Plug-and-Play and Reconfigurable Transport Network Architecture to Put into Practice Connectivity and Interoperability in Learning Factories

Abstract

Achieving interoperability between disparate digital systems is a major challenge for Industry 4.0 and a necessary step to build the digital representation of a factory. Despite all available technologies, there is still a gap between information technologies and manufacturing systems in terms of interoperability. In this paper, we address such a gap from the perspectives of learning factories and propose a plug and play and reconfigurable transport network layer, which makes it possible to exchange information at all levels of the factory floor. For the validation of the developed concept, an experimental setup of an assembly line is set up in the Smart Mini Factory learning factory laboratory and a didactic teaching concept is proposed. The paper aims to encourage other learning factories to install such plug and play reconfigurable transport network architectures and to use it for demonstration and teaching purposes of connectivity and interoperability in cyber-physical production systems.