Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is characterized by the integration of digital technologies into manufacturing processes and highlights new requirements for industrial systems such as greater interoperability, decentralization, modularization, and independence. The traditional hierarchical architecture of Indus...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ricardo Pasquati Pontarolli, Jeferson André Bigheti, Lucas Borges Rodrigues de Sá, Eduardo Paciencia Godoy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Eng
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/4/2/69
_version_ 1797595037829169152
author Ricardo Pasquati Pontarolli
Jeferson André Bigheti
Lucas Borges Rodrigues de Sá
Eduardo Paciencia Godoy
author_facet Ricardo Pasquati Pontarolli
Jeferson André Bigheti
Lucas Borges Rodrigues de Sá
Eduardo Paciencia Godoy
author_sort Ricardo Pasquati Pontarolli
collection DOAJ
description Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is characterized by the integration of digital technologies into manufacturing processes and highlights new requirements for industrial systems such as greater interoperability, decentralization, modularization, and independence. The traditional hierarchical architecture of Industrial Automation Systems (IAS) does not fulfill these requirements and is evolving to incorporate information technologies in order to support I4.0 applications. The integration among these technologies, equipment, and systems at different industry levels requires a migration from the legacy vertical architecture to a flat architecture based on services. Service-oriented architecture (SOA) and, more recently, microservices play a critical role in I4.0 by providing a framework for integrating complex systems and meeting those requirements. This paper presents the development of a Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0 (MOAI), initially focused on evolving IAS to the I4.0. The objective is to describe the development, deployment, and testing of an IAS architecture based on microservices prepared for I4.0 applications. On the contrary to developing the whole software for the industrial SOA, the MOAI was developed on top of the Moleculer framework, which allowed focusing on creating services and applications for the automation and process control industry context. The development of several microservices and security mechanisms for the MOAI is presented, as is the deployment of IAS applications as services such as process control, SCADA, discrete automation, among others. The MOAI was implemented in a process control pilot plant for experimentation. Experimental results of the MOAI for IAS applications are investigated, the microservice communication performance is evaluated, and the pros and cons of microservices for I4.0 are discussed.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T02:30:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6e9025a2124648bc824d2f50bd4383a2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2673-4117
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T02:30:48Z
publishDate 2023-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Eng
spelling doaj.art-6e9025a2124648bc824d2f50bd4383a22023-11-18T10:14:54ZengMDPI AGEng2673-41172023-04-01421179119710.3390/eng4020069Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0Ricardo Pasquati Pontarolli0Jeferson André Bigheti1Lucas Borges Rodrigues de Sá2Eduardo Paciencia Godoy3Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo (IFSP), Boituva 18552-252, BrazilNational Service of Industrial Training (SENAI), Lencois Paulista 18685-730, BrazilSão Paulo State University (UNESP), Sorocaba 18087-180, BrazilSão Paulo State University (UNESP), Sorocaba 18087-180, BrazilIndustry 4.0 (I4.0) is characterized by the integration of digital technologies into manufacturing processes and highlights new requirements for industrial systems such as greater interoperability, decentralization, modularization, and independence. The traditional hierarchical architecture of Industrial Automation Systems (IAS) does not fulfill these requirements and is evolving to incorporate information technologies in order to support I4.0 applications. The integration among these technologies, equipment, and systems at different industry levels requires a migration from the legacy vertical architecture to a flat architecture based on services. Service-oriented architecture (SOA) and, more recently, microservices play a critical role in I4.0 by providing a framework for integrating complex systems and meeting those requirements. This paper presents the development of a Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0 (MOAI), initially focused on evolving IAS to the I4.0. The objective is to describe the development, deployment, and testing of an IAS architecture based on microservices prepared for I4.0 applications. On the contrary to developing the whole software for the industrial SOA, the MOAI was developed on top of the Moleculer framework, which allowed focusing on creating services and applications for the automation and process control industry context. The development of several microservices and security mechanisms for the MOAI is presented, as is the deployment of IAS applications as services such as process control, SCADA, discrete automation, among others. The MOAI was implemented in a process control pilot plant for experimentation. Experimental results of the MOAI for IAS applications are investigated, the microservice communication performance is evaluated, and the pros and cons of microservices for I4.0 are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/4/2/69service-oriented architectureindustrial automation systemindustrial internet of thingsMoleculer framework
spellingShingle Ricardo Pasquati Pontarolli
Jeferson André Bigheti
Lucas Borges Rodrigues de Sá
Eduardo Paciencia Godoy
Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0
Eng
service-oriented architecture
industrial automation system
industrial internet of things
Moleculer framework
title Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0
title_full Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0
title_fullStr Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0
title_full_unstemmed Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0
title_short Microservice-Oriented Architecture for Industry 4.0
title_sort microservice oriented architecture for industry 4 0
topic service-oriented architecture
industrial automation system
industrial internet of things
Moleculer framework
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/4/2/69
work_keys_str_mv AT ricardopasquatipontarolli microserviceorientedarchitectureforindustry40
AT jefersonandrebigheti microserviceorientedarchitectureforindustry40
AT lucasborgesrodriguesdesa microserviceorientedarchitectureforindustry40
AT eduardopacienciagodoy microserviceorientedarchitectureforindustry40