HOLA: Heuristic and Opportunistic Link Selection Algorithm for Energy Efficiency in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Systems

Abstract: Internet of Things (IoT) promises to be a key enabler in Smart Manufacturing and Smart Supply Chain. The IoT systems are responsible for enabling and improving the operational efficiencies of factories, plant floors, including assembly plants. These systems are characterized by reliable sensing and reporting of multiple parameters within the factory floor. Such sensing activities offer safe, efficient and optimized performance of not only the machines manufacturing the products, but also the workforce operating them. Industrial IoT (IIoT) systems could suffer from high and uneven energy consumption due to the nature of the network deployment. Such behavior is unacceptable as it not only increases the carbon footprint of the plant, but also makes the planned maintenance of IoT devices for battery replacement a huge challenge.

In this talk, we propose a heuristic and opportunistic link selection algorithm, HOLA, which not only reduces the overall energy consumption of the IoT network but also balances it across the network. HOLA achieves this energy-efficiency by opportunistically offloading the IoT device data to smart-devices being carried by the workforce in the factory settings. Further, these smart-devices with multiple radio links such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 3G/4G LTE heuristically determine the best link to transmit the data to the Cloud based on the quality and energy cost of the link. Our experimental and simulation studies validate that HOLA can improve the energy efficiency of IIoT systems by reducing the overall energy consumption and balancing it across the network.

Bio: Jeffrey D. Tew is the Chief Scientist for the TCS Innovation Lab in Cincinnati, OH whose focus is leading and developing TCS’s Supply Chain Research and Innovation activities globally. Dr. Tew is an internationally known professional consultant, industrial researcher, and subject matter expert in Transportation and Supply Chain Management (SCM), global logistics, Green Supply Chain design (e.g., low energy and low environmental impact) and execution, and service parts management with over 25 years experience in industrial research in such areas as Transportation and Supply Chain Management, business development, operations management, technology implementation, and corporate strategy.

Throughout Dr. Tew’s career, he has gained extensive experience in most aspects of Transportation and Supply Chain Management (e.g., strategy, operations, technology implementation, marketing and business development, consulting, etc.). Extensive experience in initiating and developing leading world-class research programs in transportation infrastructure and manufacturing supply chains in emerging markets (India and China) worldwide for the world’s largest automotive manufacturer with special expertise in designing and implementing lean transportation systems and “green” transportation systems and service parts supply chain solutions.

Prior to joining TCS in 2012, Dr. Tew was a Supply Chain Executive Consultant at Accenture, LLC focused on providing industrial clients with state of the art supply chain solutions. Prior to his tenure at Accenture, Dr. Tew was a distinguished researcher at General Motors R&D Center in Warren, Michigan, attaining the level of GM Technical Fellow for Supply Chain Research. Dr. Tew also has maintained a strong publication record throughout his career, including filing six U.S. Patents awarded to date, over 80 internal GM R&D publications and report and over 35 external, archival publications in leading professional journals. Dr. Tew is a highly sought after speaker and has presented at over 100 events given in numerous professional conferences and workshops globally.