Can Open-Source ISAs Catalyze Smart Manufacturing?
The RISC-V open-source ISA brings compelling cost and performance benefits in the implementation of Industry 4.0 practices.
The internet of things is integral to smart manufacturing, as it adds a layer of accuracy in the production flow. When all the machinery in a smart factory is not only interconnected but a considerable amount of data associated with workflow is also generated in real time, it creates an opportunity for operational (and, by extension, energy) efficiency.
Furthermore, industrial IoT (IIoT) is a prerequisite for enabling other Industry 4.0 technologies such as predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, big data, and more. Adopting RISC-V, an open instruction set architecture (ISA), has the potential to break barriers to entry in the implementation of Industry 4.0 practices.
High cost remains a key hurdle
Despite the benefits, challenges persist with IIoT implementation: High costs, heterogeneous platforms, and power consumption constrain scalability and adoption. According to HiveMQ’s 2025 report, 28% of the businesses in its survey were reluctant to adopt IIoT, either due to a lack of budget or an ambiguous return on investment (ROI).
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