Using Digital Twins to Integrate 5G into Production Networks

This white paper provides an overview of how industrial 5G supports Industry 4.0 principles with highly flexible and secure communication links across a factory hall or entire manufacturing facility.

A prerequisite is integrating 5G into Industry 4.0 by defining 5G Asset Administration Shell (AAS). Different aspects are discussed and a model proposed for creating structured descriptions of an entire 5G network, including 5G UEs. It is suggested that the dialog initiated with the expert groups of Plattform Industrie 4.0 be continued in order to work out the details of an AAS model for a 5G system. Several meetings with experts of the Models and Standards working group of ZVEI have identified topics in need of further clarification. Additional analysis is required of bootstrapping (i.e. onboarding), responses to dynamic changes to the 5G infrastructure, and functions that are performed over the lifecycle. More valuable findings are expected as outputs of the work items on the OPC UA integration with 5G and elaboration of new service level agreements for 5G for Industry 4.0.

A new extension of the AAS, called “active AAS”, is also currently being discussed within the scope of the Industry 4.0 standardization activities. This active AAS would support and perform self-optimization of the overall factory network and processes, e. g. dynamic QoS negotiations. It would also include wireless connections and may require greater interaction of the factory and 5G networks. One of the goals in connection with Industry 4.0 is to unify the control and management of production systems, and a 5G system may become an integral part of this, being managed and controlled by factory network management systems.