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- Asset Administration Shells (1)
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Industrial field devices exchange information through standardized communication interfaces and data models,
encompassing process data, communication properties, and vendor details. Despite enhancing interoperability within a specific
protocol, integrating these devices with diverse systems poses challenges due to data model fragmentation and custom
interfaces. The absence of a universal semantic model for categorizing field device process data independently of standards
necessitates engineers to repetitively devise custom exchange data models for different sensors and actuators, relying on
standards like OPC-UA. In response, this work proposes an ontology-based architecture to tackle information data model
fragmentation, aiming for seamless data interoperability across a universal interface. By focusing on two open-access field
device standards, IO-Link and CANOpen, we compare their information data models, identify existing limitations, and put
forth a semantic information model. The objective is to offer an interoperable interface for Industry 4.0 applications,
showcasing the potential of an ontology-based approach in streamlining data exchange and reducing heterogeneity among
field devices.
Industry 4.0 imposes many challenges for manufacturing companies and their employees. Innovative and effective training strategies are required to cope with fast-changing production environments and new manufacturing technologies. Virtual Reality (VR) offers new ways of on-the-job, on-demand, and off-premise training. A novel concept and evaluation system combining Gamification and VR practice for flexible assembly tasks is proposed in this paper and compared to existing works. It is based on directed acyclic graphs and a leveling system. The concept enables a learning speed which is adjustable to the users’ pace and dynamics, while the evaluation system facilitates adaptive work sequences and allows employee-specific task fulfillment. The concept was implemented and analyzed in the Industry 4.0 model factory at FH Aachen for mechanical assembly jobs.
This paper presents a proof of concept for automatically generating and orchestrating active asset administration shells (AAS) with IO-Link. AAS are software-based representations of physical assets that enable interoperability and standardised communication across different industrial systems. IO-Link is a widely adopted communication protocol for sensors and actuators in industrial automation. Our method uses an approach to generate AASs based on the IO-Link device description files. The generated AASs can then be orchestrated to form a distributed system that provides dynamic information about the status and performance of the connected assets. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method through a proof of concept that involves the automatic generation and orchestration of AASs for a fluid processing unit equipped with pressure and flow sensors and a pump. The results show that our approach reduces the time and effort required to create and maintain active AASs.