Pushing Innovation with Less: The Power of Edge Devices

The Innovation of Edge Devices: Pushing Boundaries with Less

What fascinates me most about edge devices is the challenge they present in doing more with less hardware. Unlike traditional cloud computing, where we can throw vast resources at a problem, edge computing forces us to be more selective and efficient. You have to carefully choose the right combination of software and hardware for the task at hand, keeping in mind the constraints—like unstable or non-existent internet connections—and the absence of experts on-site to troubleshoot issues. It’s in these limitations that true innovation happens.

Navigating the Challenges of Edge Computing

One of the biggest challenges in edge computing is the lack of a stable internet connection, or sometimes, no connection at all. This can trip up many engineers who have grown accustomed to offloading heavy processing to the cloud. I’ve seen a tendency to over-rely on the cloud to push data back for processing, without carefully considering whether the edge hardware and software are sufficient for the task on their own. The mindset has to shift toward selecting the right hardware—powerful yet energy-efficient, small but capable—paired with software that can handle tasks locally when the cloud isn’t an option.

The Future of Edge: NPUs and Specialized Chipsets

Looking ahead, I think edge computing is on the brink of exciting developments, particularly with the emergence of more specialized chipsets like neural processing units (NPUs). These are embedded components designed for artificial intelligence tasks, such as tensor cores, and when combined with ARM processors, they’ll make edge devices far more powerful and energy-efficient. What excites me is how these advances will allow computing at the edge to take place even when internet connectivity is unreliable or completely absent. This will unlock new possibilities for edge applications.

Real-World Edge Projects: Focused and Purpose-Driven

Most of the projects I’ve worked on in edge computing are very specific use cases, rather than generalized computing. For example, environmental sensing is an area where edge computing can play a critical role in keeping both people and equipment safe. These projects have taught me that edge computing isn’t about massive data centers—it’s about small, purpose-built solutions that solve particular problems at the source.

In my professional work, I’ve used Zededa to enable application owners to deploy their applications to edge hardware remotely and reliably. This capability reduces or even eliminates the need for experts to physically visit a site to fix issues, which is especially valuable when dealing with remote locations.

Edge Computing’s Impact on Manufacturing and Energy

The impact of edge computing in industries like manufacturing and energy is immense. In manufacturing, having the right compute power to interface with hardware is crucial. If something goes wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic, from equipment failures to safety hazards. In the energy sector, edge computing plays a pivotal role because of the remoteness of many sites and the critical importance of keeping systems running without interruption. Many of these sites have limited connectivity, so having edge compute capabilities that can work independently of the cloud is vital. Downtime in these industries can cost enormous sums of money, and solutions like Zededa help ensure that issues can be managed remotely and with minimal disruption.

Advice for Beginners: Focus on Practical Hardware

For those just starting in edge computing, my advice is simple: don’t worry about the fancy hardware. You’ll often be constrained by form factor, cost, and hardware capabilities in the field. A great starting point is to learn on something like Raspberry Pi, which provides an excellent analog to the hardware limitations you’ll face in real-world deployments. Raspberry Pi teaches you how to be resourceful, working within constraints that are very similar to what you’ll encounter when deploying edge devices in the wild.

Kris Clark | Solutions Architect | Tech Enthusiast | DIY Builder