The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is a standardized digital representation of an industrial asset, such as a machine or a production line. It contains all relevant information about the asset, including its properties, capabilities, and functions, as well as its current and historical status.
The AAS is part of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 initiatives, which aim to create smarter, more connected factories and industrial processes. By creating a standardized format for asset information, the AAS allows different systems and machines to communicate with each other more easily, facilitating automation and optimization of industrial processes.
The AAS is defined by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as a standardization initiative within the Platform Industry 4.0 framework. It is based on a semantic data model that allows for the representation of complex relationships between assets and their components. The AAS uses a combination of standardized communication protocols, such as OPC UA, and open data formats, such as JSON-LD and RDF, to ensure interoperability and ease of integration with existing industrial systems.
Overall, the Asset Administration Shell is an important component of the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, enabling more efficient and effective use of industrial assets through improved connectivity, automation, and data-driven decision-making.