Edge Computing Platform for Individual Production

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The use of Industry 4.0 technologies in production often requires extensive networking of different production facilities with each other or to remote production facilities. Furthermore applications for process control or data analysis that run in the cloud are integrated. Information Technology and Operational Technology continue to merge. Therefore, on the one hand, all involved components require a higher degree of data consistency and flexibility; on the other hand, previous requirements like latency, real-time, and security must continuously be met. Only in this way the advantages of Industry 4.0, such as more flexible production processes, better machine utilization or the use of data analytics algorithms for preventive maintenance or process optimization, can be exploited. The transition to Industry 4.0 will be step-by-step in many of the existing facilities, so appropriate retrofitting measures and components are required.

In order to be able to implement these requirements in your production environment, Fraunhofer IIS offers a secure Edge Computing software platform for Industry 4.0. It has already been implemented on various industrial edge controllers. The platform allows straightforward integration of a wide range of communication protocols for industry and building automation, including common internet protocols, to communicate with the cloud. The added value to gateway solutions is the intelligent linking and processing capabilities for data. Thus, the connection of one or more OPC-UA servers allows the fast acquisition of all relevant data within a production environment or plant. The coupling with a software PLC running on the edge controller is possible and facilitates the implementation of individual real-time applications for machine control, which require an increased demand for data exchange e.g. with the cloud. The platform can be expanded and adapted flexibly with new standards and devices at any time.

The technological core is an integrated runtime environment for local apps that offer the highest level of flexibility. Applications such as condition monitoring, visualization and control of processes, but also energy and load management can be programmed in as local apps. These have standardized interfaces and can be operated without modification on various edge controllers and also in the cloud. Specially created or already existing apps in a library can be installed during operation, if necessary via an own app store. The integrated security concept provides configurable access to local assets.

A large number of interfaces that are already available make it easier for users to prototype innovative Industry 4.0 solutions quickly. All data are held with standardized data types in an intrinsic database. This mechanism allows interoperability between the different interfaces and the apps. Each app provides its own user interface based on HTML 5 and Javascript. This means that mobile devices as well as standard computers can access the individual information on the edge controller with standard browsers at any time without installing additional software.

Security is very important to us. Our platform includes a multi-level security concept. Depending on your needs, you can choose from three security levels. The definition of roles and the individual assignment of access rights and usage rights are intuitive.

Unique selling points for Industry 4.0:

Secure: Multi-level security concept
Flexible and interoperable: Understands all common communication standards
Expandable and customizable
Own individual apps are easily created

Further information can be found at www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ogema

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by 72 institutes and research units at locations throughout Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft employs a staff of more than 25,000, who work with an annual research budget totaling 2.3 billion euros. Of this sum, almost 2 billion euros is generated through contract research. Around 70 percent of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly financed research projects. International collaborations with excellent research partners and innovative companies around the world ensure direct access to regions of the greatest importance to present and future scientific progress and economic development.

Research at Fraunhofer IIS revolves around two guiding topics:

In the area of “Audio and Media Technologies”, the institute has been shaping the digitalization of media for more than 30 years now. Fraunhofer IIS was instrumental in the development of mp3 and AAC and played a significant role in the digitalization of the cinema. Current developments are opening up whole new sound worlds and are being used in virtual reality, automotive sound systems, mobile telephony, streaming and broadcasting. Any mobile phone you buy today, for instance, uses audio technology developed by the institute, while Fraunhofer codecs provide the basis for sound of more than half of all TV broadcasts worldwide and almost all radio and streaming services. The institute’s professional tools for digital film and media production are also being used globally.

In the context of “cognitive sensor technologies”, the institute researches technologies for sensor technology, data transmission technology, data analysis methods and the exploitation of data as part of data-driven services and their accompanying business models. This adds a cognitive component to the function of the conventional “smart” sensor. The results of this research have been applied in the areas of connected mobility, communication and application solutions for the Internet of Things, digitalization of human sensing, product and material monitoring, and business analytics in supply chains.

More than 900 employees conduct contract research for industry, the service sector and public authorities. Founded in 1985 in Erlangen, Fraunhofer IIS now has 13 locations in 10 cities: Erlangen (headquarters), Nürnberg, Fürth and Dresden, as well as Bamberg, Waischenfeld, Coburg, Würzburg, Ilmenau and Deggendorf. The budget of 150 million euros a year is mainly financed by contract research projects. 24 percent of the budget is subsidized by federal and state funds.