Demonstrator Drive System 4.0 – Vision becomes Reality

As part of a ZVEI project "Demonstrator Drive 4.0", the interoperability of electric drives as Industrie 4.0 components is now being demonstrated for the first time. Eight different manufacturers of drive technology and the Technical University of Darmstadt are evaluating the technological implementation of features and I4.0 functions for drives based on practical applications. The concept of the technology-neutral I4.0 management shell is used. The respective management shells are mapped to the OPC UA communication standard. In this way, the existing proprietary features and functions of the eight drives are provided in an Industry 4.0-compliant format. The use of the management shell, OPC UA and the eclass standard enables manufacturers, machine builders and operators to have consistent and interoperable access to information and functions.

The vendor-independent standardization of data and function interfaces leads to flexibility, and with the standardization of functions, machine builders are facilitated in the development of machines, commissioning, maintenance and production support over the life of the machine, optimization.

The interoperability demonstrated in the Drive 4.0 Demonstrator project is the first important step on the way to true Plug&Produce.

To the video Demonstrator Drive System 4.0.