OpenADx is centered around the autonomous driving toolchain and aims to bring transparency and better integration capabilities into the highly heterogeneous autonomous driving tool space. This initiative is open to OEMs, Tier 1s, and tool and technology vendors. OpenADx was launched by Bosch and Microsoft and now comprises contributors from the industrial, research, and start-up worlds. It is an industry-wide initiative with the goal of accelerating the development of autonomous driving.

Industry 4.0 is causing software and manufacturing to converge. There are many ways in which companies can benefit from connected machines and equipment to make their production processes more efficient. From condition monitoring to predictive maintenance – the examples are manifold. Software can also help you improve the quality of your product or manage task allocation. It is even possible to retrofit older machines.

In the past, preventive maintenance helped to minimize machine downtime and avoid unscheduled outages. The advent of Industry 4.0 has brought about a new way of ensuring machine availability: condition monitoring. This method involves continuous monitoring of machine data to detect wear, making it easier to schedule repairs and thus reduce downtime. There is also potential to lower maintenance costs as only worn-out parts need replacing.

Maintenance is a challenging task: You must ensure machine availability and minimize resource consumption for repairs while keeping an eye on the quality of the product. In the past, it was difficult to take all these factors into account. However, the arrival of Industry 4.0 has created a new opportunity for predictive maintenance.

Thomas Herrmann, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Bosch Software Innovations, talks about how Bosch technologies are helping customers in Asia Pacific realize IoT solutions. He explains why integrating and managing IoT gateways and edge devices is crucial for successful implementation.