Red Hat, Inc.’s partners are up to interesting projects. With each project presented at Red Hat Summit 2016 during the second keynote of Day One came an emphasis on open-source software as a foundation.  Three Red Hat Connect partners spoke: Intel, Dell Inc. and SAP SE. And perhaps the most interesting presentation came from none of these big companies, but rather a fairly new organization called Wevolver.

Robots for Good

Richard Hulskes, co-founder of Wevolver, described how his organization is using open-source software to 3D print robots. These robots are then equipped with virtual reality in order to provide hospitalized children an outlet to the outside world.

Hulskes spoke about InMoov, the 3D printed robot, as example of how open source is expanding from software into hardware. Wevolver functions much like a community, and it has taken several people to make InMoov Robots for Good happen. Various individuals added features until the project reached its current form.

Virtuous Cycle of Growth

Doug Fisher, senior VP and GM of the Software and Services Group at Intel, spoke on the power of participation. More specifically, Fisher explained what he called the “Virtuous Cycle of Growth.”

He stated that the cycle begins with devices that create data. That data is then collected and mined for value. That value is then used to design new and better devices, which create data. Through this cycle a company can grow. As IoT increases its presence, this cycle will develop further as technology like autonomous cars become mainstream.

Dell discusses Spec Cloud, future

Jim Ganthier, VP and GM of Engineered Systems, HPC and Cloud, at Dell, Inc., began his segment with a company tradition called “Did You Know?” The newest information in this recitation of accomplishments was SPEC Cloud, the industry’s largest Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) deployment. Ganthier described how SPEC Cloud is the only platform to publish its benchmarks. In addition, he stated it is the first and only Cloud with “community measuring capability,” which it uses to continuously improve. Ganthier remarked it has been published twice.

Currently, Dell is working with Monash University in Australia to accelerate over 300 projects. Ganthier summarized the work as enabling important research that is working on tough problems. The data from these projects is not siloed; instead it works with one type of infrastructure. As a result of Dell’s efforts, the university’s program is 75 percent more efficient. Another recent project is of an enterprise nature. Dell worked with partners to build the largest NFV implementation for Verizon. The project utilized a “core in pod” approach.

Moving forward, Ganthier foretold more work with OpenShift and hybrid cloud in the latter half of 2016.  Beyond that, look for more developments with Cloud forms, like Multi-Cloud Manager. Into 2017, the trajectory with Cloud will continue and become more complex as the focus falls on “coexistence” between Cloud and other aspects like containers.

The breadth of SAP’s use cases

Nayaki Nayyar, GM and global head of IoT and Innovation Go to Market at SAP SE, presented several fascinating use cases for SAP’s customers. In the case of Under Armour, the company uses live data to get the right product in the right place on the retail end. Data and IoT come into play with “fitness as a service” as the brand not only provides equipment for exercise, but only reminds consumers to exercise through devices. Nayyar called this basis a “digital core” that perpetuates customer engagement.

In the case of Trenitalia, Italy’s largest train service, IoT is being used to provide conditional maintenance. Trenitalia serves over 2 million passengers a day, which creates 700 terabytes of data. That data comes from sensors on the trains for temperature, pressure and speed, among other things. SAP HANA turns that data into what Trenitalia calls its “dynamic maintenance system,” which has reduced maintenance costs by eight to 10 percent. Trenitalia spends 1.3 billion Euro on maintenance.

Next, Nayyar described how Harley-Davidson has been able to reduce its lead time on motorbikes from 21 days to six hours using SAP. In another vein, SAP HANA has been instrumental in the development of a German preventative program for diabetes. The system is called ACCU-CHEK 360° View, and it uses IoT to connect doctors and patients in ways previously unimaginable. The patient is given the kit, which includes a wristband that contains a pedometer. The wristband reports back to the doctor, as does the blood sugar kit. The patient also receives immediate feedback.

Nayyar said in closing that with IoT, “it’s not if, it’s how fast.”

Watch the full keynote video below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of the Red Hat Summit.

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