On automatic generation of OPC UA connections in IEC 61499 automation systems

Demand for customization and the need to adapt to rapidly changing global markets have increased the demand for digitalization and intelligent manufacturing. Unlike traditional factories, smart factories aim for high digitalization and efficiency of IT technology adoption. The digital twin is a major enabler of the smart factory. Digital twin provides virtual models, cloud services and data connections among real and virtual components. The engineered kinematics of virtual models must dynamically behave like physical elements. This paper proposes an algorithm and implements the software tool for the automatic generation of OPC UA connections between the IEC 61499-based control application and the OPC UA server. The main contribution is that virtual models can easily and quickly subscribe to published Input/Output (I/O) variables via OPC UA standard.