Background on Industry 4.0 its origin, concept and building blocks

　　工业4.0的起源，概念与架构

　　Industry 4.0 (I4.0) evolved from a German government initiative and associated working group. At the heart of industry 4.0 there are 4 principles :Interconnection via the Internet of Things(IoT)/Industrial internet of Things(IIoT), Information availability across the production process facilitating analysis and action, Automation and facilitation of decision making and provision of Cyber Physical Systems(CPS) to complete tasks best suited to machines rather than people(ideally autonomously).

　　工业4.0最初由德国政府倡导，工业联盟合作推进，涵盖4大关键技术要素：

　　· 物联网（IoT）

　　· 工业物联网(IIoT)；

　　· 生产环节与生产设施，生产分析，与实际运营之间的信息实时互通

　　· 从辅助人完成任务，转变为辅助机器完成任务。具备自动与简易化的决策链与数字化实体生产运营系统（CPS），以最适应机器的方式，完成生产任务，比人工更精准。这就是超自动化（Gartner “2020年十大战略技术趋势”报告中也有提及）

　　From these principles a range of constantly evolving and changing technologies are available for organisations wishing to benefit from the Industry 4.0 revolution. They share some common characteristics and are typically grouped together as:-

　　· Data and analytics technologies (Big Data) – collection and interpretation of data from a range of sources with the desired aim of making consistent, correct, proactive decisions. Includes the concept of cognitive computing.

　　· Smart factory/production technologies including use where appropriate of robotics devices. The objective of these technologies is to drive seamless, environmentally responsible self-optimising processes and systems that realise best in class production performance.

　　· Cyber physical systems (CPS)– integrations of computation, networking and physical processes e.g. robotics systems, manufacturing control systems. These cyber-physical systems also build and maintain a ‘Digital twin’ of the physical world.

　　· The internet of things (IoT-consumer)/Industrial internet of things (IIoT) i.e. the mobile, virtual and persistent connection of all devices to the internet and each other.

　　· Interoperability – development of standards, processes and systems to allow all participant stakeholders and organisations to share information effectively.

　　所有希望从工业4.0受益的企业或组织，都可以遵循并实现上述仍在不断进化与更新的4大关键技术。根据4大关键技术特点，以下是业内人士分享的具体可落地技术，涵盖：

　　· 大数据分析 – 收集并解释各种来源的数据信息，确保目标一致的、准确的、瞻前的决策，包括认知计算的技术

　　· 智能工厂（生产系统）- 包括适当使用机器人技术。目的是实现无缝、环保、可自主优化系统与流程，能够最大限度保证生产成果

　　· 数字化物理生产运营系统（CPS）- 整合了计算单元、网络、以及物理生产流程（比如机器人系统，生产控制系统等）。这些CPS也是建立并维护“数字孪生（Digital Twin）”的基础

　　· IoT（大众消费市场）与工业物联网IIoT， 比如移动互联网，各种终端设备、生产机器之间虚拟但是稳固安全的互联互通（通过互联网）

　　· 互操作性 – 开发可以让所有利益相关人、企业、组织都能参与并互操作的标准、协议、流程与系统。（小编按：其实就是为制造企业从私有工业物联网，转型产业物联网平台做准备，美国工业物联网几家发起公司就准备形成产业物联网平台）

　　The current pallet of Industry 4.0 technologies includes but is not limited to mobile devices, advanced human machine interfaces, 3D printing, drones, Smart sensors/PLM technology, traditional DCS systems, Digital Twin solutions, blockchain offerings, Big data analytics and advanced algorithms (e.g. failure prediction and preventative maintenance automated scheduling), Augmented reality/ wearables, improved ERP and CRM offerings. SD-WAN technologies for managing the complexity and rapid changing characteristics of IoT/IIoT networking requirements.

　　目前可用于工业4.0各项技术，包括但不限于移动设备、先进人机交互界面、3D打印、机器人、智能传感器、智能PLM技术、传统DCS系统、数字孪生、区块链、大数据分析、各种先进算法（如灾难预警，预防维护自动排班系统）、可穿戴虚拟增强（AR）、更完善的ERP/CRM等技术。而SD-WAN或进化版技术，可管控IoT/IIoT复杂互联互通与之间各要素快速切换时所需要的高性能网络需求。（小编按：如A平台设备需要B平台数据支持，同时需要C平台决策链，需要调遣多个平台的数据分析、ERP/CRM、设备、流程管理、人机互动、移动设备等多种要素，如此互联互通的复杂性与实时性，对网络通连的要求很高）