GE Embedded Field Agent, User Manual

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GFK-2993F 10
For public disclosure
1.3 Field Agent Architecture
The goal of Field Agent technology is to connect industrial machines to the Predix* Cloud, so that asset owners can receive
insights and optimization for their equipment. Field Agents connect and transmit this data securely. Operators can then
visualize the performance of their assets and enable predictive analytics. Armed with this valuable information, operators can
optimize equipment uptime. OEMs can proactively maintain and service their equipment fleet, improving operations, growing
service revenues and winning new business. Asset owners can evolve past a break-fix model and implement predictive
analytics to minimize unplanned downtime.
GE has developed a family of Field Agent devices to address the challenges of communicating equipment data. A Field
Agent has two primary functions:
• Collecting and transmitting machine data securely
• A platform for running applications at the edge
Once a Field Agent is up and running, data is transferred from the plant to the cloud over encrypted channels, preserving its
time stamp, quality, and fidelity. It also provides a rich domain application environment for edge processing, so logic can be
executed at the most appropriate place in the architecture — locally on the machine or in the cloud.
HTTPS
Customer Access Using
Laptop or Mobile Device
HTTPS
OPC UA,
Modbus
TCP, etc.
Control System at Customer Site Field Agent at Customer Site
Predix Cloud