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A Microservice- and AutomationML-based Reference Architecture for an Engineering Configurator Web Platform

Schäffer E, Penczek L, Bartelt M, Brossog M, Kuhlenkötter B, Franke J (2021)

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Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2021

Publisher: Elsevier

Edited Volumes: 9th CIRP Global Web Conference -- Sustainable, resilient, and agile manufacturing and service operations : Lessons from COVID-19

Series: Procedia CIRP

Book Volume: 103

Pages Range: 274--279

URI: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121008854

DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2021.10.044

Open Access Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121008854

Abstract

Robot-centric automation solutions (RAS) promise more efficiency and quality in production as well as more economic stability and security through local production, especially in the times of COVID-19. Nevertheless, due to their high complexity and costs, RAS are only used to a limited extent by small and medium-sized manufacturing companies. As a rule, the high costs of RAS arise from individual engineering, which takes up to 70 percent of the acquisition costs. For this reason, it is necessary to optimise the engineering of RAS. Among other things, better software and less costly top-down engineering methods are needed for this kind of enhancement. Pure optimisation via more advanced simulation tools is not sufficient. Configurators in particular offer the possibility of automatically arranging individual solutions from existing experience. Up to now, however, configurators have been used primarily for the individualisation of products, such as automobiles or clothing, on the basis of the variants predefined by the manufacturer, and less for the engineering of automation solutions. To make top-down configuration and simulation functions easily available to small medium enterprises, a web platform is a convenient solution. Due to the high complexity within the engineering domain, it is reasonable to build this kind of web platform with different services from specialised companies, e.g. by using microservices (MS). Conceivable roles could be as following. The web platform operator (WPO) offers an industry-specific, turnkey complete web platform. The WPO combines, integrates and orchestrates various modules and MS like configuration, simulation, data exchange and other. The MS can be provided by MS providers. In particular, since data interoperability and exchange are very important for engineering, an AutomationML (AML) MS is used to implement both. AML particularly supports the generic exchange of data based on industrial standards. To provide a general solution, a MS and AML-based web platform reference architecture was developed. These concepts and MS architecture are validated via a prototypical implementation and utilisation of the web platform within the scope of the ROBOTOP research project. Thus, the potential for increasing efficiency in engineering for RAS could be demonstrated using this top-down approach.

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How to cite

APA:

Schäffer, E., Penczek, L., Bartelt, M., Brossog, M., Kuhlenkötter, B., & Franke, J. (2021). A Microservice- and AutomationML-based Reference Architecture for an Engineering Configurator Web Platform. In Proceedings of the 9th CIRP Global Web Conference – Sustainable, resilient, and agile manufacturing and service operations : Lessons from COVID-19 (pp. 274--279). Elsevier.

MLA:

Schäffer, Eike, et al. "A Microservice- and AutomationML-based Reference Architecture for an Engineering Configurator Web Platform." Proceedings of the 9th CIRP Global Web Conference – Sustainable, resilient, and agile manufacturing and service operations : Lessons from COVID-19 Elsevier, 2021. 274--279.

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