Modular Plant Digital Twin Orchestration for Distributed Edge Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions lack support for distributed simulations on edge infrastructure accessing field data, with cumbersome integration and synchronization requirements, and are not scalable or vendor-independent for modular plants.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and orchestration system that generates and deploys simulation configurations based on digital twin models using Functional Mock-up Interface and Remote Procedure Call technologies, enabling automated deployment of simulated model components on edge devices with abstraction layers for distributed analytics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distributed simulations are implemented on edge infrastructure with field data access, then simulation capability and data access are improved, but integration complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal simulation orchestration layer that can deploy and manage multiple simulation types (digital twins, predictive models, what-if scenarios) across diverse edge devices. This orchestration layer provides standardized interfaces for data access, simulation deployment, and result retrieval, eliminating the need for separate integration solutions for each simulation type and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary orchestration layer between the edge infrastructure/field data and the simulation workloads. This intermediary manages data access, coordinates simulation execution, and handles synchronization requirements, thereby shielding the complexity of distributed simulations from both the data sources and the simulation applications.
2Reliability
If manual integration and synchronization routines are used for distributed simulations, then integration control is improved, but deployment time and manual effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the simulation orchestration layer automatically discovers available field data, configures appropriate simulations, deploys model components to suitable edge devices, and coordinates synchronization. This automated self-service approach maintains reliable control over the integration process while eliminating manual configuration time and reducing human effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring simulation templates, pre-validating data sources, and pre-establishing synchronization protocols. These preliminary configurations are stored and automatically instantiated when simulations are deployed, significantly reducing the time required for actual deployment while maintaining control through pre-defined validation rules.
3Reliability
If point-to-point communication with tight vendor dependencies is used, then communication reliability is improved, but system flexibility and replicability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication framework that provides reliable point-to-point communication through standardized protocols and interfaces. This framework maintains communication reliability while enabling easy replication across different vendors and platforms by abstracting the communication layer, allowing the same simulation configuration to be replicated in different vendor environments without tight dependencies.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to orchestrate configurations of simulations based on digital twin models of modular plants such that the configurations of the model-based simulations are generated and deployed automatically, is proposed and based on a logical “System Structure and Parameterization” functionality including a “Functional Mock-up Interface”-functionality combined with a “Functional Mock-up Unit”-functionality to generate for distributed operational-technology-applications of the modular plants simulated model components including assignment rules for automation data captured due to automation of the plants and assigned to the distributed operational-technology-applications, and deploying the simulated model components on the distributed operational-technology-applications by using the SSP-functionality with “Functional Mock-up Unit”-functionalities as part of the FMI-functionality for the distributed operational-technology-applications and implementing for the distributed operational-technology-applications and as part of the FMI-functionality in a server-client-manner “Remote Procedure Call”-technology based Proxy-FMU-functionalities with “Proxy-FMU”-entities embedded in the SSP-functionality and corresponding “Remote-Controlled-FMU”-entities implemented on the distributed operational-technology-applications is provided.