14 HP, 21 HP, and so on and remain compatible with the specification.

Power Unit blocks convert external supply voltage into a 12V internal voltage and connect to Processing Units via terminal wire-to-board or board-to-board connectors. Processing Units support an overall thermal design power (TDP) of up to 150W and interface with IOUs over high-speed board-to-board connectors.

While a minimum ModBlox7 system consists of just one Processing Unit and one Power Unit, they can support as many as four PCI Express-based or eight USB-based IOUs. For high-availability or safety applications, ModBlox7 systems can also be configured with redundant Processing Units or Power Units. The maximum number of slots supported in any ModBlox7 is 12.

“The ModBlox7 standard defines a direct board-to-board interconnect in a box format to realize cost-effective system solutions,” says Bernd Kleeberg, CEO and Head of Sales at EKF Elektronik GmbH and chair of the PICMG ModBlox7 working group. “Thanks to native support for redundancy, ModBlox7 is also recommended for high-availability solutions.”

Getting Started with ModBlox7

ModBlox7 is designed for edge computing, data acquisition, communication, and control use cases in transportation, automation, avionics, defense, medical, agriculture, and other demanding markets. A multi-vendor supplier ecosystem helps control cost and ensures product availability over the long lifecycles of deployments in these domains.

Members of the PICMG ModBlox7 subcommittee include Ci4Rail GmbH, EKF Elektronik GmbH, ELTEC Elektronik AG, Elma Electronic, Embeck Co., Ltd., ept GmbH, HEITEC AG, Hirose Electric Europe B.V., nVent/Schroff GmbH, Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Samtec, Inc., Sealevel Systems, Inc., UBER Co. Ltd., FASTWEL Group Co. Ltd, and Tews Technologies GmbH.

Products based on the ModBlox7 base specification are available now. The specification is also available for purchase and download at www.picmg.org/product/modblox7.

For more information on ModBlox7, visit:

• ModBlox7 Industrial Box PC Standard: Overview & How to Get Involved: www.picmg.org/modblox7
• PICMG ModBlox7—An Open, Flexible Standard for the Growing Industrial Box PC Market: https://embeddedcomputing.com/application/industrial/industrial-iot/picmg-modblox7-an-open-flexible-standard-for-the-growing-industrial-box-pc-market

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a not-for-profit 501(c) consortium of companies and organizations that collaboratively develop open standards for high performance industrial, Industrial IoT, military & aerospace, telecommunications, test & measurement, medical, and general-purpose embedded computing applications. There are more than 140 member companies that specialize in a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical and thermal design, single board computer design, high-speed signaling design and analysis, networking expertise, backplane, and packaging design, power management, high availability software and comprehensive system management.

Key standards families developed by PICMG include COM-HPC, COM Express, CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA, AdvancedMC, CompactPCI Serial, InterEdge, ModBlox7, SHB Express, MicroSAM, and HPM (Hardware Platform Management). For more information, visit www.picmg.org.