RTI Announces Connectivity Software Designed for Architecting IIoT Systems of Systems

Real-Time Innovations (RTI), a company focused on Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity solutions, announced a connectivity software designed to build layered-databus architectures for IIoT systems of systems: RTI Connext DDS 5.3.

To help system architects address the typical IIoT systems, the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) recently released the Industrial Internet Reference Architecture (IIRA). The IIRA identifies a Layered Databus pattern as the recommended framework for developing these multi-tiered IIoT systems of systems. RTI Connext DDS 5.3 is a connectivity software designed to implement the layered databus pattern while also fostering interoperability and an open architecture.

Interoperable Security
Built on the Object Management Group (OMG) Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, Connext DDS 5.3 introduces support for the recently finalized DDS Security standard. All of the standard Connext DDS components have been enhanced to be compatible with the new and advanced DDS Security standard. As a result, devices and applications developed with Connext DDS 5.3 will interoperate with those that take advantage of future Connext DDS versions. Given the long lifecycle of IIoT systems, forward interoperability is essential for products that cannot be easily upgraded once they are deployed. In addition, RTI verified Connext DDS 5.3 interoperates with other DDS Security implementations, enabling plug-and-play systems that incorporate components from multiple suppliers.

Historical Data Query
IIoT applications often need access to historical data to refine analytics or update dashboards. Due to the large amount of data in IIoT systems of systems, it is rarely possible to send all data to all locations. Connext DDS 5.3 now provides the capability to request and receive historical data. Additionally, the ability to filter for specific content, such as requesting a patient's body temperature over the last 4 hours, helps to prevent the network bandwidth from flooding.

Device Mobility
In IIoT systems, it is critical that systems maintain connectivity even as devices roam across networks, such as in autonomous cars. Because different networks assign different addresses, traditional approaches can cause a loss in connectivity and data during the switchover. With Connext DDS 5.3, devices can automatically re-locate and re-authenticate to help maintain uninterrupted connectivity whenever a network address changes.

RTI Connext DDS 5.3 and the layered-databus architecture have applications across various industries, including healthcare, energy, aerospace and defense (A&D), and transportation.

Developers can use the Connext DDS connectivity framework, software development kits (SDKs), tools and runtime services to help design, build and deploy their IIoT systems. Additional new features and benefits include:

• RTI Web Integration Service: Provides a way to help build user-facing web applications. It provides a RESTful interface to the Connext Databus based on the OMG Web-Enabled DDS specification.

• RTI Gateway Toolkit: Helps to bridge and interoperate with legacy technologies, as well as other standards-based connectivity frameworks, such as OPC-UA, and messaging protocols, such as MQTT and AMQP.

• RTI Administration Console: Works with the new security capabilities to provide added insight into secured data while monitoring, controlling and debugging from a centralized tool.

   

Packaging and Availability
The Connext DDS 5.3 Product Suite is immediately available, featuring Connext DDS Professional and Connext DDS Secure. Connext DDS Professional is the connectivity software solution including run-time messaging libraries, development tools and run-time services to scale IIoT systems. Connext DDS Secure includes the features of Connext DDS Professional plus the added functional security of the RTI Security Plugins.

Keywords: Cloud Connectivity, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), Object Management Group (OMG), Data Distribution Service (DDS), ARC Advisory Group.