"Testbed for Experimenting with Industrial IoT and Cybersecurity Integration in Small Manufacturing"
The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) has awarded funding to researchers at Southern Illinois University (SIU) to create a testbed that can be used to experiment with industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cybersecurity integration for manufacturers. SIU will create the Resilient, Adaptive Production leveraging IoT Disruptions (RAPID) testbed to analyze industrial IoT, a new concept in fully connected, transparent, automated, and intelligent factory setup aimed at enhancing the processes and efficiency in manufacturing. The project would provide a sandbox for small and mid-sized manufacturers in Southern Illinois to experiment with smart manufacturing integration. The testbed will serve as a resource for supporting the security and resilience of small and medium-sized manufacturers as they transition to smart manufacturing. This article continues to discuss the support, goals, and development behind the RAPID testbed.