A Safety and Security Reference Architecture for Asset Administration Shell Design

Abstract

With the introduction of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), man-ufacturing systems are moving towards digitalization which is one of the principal visions of I4.0. In industrial automation systems, safety and security are fundamental aspects that will gain even more importance in the future, even more so as systems become more interconnected in I4.0. The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is one of the key enabling concepts towards the realization of I4.0, and its generic approach ensures applicability in different areas. Nevertheless, the lack of a reference for developing such applications has led to a diverse collection of implementation efforts. This is an interoperability issue that may increase safety and security concerns in future I4.0 applications. This paper proposes a safety and security reference architecture to provide a firm ground for developing safe and secure AAS-based applications in the context of I4.0. It breaks down critical aspects of AAS development into understandable elements to facilitate decision-making for the key stakeholders, from vendors to system integrators to operators who aim to move towards I4.0 realization.