In order to maintain and further expand their international competitiveness, manufacturers of robotics, handling and assembly technology systems must evolve from product providers to solution providers. Particular attention is being paid to the combination of automation and digitalization: their "fusion" is the basis of future Industry 4.0 solutions and the smart factory, in which machines interact with each other and processes organize themselves independently. Automation technology plays a central role in this scenario - it should be open, individually scalable and platform-independent. "u-mation", the modular automation system from Weidmüller, meets these requirements exactly. It includes the latest information and communication technologies and is designed to be Industry 4.0-capable from the outset. At the heart of the modular system is "u-control", an IoT controller with an integrated, web-based engineering tool. The exchange of information based on proven protocols such as AMQP, MQTT and OPC-UA enables cloud services to be set up in accordance with the highest security standards.

Weidmüller wants to drive forward the digital transformation with the open, individually scalable "u-mation" modular automation system, regardless of the platform. The expansion is taking place gradually. At its heart is the "u-control" IoT controller. The modular I/O system "u-remote" with fieldbus couplers for the most common bus and communication systems as well as safety modules for discrete solutions without expensive safety control acts as an interface between it and the field level. "u-remote" aims to impress with a large number of different modules with which many applications can be implemented. Modules are offered with both IP20 and IP67 protection, so that users can combine them within a single I/O system. Fieldbus couplers are available for the most common bus and communication systems, such as Profinet, Profibus-DP, Ethercat, Modbus TCP, Devicenet, EtherNet/IP and Powerlink. Safety modules for connection to Profisafe or Fail-Safe-over-Ethercat (FSoE) round off the range. The intuitive "u-view" multi-touch panels (HMIs) in a flat design ensure optimum visualization based on web technologies. Depending on the product line, precise operation is carried out via capacitive or resistive touchscreens. The equipment also includes a powerful CPU for smooth display of the respective visualization with first-class resolution and brilliant image quality as well as a Linux operating system including HTML 5 browser.

The engineering tool integrated in "u-control" makes it possible to access machines from anywhere with any end device and regardless of the operating system. The key to this new independence lies in moving the software from the PC to the control system and in the use of open web technologies. With HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript, any system can be monitored and programmed independently of operating systems; the only requirement is an HTML 5-capable browser. The engineering tool is designed so that programming is based on IEC 61131-3, the globally valid standard for programming languages for programmable logic controllers. The structures and commands are familiar in automation technology and can be used immediately; this also makes the browser a development platform.

Monitor machines efficiently and safely with the web-based remote maintenance solution "u-link": "u-link" simplifies remote maintenance and increases system productivity through accelerated service. (Image: Weidmüller)

For data exchange and communication between machines and IT systems, Weidmüller relies on OPC UA (OPC Unified Architecture), the international, manufacturer-independent communication standard. The M2M protocol enables standardized, secure and reliable manufacturer- and platform-independent data exchange. Its semantic interoperability contributes to the success of Industry 4.0; this includes the ability not only to transport machine data such as control variables, measured values and parameters, but also to describe them in a machine-readable, i.e. semantic, way. Another advantage of OPC UA is the IEC standard (IEC62541); communication is independent of the programming language in which the respective software was programmed. This independence also applies to the operating system on which the application runs.

Industrial security routers and IoT gateways are available for secure communication channels within the factory and to the cloud. The web-based remote maintenance solution "u-link" impresses with its fast and secure access to machines and systems. It simplifies remote maintenance and ensures efficient management of production systems. The intuitive user interface is easy to configure for specific systems and can be quickly tailored to your own structures.

The key benefits of the "u-link" portal include secure remote access, a flexible system structure, efficient management, fast remote diagnostics and accelerated system service. Secure remote access is provided by a web portal with an integrated VPN rendezvous server in Germany, a router with an integrated SPI firewall (stateful inspection), authentication using x.509-based certificates (OpenVPN with SSL encryption) and manual access approval at the machine. Machines and systems can be accessed remotely via VPN - regardless of location around the globe. This allows machine and plant manufacturers to significantly increase machine availability. pb