Interoperability Middleware for IIoT Gateways based on Standard Ontologies and AAS

Abstract

Recent advancements in microelectronics, information technology, and communication protocols have led to smaller devices with greater processing capabilities and lower energy consumption. These developments have contributed to the growing number of physical devices used in industrial environments that are interconnected and communicate through the internet, allowing for the realization of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Numerous companies are involved in producing these devices, each using different communication protocols, data structures, and IoT platforms. This has resulted in interoperability issues that need to be addressed. To mitigate these issues, this paper proposes an interoperability middleware for IIoT gateways that adopts ontologies based on international standards (IEEE 1872-2015) and the asset administration shell (AAS) using industrial frameworks.