NubisNet offers everything you need to connect plants, machines and systems to the digital world quickly and easily. Every user can create their own personal user interface on the IoT platform and analyse and visualize machine data according to individual requirements. Machine statuses can be displayed regardless of location and device and various smart applications can be set up easily. Eaton offers a cost-effective starter package for interested parties who would like to get to know and test the benefits and functions of the IoT solution. NubisNet is expected to be available in spring 2020.

With the IoT platform, machine data can be analysed and visualized quickly and clearly. The platform offers a selection of different application modules for this purpose - from permanent recording of the machine status (condition monitoring) and reporting functions to alarms and energy management. Depending on requirements, users can simply drag and drop these modules to create their own personal dashboard. This allows production systems to be monitored online and all relevant key figures to be visualized. If the IoT platform registers a deviation, the early warning system immediately sends alerts by email and via messaging services. This allows the necessary measures to be initiated immediately.

The cloud server for the IoT solution is located in Germany and is therefore subject to the EU's strict legal requirements for data security. Data is transferred from the process level to the cloud via a bidirectional, web-based protocol. With its low latency, it is specially designed for industrial communication. End-to-end encryption in accordance with the TLS 1.3 standard and mandatory authentication meet the highest cybersecurity requirements. Data can also be transmitted via the MQTT protocol or with OPC/UA.

The company's IoT gateway forms the link between the machine and the cloud. It receives the machine data from the connected machine controllers via Modbus TCP, regardless of whether they are devices from Eaton or other manufacturers. Depending on the gateway version selected, the connection to the Internet is established via LAN, WLAN or, for unrestricted mobile use, via LTE. The gateways are configured via an easy-to-use device manager - this means that the devices can be quickly put into operation without additional software, even without programming knowledge. The gateways also have their own logic controller, which can be used to implement basic edge computing functions. The required logic functions can be easily selected from a library stored in the device manager, while others can be programmed as required using the Codesys software. The gateways are equipped with a firewall and are subject to the company's strict cybersecurity regulations, which define significantly higher requirements than prescribed by existing standards and laws.

Eaton offers the NubisNet IoT solution in two packages: The cost-effective Basic package is tailored to applications that only require a low volume of data, limited cloud storage capacity and less frequent data transfers. The Advanced package, on the other hand, enables comprehensive applications with high data volumes and frequent data transfer at very short intervals. If you want to get to know the possibilities and functions of the IoT solution first, you can opt for the Starter package: it consists of a gateway with LAN interface and the latest control relay, the easyE4. Various sample projects are pre-installed on the control relay, which can be simulated using the easySoft operating software. Dashboards are already preconfigured on the IoT platform for the sample projects so that the results of the simulations can be visualized immediately. This allows the IoT solution to be tested comprehensively. The gateway and control relays can of course be used in a system at a later date.

The connection to the cloud offers a wide range of benefits for both MOEMs and machine operators: Machine and system manufacturers can use the IoT solution to optimize service and offer their customers added value for their systems. The analysis of machine and system data is also helpful for quality assurance or the development of future products. For machine and plant operators, the connection to the IoT platform opens up new opportunities to reduce operating costs: maintenance costs and downtimes can be reduced, processes optimized and energy consumption measured and documented.