A Reference Architecture for Modular Industrial Automation Systems

IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), pp. 1–8

Abstract

Modular automation is an upcoming paradigm to improve flexibility and maintainability of industrial production systems. The lack of interoperability between equipment adhering to different modular automation specifications limits module sourcing and hampers coexistence of discrete and process modules in joint hybrid production applications. In this work, we present a reference software architecture for modular automation which is able to cover existing specifications and demonstrate how it can be used to assess alternatives of cross-standard orchestration. Based on this foundation, next steps regarding cross-module and cross-orchestrator communication are outlined.

Authors 5

1. Sten Grüner

   ABB (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   ABB Corporate Research Center Germany, Ladenburg, Germany

2. Mario Hoernicke

   ABB (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   ABB Corporate Research Center Germany, Ladenburg, Germany

3. G. Fachinger Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Nicolas Camargo Torres Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Tobias Kleinert Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany