The purpose of EmKoI4.0 is to provide methods and tools supporting the research and development of converged communication solutions throughout the life cycle of plants and industrial products. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and has a duration of 30 months.
During the project time, in order to create a connection between communication standards and I4.0, the appropriate features and services of communication assets will be specified according Asset Administration Shell (AAS) submodels. This approach allows easy integration into digitized production systems putting the (wireless) communication system in context of I4.0. The standardization of partial AAS models for communication in the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) is planned.
The expected results in EmKoI4.0 are internationally relevant and applicable as the partners involved in the project are from different geographic regions (Europe and Asia). In this way, the integrative approach must ensure that converged communication solutions developed for a factory or product in one region can be used in other economic regions without problems.
The holistic approach allows subsystems in the digital domain to monitor and react together to an event in the physical domain. As an example, a system in the digital domain monitors the production process that contains an automated guided vehicle (physical domain). The vehicle transmits data over a wireless communication network. When there is a deterioration in the quality of the connection, a negotiation takes place in the digital domain that leads to a coordinated reaction for an increase in the transmission power and/or an adaptation of the route. Furthermore, in case of an unforeseen event, its causes can be identified later and a proactive solution can be prepared in case of recurrence.
