A Platform for Intelligent Environments

A Platform for Intelligent Environments

In this post, I’ll explain the architecture of Current by GE's intelligent environment platform. The key differentiator is that it’s open at the top and at the bottom so we can integrate with best-of-breed hardware and software to provide the most innovative solutions to our customers.

The bottom layer of the architecture consists of three types of data sources:

The intelligent lighting network underpins this platform strategy.  It comprises scalable and cost-effective ZigBee-based sensors, actuators and controls to collect temperature, humidity, occupancy, ambient light, CO2 and many other types of data. These devices communicate wirelessly with a gateway that streams data into the Predix cloud. 

Lighting is the largest network in a commercial or industrial building and offers the following benefits:

The lighting network doesn’t just provide illumination, sensing and control. Current embeds codes in the light emitted by LED fixtures to support indoor positioning. An app running on a smart phone receives these codes using the phone’s camera to determine its position with 10 cm accuracy. We also embed BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacons in lights to support proximity-based indoor positioning. The positioning data is delivered to the platform for further analysis like the number of visitors in a retail store, frequency of visits, etc.  

A building has many subsystems like HVAC, solar, refrigeration, access control etc. Typically, these are siloed. Current unlocks these silos to provide one view of the data and access to boilers, chillers, pumps, refrigerators, thermostats, and many other data control elements using the Niagara framework gateway (aka JACE box).

A plethora of useful data is accessible over the Internet such as weather, smart meter, utility tariff, billing, etc. We gather them using the provider’s APIs.  This makes our platform “open at the bottom” meaning that it leverages data from any system.

Current’s intelligent environment platform is built on Predix, a cloud-based operating system for developing and deploying industrial Internet applications designed for the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of people, machines, Big Data and analytics.

Share it:
Share it:

[Social9_Share class=”s9-widget-wrapper”]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You Might Be Interested In

The impact of self-learning software now and in the foreseeable future

29 Dec, 2017

We’ve spent so long wringing our hands and worrying about artificial and virtualintelligence that we forgot to roll out the …

Read more

Middle Market Companies Should Wake Up to the Potential of AI in Finance

19 Sep, 2022

As middle market companies keep close watch over looming economic factors threatening to throw them off course, they are increasingly …

Read more

The nightmare on 5G street – IoT is coming and we don’t know how to secure it

13 Sep, 2019

Telecoms.com periodically invites third parties to share their views on the industry’s most pressing issues. In this piece Charl van …

Read more

Do You Want to Share Your Story?

Bring your insights on Data, Visualization, Innovation or Business Agility to our community. Let them learn from your experience.

Get the 3 STEPS

To Drive Analytics Adoption
And manage change

3-steps-to-drive-analytics-adoption

Get Access to Event Discounts

Switch your 7wData account from Subscriber to Event Discount Member by clicking the button below and get access to event discounts. Learn & Grow together with us in a more profitable way!

Get Access to Event Discounts

Create a 7wData account and get access to event discounts. Learn & Grow together with us in a more profitable way!

Don't miss Out!

Stay in touch and receive in depth articles, guides, news & commentary of all things data.