Digital Twin Microservices for Secure Industrial Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service technicians lack access to comprehensive and contextually relevant information about industrial automation systems, hindering effective servicing and error resolution.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects and aggregates data from various sources to create aligned datasets, enabling simulations and diagnostics using Digital Twins, and employs connected microservices for secure data transmission and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If service technicians are granted access to comprehensive system information and code, then their ability to diagnose and resolve errors improves, but system security and information protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information access by creating distinct data zones (public, protected, confidential) and assigning technicians access only to their assigned asset's information through a digital representation, rather than granting blanket access to all system data
Solution Approach 2:
A digital representation acts as an intermediary between technicians and the actual industrial automation system, allowing technicians to access and analyze system information, code, and logs through this virtual model without directly accessing the protected physical system
2Object-affected harmful factors
If technicians work remotely without direct system access, then system security is maintained, but diagnostic capability and error resolution efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital representation (copy) of the industrial automation system that contains all necessary information for diagnostics and maintenance, allowing technicians to perform remote analysis and troubleshooting on the copy without affecting or requiring direct access to the physical system
3Loss of information
If multiple data sources are aggregated to provide comprehensive diagnostics, then information completeness improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data sources (sensor data, logs, code, firmware) into a unified digital representation model, where all information is integrated and contextualized within a single structured framework, simplifying access and analysis despite the diversity of source data
Data Source
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AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable medium may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to collect a portion of data associated with an asset from one or more sources based on a request received from a digital representation associated with the asset. The digital representation may perform a first set of simulations related to one or more operations of the asset over time. The processor may then generate a plurality of aligned datasets based the portion of the data, the one or more sources, and an identity of the asset. The processor may also aggregate the plurality of aligned datasets into a single dataset and transmit the single dataset to the digital representation to perform a second set of simulations based on the single dataset.