Digital Twin Code Simulation for Secure Automation Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service technicians in industrial automation systems often lack secure access to necessary code and firmware, and existing solutions do not provide sufficient context for diagnosing or resolving errors in these systems.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses Digital Twins and simulations to allow secure access to code, enables modification, and sends simulation results for evaluation, facilitating remote monitoring, maintenance, and code updates within industrial automation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If service technicians are granted access to code and firmware for diagnosis and maintenance, then diagnostic capability and maintenance efficiency are improved, but system security and data protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital twin (virtual copy) of the industrial automation system that contains replicated code and firmware. Service technicians can access and analyze this virtual copy without accessing the actual system's code, thereby maintaining diagnostic capability while preserving system security. The digital twin serves as a safe sandbox environment for code analysis and modification testing.
2Productivity
If code modifications are made directly in the industrial automation system, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but system stability and operational reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a simulation environment within the digital twin that allows code modifications to be tested and validated before being applied to the actual industrial automation system. This preliminary testing phase enables maintenance personnel to optimize code and fix issues in the virtual environment, ensuring that only verified modifications are deployed to the real system, thereby maintaining stability while improving maintenance efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive code information is provided to service technicians, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but information security and intellectual property protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides service technicians with complete code and firmware information within the digital twin's virtual environment, enabling thorough diagnosis and analysis. Since this is a virtual copy rather than the actual system code, full information access for diagnostic purposes does not compromise the confidentiality or intellectual property protection of the real system's code.
4Adaptability or versatility
If code updates are deployed directly to the industrial automation system, then system adaptability and functionality are improved, but risk of introducing errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where code modifications are first applied to the digital twin, simulated, and validated for correct operation. The simulation results provide feedback on whether the modifications are functional and error-free before deployment to the actual industrial automation system. This feedback loop significantly reduces the risk of introducing errors while maintaining system adaptability through iterative improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include receiving a first request to access a digital representation that is assigned to an asset of an industrial automation system and includes code specific to operating, maintaining, or diagnosing the asset. The operations also include verifying a security access for the first request, providing the computing device access to the digital representation, receiving an input to modify the code from the computing device and, performing one or more simulations based on the modified code by utilizing the digital representation. Additionally, the operations include sending one or more simulation results to the computing device, receiving, from the computing device, a second request for pushing the modified code to the asset, and in response to receiving the second request, causing the modified code to be sent to the asset.