This book serves as a pivotal guide for professionals and researchers within the industrial computing domain, offering an extensive examination of edge computing in industrial environments. Tailored for individuals possessing a foundational understanding of industrial computing systems, it aims to augment their knowledge concerning the role and capabilities of edge computing in this dynamically evolving sector. In an era where real-time, reliable, and scalable computing solutions are of paramount importance, traditional cloud computing models grapple with challenges such as latency, bandwidth limitations, data sovereignty, and privacy concerns. This book positions edge computing as a crucial evolution in industrial data processing and analytics, specifically addressing these challenges. It introduces a distinctive three-layer industrial edge computing architecture that integrates device, edge, and application layers, explicitly designed to accommodate the intricacies of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Beyond elucidating the theoretical foundations of edge computing, the book delves into its practical applications, with a particular emphasize on edge-assisted model inference as a key scenario. It offers insightful case studies and discussions on the integration of edge computing with artificial intelligence (AI), illustrating how this collaboration is revolutionizing industrial systems. A comprehensive understanding of the material is facilitated by a background in computer science, industrial engineering, IoT, and cloud computing.