IT and automation
Automation devices in transition
IT and automation are growing together. Industrial automation is therefore facing the challenge of having to break up the existing inflexible infrastructure - which in turn places completely new demands on automation technology. One possible approach.
Connectivity, interoperability and information transparency are the fundamental prerequisites for the convergence of IT and automation technology (OT). Meeting the demand for more IT for OT is not an easy task to solve: the world of operating infrastructure is not only sealed off from the outside, the systems are also separated from each other. The gradual elimination of this previously strict separation requires interoperability between providers and solutions. This bridge can only be built by a platform that is open in many respects, which can combine solutions from any provider and manufacturer and provide individual interfaces for them. Such platforms must offer all the advantages of convergence of functions and at the same time be able to protect the real-time and security integrity of critical applications.
Access to data must be facilitated on the one hand, but also managed in such a way that only people who are actually authorized can access the data released to them.
Requirements for the Industrial IoT
In addition, the connections within and from the production facilities must be secured against possible attacks from outside. In some cases, it may also be necessary for data to be available for local visualization and analysis exclusively within the plant.
In addition, an Industrial IoT platform must support real-time decision-making. A company's conventional IT infrastructure or various cloud solutions are generally unable to cope with this type of fast data processing. Decentralized - and possibly autonomous - analyses and decisions are therefore required directly at the machines, i.e. at the edge of the network. Pre-processing is therefore carried out on an edge computing device and then only the relevant subset of the data is sent up to a cloud to enable less time-critical analyses and decisions. Platforms that bring IT and OT closer together and fulfill the desire for flexible infrastructure therefore need a link between machines at the edge of the network and the company infrastructure.
Old borders are dissolving
A platform for the Industrial IoT must therefore overcome and partially dissolve the boundaries of the classic automation pyramid in order to be able to combine functions. One such platform is 'Nerve' from TTTech. It combines edge computing hardware with orchestration middleware and central system management software.
The MFN 100 edge computer is based on an Intel Atom x5 E3940/50 CPU and offers 4 GB/8 GB RAM and up to 512 GB SSD storage.
The software elements 'fogOS' (orchestration middleware) and 'fogSM' (central system management software) were developed by TTTech together with the fog computing provider Nebbiolo Technologies. They enable resource virtualization, secure data connectivity, open interoperability and centralized management.
By sharing computing resources, different functions can be combined in one device and thus make the best possible use of hardware.
© TTTech Computer TechnologyfogOS works on the basis of a real-time hypervisor and ensures that applications and operating systems running as virtual machines are isolated and secure. Virtual machines can be used for entire operating systems such as Windows and Linux as well as for applications such as firewalls or HMI and PLC software. Previously used software environments can thus be migrated as virtual machines. Applications can also be run in Linux-based Docker containers. The isolation of applications in virtual machines improves the stability, security and scalability of software, as the applications are protected against potential failures or hacker attacks. By decoupling the software functions from the hardware, the risks of outdated hardware or dependency on specific hardware platforms are reduced.
For example, the software can act as a gateway to establish connections to existing PLC devices and access data via an OPC UA architecture, while an MFN 100 used as a fog node can itself act as a PLC by hosting control applications and establishing direct connections to field devices (IOs).
The Linux-based fogOS provides a standard application environment so that developers do not have to work on the software infrastructure around apps. Python SDKs with REST APIs are available to support integration, allowing users to focus their resources on key competencies. Standard Docker applications can also be obtained and deployed via the application store in fogSM.
The system management software can be hosted locally or in a cloud and provide more comprehensive control functions such as storage, analysis and visualization.
© TTTech Computer TechnologyA variety of protocols - AMQP, MQTT, REST/JSON, OPC UA - allow connections to multiple clouds to be supported simultaneously. This gives users the flexibility to choose an IoT cloud solution from any vendor and integrate machine data into that system quickly and securely.
The Nerve hardware supports a range of connectivity options at the field and control level. A built-in TSN switch enables deterministic data exchange between devices from different manufacturers. OPC UA allows open data exchange between devices up to the cloud. Profinet slave support enables the connection of field devices via legacy Ethernet-based protocols and thus integration into brownfield applications.
The system management software extends across the control level and the operational control level of the classic automation pyramid. It can be hosted locally or in a cloud and provide more comprehensive control functions such as storage, analysis and visualization. The system can also connect to existing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and perform management functions for device software configuration, updates and application deployment.
The tasks of system administration
With the system manager of the management software, software updates can be carried out on machines without having to be on site, for example. The central management of the device software and applications offers a high degree of flexibility and reduces support and maintenance costs. The management offers a secure deployment mechanism with signed software verification on the device and transmission via encrypted TLS (SSL) connections.
The system manager provides an overview of all connected devices. The status of the device software can be tracked centrally and displayed in a hierarchical view or by geolocalization. VNC and RDP support also enable the secure display of virtual machine screens, providing an improved ability to remotely assess and troubleshoot software errors.
User access rights can be defined and managed via the system manager. Role-based access has clear data benefits and can also increase productivity for users by showing them only relevant information. Access control protects against accidental or deliberate disruption of systems by unauthorized users. With multi-tenancy support, one system manager can be used for multiple customers.
Realizing the potential of Industry 4.0
In summary, it can be said that such new platforms enable machine manufacturers and production companies to actually exploit the potential of I4.0. They start precisely at the point where automation technology and IT merge to form a uniform, smart industrial IoT architecture. A high degree of virtualization enables optimal use of hardware, flexible data access, independence from manufacturers or providers and facilitates support and maintenance for the manufacturing industry.
Author:
Wolfgang Leindecker is Vice President Sales Industrial at TTTech Computertechnik.
You might also be interested in
Wago gears up for Time Sensitive Networking (TSN)
In the future, Ethernet TSN will enable continuous communication in machine and plant engineering without gateways and interruptions. Wago is launching two new automation systems on the market for the SPS, with which users can take advantage of all...
read more...Arrive in reality!
Time Sensitive Networking has firmly established itself in the vocabulary of the automation industry. All well-known suppliers have started activities to evaluate or even introduce TSN. But where exactly are the goals for the use of TSN and what is...
read more...OPC UA and DDS combined
To date, OPC UA and DDS have often been presented as competitors. Competitors that will both be based on the Ethernet standard TSN. - However, the key to successful automation in the future lies in a combination of the three standards DDS, OPC UA...
read more...The interaction of Ethernet TSN, OPC UA and 5G
Only the reliable and structured interaction of all units in an ant colony ensures its survival. Data communication in a modern industrial network works no differently in a figurative sense.
read more...Where there are still problems with 5G
5G in automation - a hot topic at the moment. How quickly can we actually expect 5G to be used in industry? What obstacles still need to be overcome? Thomas Schildknecht summarizes the key points in this interview.
read more...Data pipeline ASi-5
High data width, short cycle times, improved integration of intelligent sensors and actuators using IO-Link and cloud connectivity via OPC UA - ASi-5 makes AS-Interface fit for the requirements of digitalization.
read more...OPC UA - a must for the industry (Part 2)
OPC UA is regarded as the new communication standard for industrial automation. Part 1 explained why a new communication technology is needed in automation and described the OPC UA methods. Part 2 deals with the OPC UA pub/sub methods and the power...
read more...OPC UA, MQTT and co.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) covers very different areas of application. The available connectivity technologies and standards are just as diverse as the application areas. How can the right technology be filtered out in each case?
read more...The question of licenses
Will OPC UA in combination with TSN become 'the' standard for industrial communication? What role do licenses play in this question and what part does OSADL play?
read more...