SmartEdge defines a swarm as a collective of various edge devices, vehicles, sensors, and robots collaborating to achieve shared objectives. It accommodates diverse devices and implementation patterns, allowing clouds to offer services to the swarm without direct control over its real-time operations, which are managed internally. The swarm’s composition and goals may be defined by clouds, but collaboration among swarm members is pivotal in accomplishing these objectives.
Incorporating concepts akin to object-oriented design (OOD), such as encapsulation and polymorphism, a SmartEdge swarm encapsulates its members to facilitate collaboration. Each member acts as an autonomous entity, capable of requesting services from others within the swarm, aligning with the OOD principle of polymorphism. For instance, a robot tasked with moving an object determines its approach based on its physical capabilities, like grippers or suction cups.
SmartEdge swarms can function in two modes: statically defined during design or dynamically at runtime. They can also extend services to external devices seeking to join the swarm for mutual benefits, a concept termed “Swarm as a Service.” For example, a swarm centered around a traffic junction can expedite and enhance vehicle transit through collaboration, serving both vehicles and optimizing traffic flow.
Several essential services underpin SmartEdge’s core functionality, primarily leveraging the publish-subscribe messaging paradigm with standardized message semantics. The platform is designed to operate across a range of implementation technologies, offering implementers flexibility in deploying the SmartEdge low-code toolchain.