The IT/OT Evolution in Transportation
In the past, corporations traditionally considered operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems as two separate departments. OT is defined as the traditional physical world composed of machines, electromechanical devices, manufacturing systems and other industrial equipment (such as industrial control systems). Meanwhile, IT consists of the modern digital world with servers, storage, networking and other devices used to run software applications, process algorithms, and analyze datasets without human intervention. Historically, these two groups have been siloed and treated as separate departments with very different functions and skillsets.
However, a technological evolution of IT and OT has taken shape in recent years, as the two disciplines have converged and integrated together. With the explosive growth of edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI), also known as edge AI, AIoT has supercharged business operations and consolidated into a united infrastructure. The benefits have been numerous, including improved visibility, enhanced management, the enablement of predictive maintenance, and big data analytics. With this convergence of information and operational technology systems, edge AI solutions enable businesses to integrate traditionally siloed IT and OT processes into a united infrastructure.
Edge AI solutions have had a profound effect on IT/OT convergence, especially within the transportation industry. This blog post will examine the benefits of increased security and diagnostics for the automobile sector, streamlined operations for airlines, and improved train control architecture for railway systems.
Enhanced Security and Diagnostics for Automobiles
The convergence of IT and OT has resulted in enhanced security and on-board diagnostics for automobiles. By leveraging edge AI solutions, operators are able to gain insights into potential safety risks and available proactive measures; for example, when oversized trucks and large automobiles are navigating crowded freeways during rush hour traffic. In a similar manner, auto manufacturers can also take proactive measures to bolster automotive cybersecurity. This cybersecurity enables the seamless management of security risks throughout the vehicle lifecycle, while also providing visibility and insight to protect vehicles, particularly against thefts. Furthermore, a comprehensive risk management process allows car manufacturers to identify security risks, understand the size of their attack surface, assess the criticality of their digital infrastructure based on vehicle types, and inventory connected systems. These data analytics are then used to add security protocols in a targeted and prioritized manner.
Furthermore, the digitalization of crucial vehicle components and growing adoption of IT/OT convergence in the automotive industry has improved on board diagnostics for cars. Functioning as a computer system inside of a vehicle that manages every function related to the engine and powertrain system, diagnostics collect information from the network of sensors inside the vehicle. This system then uses the data to regulate car systems or alert the user to problems. This self-diagnostic and reporting capability gives car owners the ability to assess the status of the various vehicle sub-systems within an automobile. This convergence, along with edge AI software, has enabled the integration of these different types of tools, such as mobile device-based analysis, OBDII software, data loggers, vehicle instrumentation, and engine control units. In particular, OBD-II software has proven to be especially valuable as communication protocols for different subsystems, including vehicle diagnostics, in-vehicle networking, and external communication commands.
Streamlined Operations for Airlines
IT/OT convergence streamlines operations and improves the customer experience at airports through real-time tracking and communication systems. Because of this phenomenon, passengers have the ability to receive real-time updates on schedules, delays, and other relevant information, improving overall passenger satisfaction and reducing transit delays. In addition, what was once separate operations, including baggage handling, aircraft real-time positions, and customer check-in, has become more integrated, allowing airport procedures to be streamlined. This also increases security measures, and gives airport managers, operators, and external providers the ability to visualize potential opportunities or threats that might affect the customer’s journey throughout their travels.
With this data integration, the operational silos of landside transport, aircraft positioning, vehicle information, vehicle flow, flight schedules, fire systems, asset management systems, check in, and baggage handling are merged into a centralized software platform. Together, different tasks are adapted from external systems and run simultaneously. In this manner, data streams are collected, analyzed, and aggregated through heterogeneous computing. Before, the general approach was to capture, process, and analyze relevant events from each disparate application and publish them to individual systems. Now, multiple programs, processes, and screens are performing workloads at the same time and can be viewed on a uniform dashboard.
Improved Train Control Architecture for Railways
Furthermore, the convergence of OT and IT systems has emerged as a transformative trend within the railway industry. For railway systems, the implementation of OT has grown exponentially in recent years, with data communication technology playing a key role in the onboard train control architecture. One example is the European Train Control Systems, which is currently being deployed to help increase the range of available services and capacity of existing rail networks. By expanding research into autonomous vehicles and demand for technological innovation, the implementation of OT systems in railway vehicles and network infrastructure will continue to grow.
As a result of this convergence, the network of interconnected cyber-physical systems and the level of security required to support these railway platforms has increased. To accommodate this trend, the train industry is rapidly moving IP-based communication networks to the Ethernet/IP protocol to transmit data in on-board train control applications. Prior to the use of Ethernet/IP, the Train Communication Network protocol was used, which meant the Multifunction Vehicle Bus (MVB) was applied within the vehicle and a Wire Train Bus (WTB) connection was used between vehicles. Both MVB and WTB were based on serial communications and deployed at a time when on-board implementations of IP networks were limited to IT systems, such as CCTV and on-board entertainment. Now, after this convergence, mixed system IP based architecture is standard in rail vehicles.
Impact Extending Beyond the Transportation Industry
Looking ahead into 2025, the benefits of IT/OT convergence will extend beyond the transportation sector. Edge AI solutions will continue to have profound effects on IT/OT convergence and positively impact other industries, including manufacturing, utilities, energy, military and defense, law enforcement, communications, and retail. Furthermore, this convergence will also increase environmental sustainability by optimizing energy consumption, reducing emissions through efficient logistics and route planning, and facilitating the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles. Interested in learning more about our edge AI solutions? Visit us online now, and contact us here to speak with a product expert.