When Digital Twin Meets Network Softwarization in the Industrial IoT: Real-Time Requirements Case Study

Area of Science:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
• Digital Twin Technology
• Network Management

Background:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems are complex and difficult to manage due to severe constraints in critical applications.
• Digital Twin technology is a promising trend for optimizing industrial systems, but few applications focus on network management.
• Existing Digital Twins often overlook the network's role within the broader industrial system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a holistic digital twinning architecture for the IIoT that integrates the network with other industrial components.
• To introduce the concept of a Network Digital Twin for comprehensive network lifecycle management.
• To enable closed-loop network management from the design to the service phase.

Main Methods:

• Developed a holistic digital twinning architecture integrating network components within the IIoT system.
• Introduced the Network Digital Twin concept for unified network management.
• Leveraged the Software Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm to connect Digital Twins with their physical counterparts.
• Validated the architecture's feasibility using a Flexible Production System.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a novel digital twinning architecture for IIoT networks.
• Successfully integrated network management into the Digital Twin concept.
• Validated the architecture's effectiveness in selecting appropriate communication mechanisms for real-time industrial requirements.
• Showcased the potential for closed-loop network management throughout the industrial system lifecycle.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Network Digital Twin architecture offers a holistic approach to managing complex IIoT networks.
• Integrating network management within a Digital Twin framework enhances control and optimization across the system lifecycle.
• The architecture, powered by SDN, is feasible and effective for meeting real-time industrial communication demands.