Concept study by SEW-EURODRIVE and Software Defined Automation

DriveOperations was developed jointly by Bruchsal-based family-run company SEW EURODRIVE and Software Defined Automation GmbH as a vision for the digital, intelligently networked factory of the future. Multi-vendor controllers and components, including PLCs, drives, HMIs, and edge applications are integrated into a cloud-based platform. This simplifies software management, supply, and automation support, while secure remote access and connectivity reduce service outlay. The software applications of cooperation partner Software Defined Automation GmbH form the basis, and these can be executed directly in the cloud without any previous installation.
Automatic backups are available to safeguard the system against coding errors, hacker attacks, or loss of coding versions, for example, and can be provided or restored at the click of a mouse. In addition, backups can be saved locally as a safeguard against problems connecting with the cloud. An intelligent versioning tool enables transparent code change management, thus making it possible to manage various PLCs on a single platform.
The access and administration rights are stored in a user registry. As a result, secure use and interaction by all users is possible on this single platform any time and from anywhere. Production managers always have insight into all controllers and into the software of the machinery and equipment, and can even temporarily grant individual access rights to technicians or IT support, for example. Whether for startup, production, or maintenance, on-site service is no longer necessary in many cases.
An AI-powered tool translates the control codes into human language, which makes the PLC codes generally understandable. Pre-hosted engineering tools on the cloud ensure that the correct version of the tools is always used, directly from the browser and without previous installation. "DriveOperations boosts efficiency, flexibility, and convenience, saves resources, and is therefore not only a digital milestone, but also sustainable in the best sense of word," says Milan Licina, who is responsible for the concept study at SEW EURODRIVE.
At HANNOVER MESSE, SEW EURODRIVE is demonstrating the practical added value to visitors using systems and machines as examples – both on site and remotely in the partner country Canada. End customers can scale their process sequences completely on their own using DriveOperations. The operating and control technology from various providers is digitally integrated, which boosts the efficiency of the connected systems throughout the entire life cycle – a key step on the way to the software-defined factory of the future.