Edge devices
Edge devices are peripheral components that send operational information to a control panel within a building automation system (BAS). These devices connect, collect and process data and take action at the device level rather than in the cloud, at an enterprise or remote data centre.
Traditional edge devices include equipment such as fire alarms, motion detectors, actuators and energy meters. These devices execute applications traditionally associated with a BAS at a point where data can be processed or analysed closer to (or at) the source.
With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), edge devices have begun to move away from their original functions. The introduction of smart edge devices has improved the efficiency of these components, making it possible for them to transmit more complex information.
Some edge BMS building controller systems can aggregate all building data from assets and field devices. They can also control building sub-systems and send and receive data from the cloud.
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