7 min reading time, updated on 29.10.2024
Efficient communication between machines and systems plays a central role in Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT). OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) has established itself as the standard for this. ActiveDB uses this communication standard not only to manage digital twins, but also to integrate them seamlessly into existing production environments.
ActiveDB uses the advantages of OPC UA to provide and exchange real-time data from physical systems. By combining OPC UA client and server functionalities, ActiveDB enables comprehensive control and monitoring that goes beyond traditional systems. This not only ensures a smooth flow of information, but also provides the basis for intelligent automation and efficient production processes. Read here how ActiveDB uses the possibilities of OPC UA to drive digital transformation in the industry.
Content
After reading this article, you will know
OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) is a central communication standard for Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT). It enables manufacturer-independent and standardized access to machines, devices and systems in industrial environments. This simplifies and standardizes the exchange of data between different systems and their control.
The principle behind OPC UA is that the manufacturer of a device or system provides an OPC server that enables standardized access to its hardware.This server can be integrated either as stand-alone software or as an embedded solution directly on the device or machine controller.
Independent providers are developing platform-independent OPC servers with broader protocol support so that systems not supported by the manufacturer can also communicate with OPC UA.
The OPC client is the counterpart to the OPC server.Data provided by the server can be read and processed via the OPC client.Due to the standardized interfaces of the OPC protocol, it is possible for any client to communicate with any OPC server and exchange data in a uniform format.
Typical OPC clients are software solutions that rely on data exchange with industrial systems. What happens to the received data depends on the respective application. Common examples of OPC clients are visualization systems and SCADA applications such as WinCC, InTouch or FAS inMOVE, but also MES systems.
ActiveDB is an innovative operating system for digital twins that enables the digital management, monitoring and control of complex, physical systems. ActiveDB can be integrated into existing systems both as an OPC UA server and as a client. Through the interaction of this connection with other data sources, ActiveDB offers a unique solution for the comprehensive control of a wide variety of systems.
The ActiveDB makes it possible to export any digital twin as an OPC UA server. This allows users to view and control the digital twin in real time via the OPC UA server. The twin’s live data, which reflects the current status of the physical system, can be continuously retrieved via the OPC UA server and reused in all OPC UA-compatible applications. In addition, control commands can be sent to the digital twin to trigger corresponding physical actions. Regardless of where the data from the digital twin comes from, data and controls can be made available to third-party systems.
In addition to the server functionality, ActiveDB has an OPC UA Client Connector, which makes it possible to integrate any OPC UA server as a data source. The digital twin acts as an OPC client that reads live data from external OPC servers and saves it in ActiveDB. In addition, data can be written back to the OPC server and the associated physical device via the digital twin.
The resulting digital twin is available to other systems via the ActiveDB. This enables an evaluation and control of the physical devices that is agnostic to the interface used. This means that the digital twin can be used by other systems in the same way as a digital twin that does not use OPC UA as a data source.
With the combination of OPC UA server and client, ActiveDB offers a comprehensive solution for the seamless integration and management of digital twins in industrial environments. As an OPC UA server, the platform enables the integration of any digital twins from third-party systems into OPC UA applications. With ActiveDB as an OPC UA client, on the other hand, physical devices can be created directly as digital twins and thus integrated into more complex control systems and evaluations.
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+49 541 71008-0
info@bill-x.de
