Nowadays there is a growing demand for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their level of digitalisation. This situation becomes even more critical in cases when SMEs act in the role of a subcontractor of large enterprises who demand the utilisation of certain digital operations. This paper aims to identify the essential Industry 4.0 attributes for the requirements of SMEs that enterprises can purchase to deploy an adequate solution with a view of increasing their competitiveness in the market. By analysing research articles and statistical data from the worldwide Web of Science database, we identify the major Industry 4.0 attributes for SME: Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Simulation and Cybersecurity. Based on the review results and a survey by the European Commission, we propose devices primarily designed to implement AI tasks in industrial environments that meet the essential attributes for SMEs and have low entry costs. The subject of IoT is thoroughly addressed. Its subsets and the relationship between Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) are introduced and described. The characteristics of the listed devices as related to usability in the identified attributes are verified. Therefore, the description of the devices is provided with respect to their usability in SMEs. The main purpose of this paper is to identify attributes for SMEs and to develop strategic plans for the digitalisation requirements, particularly in the development of Artificial Intelligence as part of the implementation of the IoT pillar.

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nowadays, it is familiar to designers to use a numerical method for design, optimization or verification of technical device parameters. The well-known software resources are built on principles of finite or boundary elements (or finite differences several years ago). These methods (especially the Finite Element Method -FEM) have been built on common basic principles; the most important is the Principle of Minimal Energy (described eg by R. P. Feynman in 1966).The basic ideas of the Principle of Minimal Energy will be presented in the paper, followed by practical examples. The reader will be able to follow the principle and build an understandable theory on professional numerical methods basics, theirs possible advantages and disadvantages and shortcomings. The main idea presented in the paper is based on very simple example -motion in the gravitational field of the earth.