The architecture of traditional automated factories is a pyramid structure; From bottom level sensors and actuators to various devices, to controllers, PLCs, IPC, and then to SCADA systems at the top level, and to factory management at the top level, including ERP and manufacturing MES systems;

2. Simply put, industrial automation can be divided into three layers of architecture: field device layer, control communication layer, and factory management layer. This three-layer architecture is similar to the perception layer, transmission layer, and application layer of the Internet of Things. In this pyramid architecture, various devices are controlled by PLC, which then transmits information and data to the cloud through fieldbus and industrial Ethernet.

At present, this traditional architecture is undergoing changes, the first of which is the networking and cloudification of the traditional pyramid architecture. Some functions such as SCADA have begun to be integrated into the cloud, which is the application of cloud computing in industry. Another change is edge computing. More and more terminal devices have stronger computing power; Some open protocols, such as OPCUA and IO-LINK, have also begun to be widely used.

The changes in industrial factory architecture from Industry 3.0 to Industry 4.0:

1. In the era of Industry 3.0, the computing resources of the field device layer are limited, and the main computing resources are concentrated in the controller end and factory management end. In the era of Industry 4.0, the CPS system has more intelligent computing resources and edge computing capabilities for the embedded system with distributed control;

2. Control layer: In the 3.0 era, the process industry is controlled by SCADA, which is a centralized control type. Different devices have communication protocols exclusive to manufacturers, and there are communication protocols of different camps between devices. The interoperability between devices and production lines is very poor; In the era of Industry 4.0, there are more open bus protocols such as OPCUA and IOLink, which support real-time, more interoperable, and secure sensor and cloud connections;

3. Factory management: In the 3.0 era, data collection requires people to make judgments and decisions, while in the 4.0 era, after data collection, artificial intelligence can analyze and judge data information because equipment and systems have adaptive, self decision-making, self judgment and other abilities; In the era of Industry 3.0, IT and OT are separated and difficult to connect. Equipment is an information island, and there is a gap in data flow between processes. Information sharing between departments is also difficult. From the perspective of investment methods, Industry 3.0 mainly involves fixed asset investment, while Industry 4.0 has shifted towards operational investment.

IHS Markit conducted some research on the usage of industrial cloud and industrial IoT on the user side. The biggest concern for customers is network security issues. For example, customers may ask whether it is safe to store important data information such as the company's production and manufacturing with third parties? The second concern of the customer is the use of old wine in new bottles. Customers will think that the technology and products of the so-called Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet are old, just a new word that attracts the attention. The purpose of manufacturers is just to buy products, equipment, and solutions in a different way. This idea makes some sense, and we do need to think twice before taking action on our ongoing intelligent manufacturing projects and so-called demonstration projects.

From the perspective of participants in Industry 4.0 or the Industrial Internet, the entire industry chain is relatively long. From upstream chip manufacturers to automation product manufacturers, to OT manufacturers and IT manufacturers, each enterprise can provide specialized knowledge and know how. In recent years, the Hanover Industrial Fair has specifically set up a digital factory exhibition hall, with many IT and software companies participating, such as Microsoft, SAP, Amazon, PTC, Oracle, etc. In addition, customers are also involved in upstream software, hardware, and even platform operations, such as Haier developing its own industrial manufacturing solutions.

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