Optimal Implementation of Industry 4.0 Projects Using ASi-5

Industry 4.0 stands for the digital revolution that is fundamentally changing all industrial sectors. Of course, even the enormous increase in computer performance and improved networking have a massive impact on automation. In this context, Industry 4.0 can be reduced to the following core: it is becoming increasingly easier and cheaper to capture data on a large scale in industrial processes. And the skillful analysis of such data creates real added value. Because in a smart factory with distributed systems, intelligent sensors and actuators are becoming increasingly important – not least because of their continuously increasing number.

TomTom can be taken as a good example of value-added data evaluation. Years ago, the navigation system manufacturer, together with Vodafone, had already anonymously evaluated how mobile phones switched from one radio cell to the next. This enabled the measurement of traffic speed on highway sections – without having to install sensors or software on the cellphones. Today Google can usually tell the location of any cellphone. But the example of TomTom is a particularly good illustration of how new functions are created through the intelligent analysis of data.

However, to be able to use the data, you need high-performance networks with sufficient bandwidth – especially sensors that measure switching signals and additional information, such as temperature values. The networks must also be sufficiently fast to be able to evaluate time measurements. In terms of the TomTom example, it means that: meaningful speeds can only be derived from the position data if the sampling rate is sufficiently high. Bihl+Wiedemann ASi-5 devices offer the bandwidth required for Industry 4.0 and are also fast enough.

ASi-5 – the latest generation of the standardized AS-Interface fieldbus system – boasts high data bandwidth and short cycle times. The evolution of ASi can be compared with the bandwidth increase of the Internet.

For example, new Bihl+Wiedemann ASi-5 nodes can cyclically transmit up to 32 bytes of I/O data per node: in 1.27 ms, ASi transmits a total of up to 8 bytes pernode. The advantage is that besides the cyclic data, even other data such as parameters and diagnostics can be transported. The data bandwidth of ASi-5 is therefore sufficient even for demanding applications.

Bihl+Wiedemann ASi devices also provide valuable data as intended in Industry 4.0. The interesting data comes from the connected sensors, but they are connected to the Bihl+Wiedemann gateways via ASi.

The gateways also provide additional diagnostic data. Thanks to them, any faults, such as a cut cable, can be quickly found and rectified.

Since Industry 4.0 devices rely heavily on networking, the topic of data security is gaining enormous significance. After all, any device with access to other devices in a network can be used as an attack platform. It thus becomes a vector for attacks on other devices. For this reason, the security requirements for networked industrial devices are increasing very rapidly.

Due to the long service life of industrial equipment, one thing is certain: weak points in the device software must be found and rectified long after the devices have been sold.

In order to ensure data security, Bihl+Wiedemann offers authenticated encryption methods such as AES-256 with up to SHA-512 or RSA. Customer-specific certificates for TLS and OPC UA communication are also supported. This allows the devices to be seamlessly integrated into existing IT security concepts. Furthermore, Bihl+Wiedemann offers the possibility of using signed software updates, which are authenticated by the device before use. Software updates and OPC UA can also be locked locally on the device – a reliable and absolute protection.