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Now we are ready to connect with hardware and run this model in real time, communicating with some real-world tanks. in this test model we are not connecting to any hardware and can communicate through the OPC UA protocol and test the control system and its response on the system. We have created the entire system in this model, i.e. This value is then read from the server and fed as an input to a control loop that changes the liquid level of the second tank (bottom right). The tank model then communicates its value (current liquid level) through OPC UA to an OPC UA server. As you can see in the model diagram below, a tank is set up (top left) with some input controlling the inflow to the tank. Here’s an example of creating an easy-to-understand test model in SystemModeler using the OPCUA library. To easily be able to set up a control system that can connect to the machines using the OPC UA protocol will both provide easy integration and work as an efficient and cost-effective testing platform. OPC UA can be configured on devices such as a Raspberry Pi, and even on your smartphone.Īs in all networks and systems, some complex behavior might need to be calculated or modeled, and this is where Wolfram SystemModeler comes in. This can, for example, be great for prototyping where you want to use the existing IT infrastructure but use inexpensive equipment for the trials. Since OPC UA is cross-platform compatible, it can be run on almost any device.
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Computing power is becoming cheaper, and making smart sensors with built-in logic is no longer prohibitively pricy. With the advent of the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, this traditional hierarchy is quickly being replaced with more flexible solutions. While the OPC Classic (also known as OPC Data Access) has had widespread adoption within many industries, including everything from paper and pulp to automotive manufacturing, it relies on traditional elements such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) control systems. Some of the companies that are extensively using OPC UA include Siemens, SAP, Honeywell and Yokogawa. As you can see, a lot of focus is on the secure communication between all devices in the OPC UA network. More information can be found on the OPC Foundation website. With a carefully considered protocol, all of the following aspects can be included in a smart way: Having a standard for communication in the upcoming Industry 4.0 is important for every new connected device. It is designed to be the successor to the older OPC Classic protocol that is bound to the Microsoft-only process exchange COM/DCOM (if you are interested in the OPCClassic library for Wolfram SystemModeler, you can find it here).
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OPC UA is a machine-to-machine communication protocol for industrial automation. This is where the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) comes in.
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All of these components are connected through some kind of network or cloud so that they are able to talk to each other. Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution of cyber-physical systems, is on the way! With it come sensors and boards that are much cheaper than they used to be.
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