Full-range OPC UA solutions from the sensor to the cloud, showcased by Softing Industrial at embedded world 2024.

The goal of the OPC UA Cloud initiative is to recommend, harmonize, and steer the activities of individual technical working groups and create best practices, an overall reference architecture, as well as open-source reference implementations, combining the output of the individual working groups.

The OPC UA information modeling framework turns data into information. With complete object-oriented capabilities, even the most complex multi-level structures can be modeled and extended. Industry experts weigh in on OPC UA as the interoperability standard for secure, reliable exchange of data in industrial automation.

Dynamic certificate management with the OPC UA GDS can be developing using the Device and Update Management system. The OPC UA information model enables new processes to be set up efficiently between a controller and any higher-level, business-oriented software layer.

OPC UA easily connects the shop floor to the top floor in a semantic and standardized way. It provides proven technology that is essential to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and enterprise connectivity, and can possibly be standardized for a whole industry segment or company via companion specifications.

If you are interested in being challenged to fundamentally rethink how an enterprise-wide Data Access system should be architected, you have come to the right place. Matthew Parris, Senior Manager, Advanced Manufacturing – Test Systems for GE Appliances, shares his experiences and ideas for moving ahead.

Major IoT vendors including AWS, Google Cloud, IBM, Microsoft, SAP and SIEMENS leverage secure, standardized information exchange in edge-to-cloud applications based on OPC UA.

The OPC Foundation continues to forge ahead with technology advancements. Recent highlights include the launch of the UA Cloud Library developed in conjunction with CESMII and completion of the second release candidate for the OPC UA FX (Field eXchange) specifications that is part of the FLC initiative.

The OPC UA (IEC 62541) framework with the extensions for field exchange (OPC UA FX) specified by the FLC Initiative, in combination with underlying communication technologies such as APL, TSN and 5G, offers a complete, open, standardized and interoperable solution.

The need for edge computing means more connected devices that interact with the real-world based on the data they receive. As computing power becomes pervasive, so does the need for security to address increased cyber risk. Only relying on firewalls is no longer effective with converged IT and OT networks.