Asset Administration Shell Design Methodology Using Embedded OPC Unified Architecture Server

Rudolf Pribiš,Peter Drahoš,Lukáš Beňo

doi:10.3390/electronics10202520

Rudolf Pribiš, Peter Drahoš + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10202520

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Journal: Electronics	Publication Date: Oct 15, 2021
Citations: 15	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

Abstract

This article captures the current trends in the development of communication interoperability and common data modelling for the integration of devices into Industry 4.0 networks. The use of open standards such as the Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) or the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) concept is the only way to achieve global communication and semantic interoperability. This article presents an original methodology of AAS implementation into an embedded system, dramatically reducing system requirements. The proposed workflow of the I4.0 component creation includes a procedure for the implementation of the AAS in the OPC UA information model. This methodology was verified by creating an intelligent sensor as a specific I4.0 cyber-physical system based on the 32 bit Arm Cortex Microcontroller. The outcome is the AAS as an “Embedded Industry 4.0 Component” hosted by a minimalist hardware; this is the very first design and implementation of a device with such parameters. Compared to recent studies (which implement certain types of AAS devices), the system requirements of the proposed embedded AAS are in the order of hundreds lower. The presented novel methodology enables developers and industrial manufacturers to implement relatively simple devices (e.g., smart sensors or actuators) as I4.0 Components.

Highlights

The spread of the Internet into devices brought a huge number of devices capable of communicating over the internet to the market
The main intention of this paper is to introduce the methodology for creating an embedded asset administration shell where the asset carries the administration shell and provides its information via communication that is compliant with I4.0
The objective of our research is to extend our study [41] to cover the situation wherein an aggregating Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) server aggregates OPC UA servers in a network

Summary

Introduction

The spread of the Internet into devices brought a huge number of devices capable of communicating over the internet to the market. These Internet of Things (IoT) devices could utilize communication protocols compliant with Industry 4.0 Two key industry consortia (the “German Platform Industrie 4.0” and the global not-for-profit partnership of industry—Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC)) built their reference architecture models for Industry 4.0, respectively, for industrial internet. Though their reference models differ from each other, they are interoperable [5]. A common goal of both reference models and a cooperation between the “Platform Industrie 4.0” and IIC represents an important step in global industrial digitalization process [6].

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