The document discusses architectural challenges and developments in integrating cloud computing into traditional automation systems, particularly in the context of cyber-physical systems. Key challenges highlighted include latency, security, and multi-tenancy, as well as the potential evolution of an automation cloud ecosystem. The paper emphasizes the need for innovative solutions to manage control tasks remotely while ensuring robust security measures.

1. © ABB Group
Towards the Automation Cloud
Architectural Challenges for a Novel Smart Ecosystem
Dr.-Ing. Heiko Koziolek, Principal Scientist, ABB Forschungszentrum, Ladenburg, 2013-07-02
http://www.rcrwireless.com/americas/20110816/featured/cloud-computing-is-in-its-infancy-gartner-vp-says/

2. SCADA Systems
ABB SCADAVantage for Oil & Gas Industries
© ABB Group

3. SCADA Systems
ABB SCADAVantage for Oil & Gas Industries
© ABB Group

4. SCADA Systems
System Architecture
© ABB Group

5. Automation Pyramid
Classical Structuring
© ABB Group
HMI PLC PLC HMI
…
… ……
ERP
MES APCSCADA
Enterprise Resource Planning
Manufacturing Execution System
Supervisory Control and Data Aquisition
Advanced Process Control
Human-Machine Interface
Programmable Logic Controller
Data
Acquisition Planning
Field devices:
sensors, actuators...

6. Cloud Computing
 “Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-
demand network access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources
(e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and
services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with
minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”
 5 essential characteristics
 On-demand self-service
 Broad network access
 Resource pooling
 Rapid elasticity or expansion
 Measured service
NIST Definition
© ABB Group
[http://www.nist.gov/itl/cloud/]

7. Cloudification
Classical Automation Pyramid (AP)
© ABB Group
HMI PLC PLC HMI…
… ……
ERP
MES APCSCADA
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

8. Cloudification Step 1
Few Cyber Physical Systems, Independent Clouds
HMI PLC PLC HMI…
… ……
© ABB Group
ERP
MES APCSCADA
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

9. HMI PLC PLC HMI…
… ……
PLC
ERP
MES APCSCADA
HMI PLC PLC HMI…
… ……
PLC
ERP
MES APCSCADA
Cloudification Step 2
Few Cyber Physical Systems, Connected Cloud
© ABB Group
…
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

10. Cloudification Step 3
Mainly Cyber Physical Systems on upper AP Levels
HMI PLC PLC HMI…
…
MES… …
ERP
……
PLC
© ABB Group
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

11. Cloudification Step 4
Upper AP Levels partly replaced by Cloud Services
© ABB Group
…
HMI PLC PLC HMI…
…
MES…
ERP
……
PLC
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

12. Cloudification Step 5
Cloud Services dominating upper AP levels
…
HMI PLC PLC HMI…
…
MES…
ERP
……
PLC
© ABB Group
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

13. HMI PLC PLC HMI…
MES…
ERP
PLC
…
… ……
Cloudification Step 6
Cloud Services replacing upper AP levels
© ABB Group
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

14. Cloudification Step 7
Automation Pyramid replaced by Automation Cloud
© ABB Group
…
…
……
Source: „Cyber-Physical Systems: Chancen und Nutzen aus Sicht der Automation“,
April 2013, GMA Fachausschuss 7.20 „Cyber Physical Systems“,
Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik im VDI/VDE

15. Automation Cloud
Latency Security Multitenancy
Availability Elasticity Portability
Usability Interoperability
Selected Architectural Challenges
March 1, 2013 | Slide 15
© ABB Group

16. Criticality
Sampling time
1 ms 10 ms 100 ms 1 s 10 s 1 d 30 d 1 y1 min 10 min 1 h 10 h
Real-time
boiler control
Loop auditing
HVAC /
buildings
Chemicals /
refining MPC
? Service data
Network round-trip time
for a cloud data center in Europe
(distance < 5000 km, 66 % speed of light)
Rolling mills
Cement
Minerals
Power gen.
Solar panel /
wind turbine
Low
High
Architectural Challenges
Latency
© ABB Group

17. Architectural Challenges
Latency
• Characteristics: high latencies (seconds)
• Well suited for cloud latency. Future: fleet
management, big data intelligence
SCADA, MES, PIM
S, (ERP)
• Characteristics: latencies not critical
• Today: VMs with engineering tools
• Future: web-based, social design of
control applications
Engineering
(e.g., device
configuration)
• Characteristics: high latencies, high
computational power
• Conflicts with a typical cloud business
model („low end“)
Advanced Process
Control (APC)
• Characteristics: short latencies, low
computational power
• Impossible to run many control tasks
remotely due to insufficient latencies
Basic Process
Control
© ABB Group

18.  ABB partnered with cloud provider GlobaLogix
to provide a hosted version of SCADAVantage (SaaS)
 RTUs triggering fast, basic control on-site
 High latency SCADA functionality hosted
in 53 data centers in North America, regional proximity
 But: no horizontal scaling, no elasticity
Architecture Challenges
Latency
[http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/cf46b46446b6f83985257b7a00488357.aspx]

19. Architecture Challenges
Security
© ABB Group
Stuxnet
Duqu

20.  GlobaLogix data centers hosting ABB„s SCADAVantage
 2048 bit encryption (exceeding DoD standards)
 Compliance with the most stringent Tier 4 data center
standards from the Telecommunications Industry
Association (TIA) and American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)
 Citrix authentication on client laptops and tables
 Password protected web access to read-only data
Architecture Challenges
Security
© ABB Group
[http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/cf46b46446b6f83985257b7a00488357.aspx]
March 1, 2013 | Slide 20

21. Architecture Challenges
Multitenancy
© ABB Group
[http://goo.gl/FlrES/]

22. Architecture Challenges
 Embedded Systems
 PLC, RTU, IED
(for low-level, fast control)
 Cloud-managed firmware updates
 Information Systems
 SCADA, MES, ERP, etc.
 Cloud with comon data storage
enables fleet management,
social engineering,
preventive maintenance
 Mobile Systems
 Mobile apps for maintenance
personal and operators
 APIs for third party extensions
Automation Cloud as Smart Ecosystem
© ABB Group
SCADAVantage on the iPhone
…
…
……

23. Architecture Challenges
 Cloud pattern catalogues
 Architecture decision sets, ontologies,
domain-specific patterns, …
 Architecture description languages
 Cloud elements as first-class entities,
domain-specific abstractions, …
 Architecture evaluation
 ATAM templates for cloud platforms
 Model-based predictions
 Cloud benchmarks
 Reference workloads,
tooling, comparisons, …
 Methods for Ultra-large Scale Systems
 Smart Grid & Automation Cloud as ULSS
 Systems of systems
Directions for Academic Research
© ABB Group
[Koziolek, Proc. WICSA‟11]

24.  Automation Pyramid
affected by cloud
computing capabilities
 Architecture Challenges
 What control task can
be executed remotely?
 How to secure
a SCADA system
in the Internet?
 How to effectively
apply multi-tenancy?
 Future: emergence
of a novel smart ecosystem
Conclusions
Towards the Automation Cloud
© ABB Group
…
…
……
…
…
……

25. © ABB Group