Connect to Hardware

Tulip offers several different options for connecting to hardware and machines.

Here's an overview of the options:

• Plug and Play Devices
• Edge Devices - Edge IO and MC
• Machine Monitoring
• Node-RED

When to use these features?

You should look to connect to your hardware and machines when you want to:

• Allow your operators to work with devices within arm's reach
• Allow your operators to get information with devices outside of arm's reach or remotely monitor devices
• Monitor large machines, like CNCs, to provide insight into their state, OEE,
• Connect mobile players that run Tulip to local devices.

Plug and play devices

These devices directly connect to computers running the Tulip Player.

Edge Devices

Use an Edge Device to connect to hardware that isn’t natively supported on Player, to connect a mobile player through an the device, or to communicate with devices that aren’t within reach of your operator.

Many devices are supported with built-in device drivers. In addition, Edge devices run Node-RED natively, providing a flexible and stable environment. It can also be used as an on-prem connector host. Read here for additional use cases and here for how to manage Edge devices.

Future-looking, users can create a new device driver for those not yet supported.

There are two types of Edge Devices:

Edge IO

Edge IO allows you to connect to hardware through digital input/ouputs, analog inputs, legacy serial (RS242/RS485), USB, and network(LAN and WAN).

Edge MC

Edge MC allows you to connect to hardware through analog inputs, USB, and network(LAN and WAN).

Machine Monitoring

Monitor large machines on your shop floor - capture machine states, get overall OEE, and act on states through automations or app machine triggers.

Node-RED

Tulip is compatible with the free, open source Node-RED tool, which allows you to write flows and handle devices that have an analog input, don’t have a driver built, or need data processing before coming into Tulip.