Device Updates in Power Grid IoT: A Container-Based Approach

Abstract

Large-scale power grid Internet of Things deployments are characterized by diverse hardware platforms, fragmented firmware versions, and strict reliability constraints. In practice, software maintenance has become one of the dominant operational challenges. This paper reports on the design and deployment of a container-based device management system used in a regional grid monitoring network. Field devices execute lightweight service containers that encapsulate data collection, communication, and diagnostic functions. Update operations are coordinated by a centralized controller that considers device topology and load conditions. Over twelve months of operation, the platform significantly reduced manual maintenance effort and minimized large-scale update failures. The experience suggests that container technologies can be applied in critical infrastructure environments when combined with domain-specific orchestration policies.