Emerson launches new enterprise operations platform for industrial automation integration

Global industrial technology company Emerson is launching a new software-defined enterprise operations platform called Project Beyond.

The platform is designed as a software-defined, operational technology (OT)-compatible system intended to integrate and optimize industrial operations. It incorporates technologies such as software-defined control, data management, zero-trust cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence to support automation efforts while aiming to minimize added complexity.

Emerson says the platform aims to offer a flexible, scalable and secure foundation for enterprise-wide visibility, operational optimization and the deployment of AI applications. It is intended to support industries including energy, power, life sciences, chemicals and mining, while enabling organizations to modernize without replacing existing systems.

“Companies are eager to modernize automation and keep pace with the promise of new technologies like AI without ripping and replacing their existing infrastructure or dealing with the pain and costs of integrating new applications and millions of fragmented data points,” said Ram Krishnan, chief operating officer at Emerson. “Project Beyond will use the power of software-defined control to introduce an entirely new, scalable, seamlessly integrated infrastructure with automated data contextualization to turn trapped data into powerful operational efficiencies.”

The new platform builds on Emerson’s existing technologies, including the DeltaV™ distributed control system and AspenTech’s software portfolio. It aims to reduce the costly and complex technology integration required to move data across different operational technology (OT) systems and applications.

The platform also introduces the DeltaV IQ Controller, a software-defined controller that runs on commercial off-the-shelf servers, offering increased flexibility and scalability for enterprise operations.

According to Emerson, the platform is intended to simplify the deployment of automation and AI technologies, reduce integration complexity, and support long-term operational goals such as improved efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

“By combining Emerson’s automation capabilities with AspenTech’s deep software expertise – from modeling and optimization to machine learning and AI – we’re embedding artificial intelligence into our systems, turning information into insights that will help our customers along their journey toward optimized autonomous operations,” Krishnan said.