ASi-5 – High Data Bandwidth for Demanding

Applications
Machine data, process data and diagnostic data - today, machines and systems
generate huge amounts of data. But only a fraction of this data necessarily belongs
in the higher-level PLC. In order to successfully implement Industry 4.0 projects,
the majority of the data needs to be processed and analyzed in IT. Coordinated
interaction is only possible when all devices in the cyber-physical system
communicate with each other.

A powerful data shuttle such as ASi-5 is needed. The new ASi generation offers a
high data bandwidth and short cycle times. This makes it easy to integrate the
smart sensors like IO-Link that are so important for Industry 4.0.

Our modern ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways also play an important role. They have two
independent interfaces - for OPC UA and a fieldbus - which allow the respective
data to be transferred directly to IT or the control. The gateways also act as a link
between field devices and higher-level IT systems, collecting valuable diagnostic
data that usefully supplements the device data from the field.

Since more connectivity increases cyber risks, we rely on encrypted communication

and authentication. Thanks to field update capability, the ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways
also meet future security requirements.

Content

• ASi-5 – High Data Bandwidth for Demanding Applications

• The ASi-5/ASi-3 Gateways Cleverly Separate IT from OT
• Our Advantages with IIoT and Industry 4.0
• ASi-5/ASi-3 Gateways as Edge-Device
• Bihl+Wiedemann Meets Increasing Security Requirements
• Use Case: Connect IO-Link Devices Easily to the Cloud
• OPC UA – Universal Data Exchange from the Sensor to the Cloud

Our Advantages with IIoT and Industry 4.0

Integrated OPC UA interface

All ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways are equipped with an OPC UA server, which enables
direct data transfer between the field devices via ASi and IT systems - independent
of the fieldbus. Thanks to the OPC UA Server, the data can be easily used in a
cloud, on a local server or in a visualization tool.

Intelligent data separation

Thanks to two independent interfaces, our ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways enable consistent

separation of OT (PLC) and IT (database systems). As the first component in the
automation pyramid that can communicate via Internet protocols, the gateway is
suitable as an intelligent data separation. Due to the network separation of IT and
OT, the traffic on the fieldbus network can be reduced and accelerated.

Modern IT security concepts

We offer authenticated encryption procedures and signed software updates. In

addition, we support customer-specific certificates for TLS and OPC UA
communication. This allows our devices to be seamlessly integrated into existing IT
security concepts.
Reduced
integration effort

An identification, authentication and certificate exchange are required to safely

connect an edge device to the cloud. The one-time effort for this is the same for all
edge devices. But with an Ethernet-based 8-port IO-Link master, for example, only
eight IO-Link devices can be collected. In contrast, an ASi-5/ ASi-3 gateway can
integrate several hundred IO-Link devices as well as other sensors and actuators.

ASi-5/ASi-3 Gateways as Edge-Device

1. With only one ASi-5/ASi-3 gateway as edge device, the data of hundreds of
sensors and actuators can be collected thanks to AS-interface – e.g. IO-Link
sensors with valuable diagnostic data.

2. The data of all devices used is transferred via ASi to the ASi-5/ ASi-3 gateway
with integrated OPC UA server. The summarized data then becomes available on
the IT and OT interface.

3. The ASi Gateway transmits as an edge device all relevant data in cloud -based
data systems via the Internet. There are two options for this: Either; an edge server
prepares the data, and sends it to the cloud, or, the cloud retrieves the data itself
from the OPC UA server.

4. The data is now available in the cloud and can be used as valuable information –
e.g., for preventive maintenance or centralized real-time ERP inventory
management.
The ASi-5/ASi-3 Gateways Cleverly Separate IT from
OT

Smart factory devices, such as decentralized inverters with IO-Link interface, are
interesting for IT and OT. The process control (OT) handles the movement of the
drive and adjusts the variable speed, ramp time and rotation direction, among other
things. The IT systems can generate real added value through Big Data analytics,
machine learning or AI algorithms. This involves evaluating diagnostic data such as
heat sink temperature, power consumption or the operating mode of the drive. In
many cases, a smart factory device generates far more diagnostic data than actual
process data. Diagnostic data can be transferred from the ASi-5/ASi-3 gateway
both via the fieldbus interface and via the diagnostic interface. In order to relieve
the OT, with a fieldbus such as PROFINET and the real-time critical data, it is
sensible to use a separate network structure for the IT. Thanks to the integrated
OPC UA server, the ASi-5/ASi-3 gateway provides a secure and established IT
interface.

Bihl+Wiedemann Meets Increasing Security Requiremen

ts
Due to the strong networking of Industry 4.0 devices, the topic of data security is
becoming enormously important, since any device with access to other devices in a
network can be used as an attack platform. We enable the seamless integration of
our devices into existing IT security concepts and ensure data security like this :

• All modern ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways can be updated and can meet future safety
requirements long time after commissioning.
• The firmware on the update server is signed.
• Each TCP/IP-capable device receives an individual certificate for SSL
communication in production.
• ASi increases security through the communicative break between TCP/IP
and the field devices.
• OPC UA uses established encryption methods such as AES-256 with SHA
up to 512 or RSA.
• Software updates and OPC UA can also be locked locally on the device - a
reliable and absolute protection.

Use Case: Connect IO-Link Devices Easily to the Cloud

• Any IO-Link devices (here an RFID station and a temperature sensor) can be
connected to ASi via ASi-5 modules with integrated IO-Link master
(BWU4077).
• The data of the IO-Link devices is sent to the cloud (here AWS from
Amazon) via the integrated OPC UA server of the ASi gateway (BWU3674).
• In addition to the IO-Link process data, gateway diagnostics (including
current and voltage from the ASi circuit) are also transmitted as OPC UA
objects.
• An AWS IoT certificate and private key is generated and linked to a script -
based edge server.
• The certificate enables a unique connection between OPC UA Server and
OPC UA Client, which is integrated with the cloud-based database.
• The script-based edge server regularly sends prepared data packages
directly to the cloud.
• The data is clearly visualized in a dashboard.
OPC UA – Universal Data Exchange from the Sensor to
the Cloud
In the age of Industry 4.0, data collected from sensors and actuators via ASi is no
longer just indispensable for the control. Higher levels such as remote maintenance
servers, visualization systems, and cloud-based applications also require reliable,
semantic data from the lowest field level.

Do you have questions about our products and solutions?

We would be happy to assist you.

ASi – A resource-saving technology

Thanks to the greatly reduced wiring effort with AS-Interface, you save assembly
and material costs. This saves valuable resources.

More information!
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