This blog post focuses on the IIoT impact
on automation architectures.
Information driven
architectures
As
smart manufacturing enterprises start implementing smart enterprise control and asset performance systems managed by augmented operators, automation vendors will
respond by implementing IIoT at
all levels of the automation hierarchy. This will allow easy
integration with next generation IIoT systems. In addition, with the increasing power of embedded electronics, connected intelligence will migrate down to the lower levels of the automation hierarchy – to the control
level and to the sensors and actuators. As a result, operations technology (OT) systems will merge with information technology (IT) systems and the automation hierarchy will evolve
to be a much flatter and more information-driven architecture. Since the future implications of this are still unclear, the technologies and architectures employed must be flexible, adaptable to change and capable
of integrating with legacy systems. The monolithic, single-source, hierarchical approaches and architectures of the past will not
work in the future.
The
information-driven topology is shown below.
The
architecture consists of two distinct layers. Information flow across both
layers will be transparent using semantics and discovery mechanisms based on
industry standards. Both layers are explained below:
A time-sensitive layer for real-time deterministic control. This layer is often referred to as “fog” or “edge”.
However using the term “time-sensitive
IP-based” for this layer underlines the
fact that the technologies included in
this layer are fundamentally the same IIoT
technologies used in the enterprise cloud layer, but are optimised for real- time deterministic communications.
The OT devices that comprise this time
sensitive layer (sensors, actuators and controllers) will be cloud-ready and
capable of interfacing transparently with the IT business systems of the second
layer. Those same devices will also have a high degree of intelligence.
Consider the example of control valves with embedded temperature, pressure and
acoustic sensors. They are able to operate autonomously using set points from
the enterprise, determining their own needs for preventive maintenance, and
informing the maintenance department of their condition in a timely manner.
A cloud
enterprise layer where enterprise
systems (ERP,
MOM, PLM, SCM, CRM, etc) and next-generation functions including asset
management and energy
management interoperate with each other and with the time-sensitive
cloud-ready systems.
The
use of the term cloud above refers to the technologies used, rather than the
physical location of the infrastructure. There are many reasons to believe
that, in the industry automation business, “on-premise” clouds (commonly
referred to as “edge”), will be the most widely used architecture.
Centralized versus distributed control
The
arguments for highly centralized redundant control systems versus highly
distributed control systems have gone on for many years. Proponents of each
architecture fiercely defend their position with valid arguments.
The
advent of IIoT does not resolve this
long-standing debate. On the one hand, the use
of cost-effective embedded electronics
in field devices argues for
more distribution of intelligence and control. On the other hand, the
high speed IP-connectivity of field devices
enables a more centralised architecture where all the sensors
and actuators are connected to
a highly redundant and powerful multi-core processor located in a secure on premise data center.
Today an application is
programmed with a particular hardware target in mind, for example
a PLC. Tomorrow, an application will
be programmed independently of the underlying automation hardware, and the system will distribute the application
transparently to the hardware,
configuring all communication
mechanisms automatically. This approach
will allow users to choose either a highly centralized or distributed architecture, or a hybrid approach based on their specific
requirements and concerns. A Distributed Control Standard (IEC 61499) exists
that will facilitate this work and which can be used as the basis for an IIoT distributed control standard.
The
distribution of intelligence into the field will allow smart connected products
and smart connected machines to publish important information in a standardized
format. Intelligent brokers will make this information available in a
transparent manner to the systems and applications that require it. This
approach will overcome one of today’s current challenges: the location of
information is unknown and therefore cannot be discovered or exploited without
custom programming.
Networked automation architectures
Networks
will see an exponential increase in the number of smart connected devices.
These devices will exploit a time-sensitive IIoT/Ethernet backbone to
interoperate with each other and with devices residing in other enterprise systems,
Implementing
large networked systems with today’s classical automation techniques is
complex. Tomorrow’s IIoT-based automation systems will require a new approach
to simplify the design, the management, and the maintenance of networked automation architectures.
This
blog post is based on ”The Industrial Internet of Things: An Evolution to
a Smart Manufacturing Enterprise” white paper authored by John Conway is
Schneider Electric’s VP for Strategy & Partnerships.
The next blog posts
offer expert perspectives on subjects such as Technological elements leading the IIoT evolution, SMART Machines and how they contribute
to the future of the industry.
Stay tuned.
Related posts:
- Top 3 barriers that the IIoT systems will need to be widely adopted across manufacturing industries
- 3 operational environments for smart manufacturing enterprise to emerge from the IIoT
- How to Establish the Connection Between Wonderware Online and InTouch Machine Edition...
- Any-to-Any, Many-to-Many. Connecting Wonderware Online and InTouch ME ...
No comments:
Post a Comment