Working groups
Dynamic System Simulation in the Lifecycle of Automation Systems
Responsible: Prof. Georg Frey (georg.frey(at)aut.uni-saarland.de)
The TC 3.1 working group “Dynamic System Simulation in the Lifecycle of Automation Systems” focuses on the use of forefront modeling and simulation methods that can be used to optimize engineering processes as well as the operating phase. The availability of modelling languages, exchange formats and scalable computational resources opens up more possibilities for the use of simulations. These range from simulation models used in the design phase of control systems to simulation models directly used in real-time control as soft sensors or for optimal planning in MPC-like approaches. Complex automation systems are built from components often designed and manufactured by different parties. The interchange and re-use of simulation models describing these components can greatly lower system development time and cost. The inclusion of dynamic simulation models in digital twins could be seen as an upcoming option here. The development of modelling languages as Modelica and exchange formats like FMU/FMI however is not primarily driven by the control and automation community.
- The aim of this WG is to foster joint discussion and research on modelling languages for dynamic simulation models, description tools, exchange mechanisms, execution models, and use cases of simulation in the automation domain with its specific requirements (real-time, dependability, security, IP protection).
The working group aims to address researchers (young and senior) with a focus on model-based engineering and industrial practitioners from modeling & simulation in machine and plant manufacturing and further industrial domains.
IT/OT-Security in Automation Systems
Responsible: Heiko Adamczyk (hadamczyk(at)fortinet.com)
We face a tremendous rise of cyber security attacks on production systems (automation systems) and at the same time there is a lack of IT/OT-security methods and measures in automation systems. The trend towards decentralized, highly interconnected and modular automation systems requires new advanced IT-Security processes and methods.
he TC 3.1 working group “IT/OT-Security” focuses on the discussion of methods, tools, best practices and use-cases for a stable and constantly evolving IT/OT-Security. Topics are:
- Development of new IT/OT-Security Methods for automation systems
- Discussion of best practices on an international level
- White-Papers and Workshops on IT/OT-Security
The working group aims to address researchers (young and senior) with a focus on IT/OT-Security and industrial practitioners from Industrial Security for process industries, plant manufacturing and further industrial domains.
Education in Automation Technologies
Responsible: Prof. Alois Zoitl (alois.zoitl(at)jku.at)
Computers in control are getting more important and diverse. We constantly face more topics and wider areas to teach. This requires dedicated teaching environments, e.g.
- Physical testbeds and/or
- Virtual testbeds
The TC 3.1 working group “Educatiuon in Automation Technologies” focuses on the exchange on best teaching practices, the sharing of teaching materials as well as the derivation of a knowledge and teaching map. It aims to address researchers (young and senior) with several education experience in the field of automation technologies.
Information Models in control engineering
Responsible: Prof. Dr. Mike Barth (mike.barth(at)kit.edu)
In various use-cases in industry and research, a common concept for semantic information modeling is needed in order to implement these use-cases. This especially holds for heterogeneous, distributed systems, such as Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS), but similarly in other domains. These distributed systems have to deal with individual sub-systems which stem from different suppliers but have to exchange information to implement the overall system function. Not only the communication means have to be agreed upon, but further the content of the exchanged information must be understood correctly by all components, which requires that the information is based on a semantic description.
This holds for all phases of the life cycle of an automated system: The first use-case for semantic modeling can be found in the early life-cycle phase of a system, i.e. the engineering of the system. The engineering of automated systems usually relies on several engineers who are working on different tasks that have to be accomplished through the engineering phase. Especially for complex systems, model-based engineering as well as the systematic reuse of components can provide relevant efficiency increases. However, the information created in the engineering phase has to use a common semantic, not only for avoiding inefficiencies or faults throughout the engineering process, but also to support the cooperation between engineering teams.
Concerning the modeling of skills for the purpose of reconfiguration of manufacturing systems, there has been remarkable research effort on information modeling already in order to model skills for reconfiguration and orchestration purposes.
Concerning the orchestration of manufacturing services by means of service oriented architectures (SOA), semantic modeling of services is necessary in order to provide a common understanding of the post- and preconditions of a service, and semantic descriptions of manufacturing services have been proposed in order to provide information for an agent based orchestration system. Furthermore, semantic descriptions of manufacturing systems can be used to schedule the resources, e.g. workers and machines, of a factory.
Furthermore, semantic modeling of systems is becoming relevant for diagnosis and maintenance systems as well: semantic descriptions about the condition of systems are required to provide a common information model for the diagnosis of distributed manufacturing systems, i.e. semantic descriptions of the systems that are monitored and the maintenance knowledge.
Desipte these needs, there are still many open research questions regarding the creation and use of semantic enrichment of information in the design, implementation, operation and optimization of automated systems. The aim of this sub-WG is to foster joint discussion and research on these topics.
Industrial agents
Responsible: Prof. Birgit Vogel-Heuser (vogel-heuser(at)ais.mw.tum.de)
The focus of the TC 3.1 working group “Industrial agents“ lies on the investigation of agent-based applications in the industrial automation domain such as logistics, automation production systems or energy and smart grids. Based on a multi-agent system, the intense interconnectedness in between computers or embedded systems in these domains as well as partly within operational and business applications over the Internet should be improved. Therefore, members of universities or industry investigate and adapt novel approaches, applications and methods for multi-agent systems in industrial automation systems. Additionally, various technologies in further fields, e.g. Machine Learning, are identified and their potentials for applications within the domain of industrial automation are analyzed. In the field of “Energy and Smart Grids”, challenges of agent-based coordination and control of energy supply systems of the future are examined. Thus, the control and introduction of renewable energy systems will be improved.
The results of our work are both integrated within the remaining working groups “Semantic technologies in control engineering” and “Model based engineering” of the TC 3.1 as well as within joint publications. Therefore the members are working on a roadmap of possible applications of agents as well as their potentials in the industrial automation domain. In this context, first implementations of a decentralized multi-agent system, such as the agent-based networks for cyber–physical production systems (CPPS)– listed as one of Germany’s official Industrie 4.0 use case – could be developed and commissioned in the past. The development and application of further use cases in different domains is maintained and expanded in the future. To improve the application, the members defines standards for the development of multi-agent systems within the various application areas of industrial automation as well as application potentials. The working group thus provides a platform for exchanging research results, ideas and experiences of researchers and appliers interested.