Industrial AI
in Manufacturing
Siemens at Hannover Messe:
From Software-Defined Automation to Pop-Up Factories
Industrial AI is a powerful tool for accelerating innovation cycles. The industry expects it to deliver more flexible production systems, faster deliveries, and greater sustainability. At the same time, industrial plants must operate safely and reliably for decades.
The industry needs a solid foundation for continuous adjustments and rapid changes in production systems. An integrated, closely interconnected network featuring the Digital Twin, Software-Defined Everything (SDx), and industrial AI can serve as this foundation. Let’s take a look at Software-Defined Everything. This is an evolutionary step leading from traditional to software-defined automation.
The basic principle of Software-Defined Automation is simple: the automation layer is defined by software. The advantage is that engineering teams can implement new functions via software, and production systems can be quickly adapted to new vehicle variants. Another advantage is that updates and tests can be prepared and validated virtually.
This makes production processes more efficient and accessible to AI functionalities. AI is thus enabled not only to analyze software-based models, simulations, and live operational data, but also – with appropriate configuration – to actively intervene. For example, it can continuously compare target states with behavior in real-world production, suggest changes, verify them via simulation, and, if desired, execute them autonomously.
An example of software-defined automation
Automotive companies are already implementing Software-Defined Automation (SDA)
as a key component of Software-Defined-Everything concepts.
With the help of a virtual, TÜV-certified PLC, production control logic is no longer
implemented using traditional hardware-based control systems and conventional PLCs,
but rather via software.
Audi reports that the company is using a virtual PLC (vPLC) on Siemens’ Edge Cloud 4 Production (EC4P) platform in vehicle body construction at the Böllinger Höfe facility.
