The Linux Foundation has released version 1.8 of its Industrial IoT and edge computing framework Fledge.  The Foundation is hailing the latest release as marking the framework’s progress to ‘growth stage’. The latest release, which has received contributions from organisations including Google and Nokia, integrates IIoT, sensors, machines, machine learning and AI tools-processes-workloads, and cloud/s with the current industrial production systems and levels, as per ISA-95.

Fledge v1.8 is the first release since moving to the Linux Foundation. However, this is the ninth release of the  project code that has over 60,000 commits, averaging 8,500 commits/month. Concurrently, Fledge has matured into a Stage 2 or “Growth Stage” project within LF Edge. This maturity level is for projects interested in reaching the Impact Stage, and have identified a growth plan for doing so. Growth Stage projects receive mentorship from the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and are expected to actively develop their community of contributors, governance, project documentation, and other variables identified in the growth plan that factor in to broad success and adoption.

The latest version is the product of an expanded community and includes integrations and contributions from Google, Nokia, Flir, OSIsoft, Nexcom, RoviSys, Advantech, Wago, Zededa and Dianomic.

Google has contributed its IoT Core North Plugin, which enables secure, reliable transfer of data to Google cloud services like machine learning. OSIsoft’s contribution of the Web API North Plugin enables Fledge transfer of telemetry and metadata to existing ISA95 systems like PI, OCS and EDS. Nexcom has contributed CAN bus 2.0, J1708 and J1939 south plugins to provide real-time monitoring for fleet management of cars and heavy duty trucks.

Nokia has integrated Fledge with the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (NDAC), Nokia’s industrial-grade private wireless network. Google and Nexcom have completed integration of Fledge within Google’s Coral line of ML processors and Nexcom’s industrial gateways. Dianomic has contributed new core services, alert services and orchestration services enable advanced vibration-based applications, more security and scalable management. Flir and Dianomic have completed a south plugin integration with Flir’s line of industrial infrared cameras.

“Fledge, initially seeded by OSISoft and Dianomic and now a diverse project within LF Edge, is a great example of open source integration. By working closely with Google and other ecosystem partners on new and emerging use cases, we are bringing the power of LF Edge to a broader market,” said  Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, the Linux Foundation. “We look forward to building an open community of industrial users, suppliers and integrators.” 

“Google Cloud helps customers deliver artificial intelligence to applications from the edge to the cloud,”  said Craig Wiley, director of Product Management for Google Cloud AI.  “Fledge’s ability to collect, process, transform and send machine data as well as run TensorFlow Lite on the edge makes it an excellent complement to Google’s AI platform. As an active member of the Linux Foundation, Google is proud to support this open source community through contributions to the Fledge project, empowering next generation industrial processes and machines.”