ASSET ADMINISTRATION SHELL

READING GUIDE (AS OF APRIL 2021)

Dr. Jörg Neidig (Siemens AG), Andreas Orzelski (Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG), Stefan Pollmeier (ESR Pollmeier GmbH),
Jörg Wende (IBM Deutschland GmbH)

Aim of this document The interaction with the AAS can follow different patterns
Over the course of the last years the Plattform Industrie which have different technical requirements, i.e. file ex-
4.0 and related organizations have published numerous change, server-client and peer-to-peer interaction (Figure 1).
papers concerning the Asset Administration Shell. This
document acts as a guide by recommending selected Recommended documents
„must-read” documents for different reader groups and For this reading guide the documents have been sorted by
will be updated regularly. interest groups rather than topics. In some cases, only spe-
cific pages or sections are recommended reading material.
Goals of Industrie 4.0
Where to start: If you have never heard of the AAS
Industrie 4.0 (I4.0) refers to the intelligent networking of
machines and processes for industry with the help of in- For the generally interested reader: If you want to
formation and communication technology. Today’s rigid learn more about the subject
and strictly defined value chains are replaced by flexible, For decision makers: If you are interested in the business
highly dynamic and globally connected value networks side of I4.0
with new forms of cooperation. The Asset Administra-
tion Shell helps implementing digital twins for I4.0 and For software developers and architects: If you want to
creating interoperability across the solutions of different know how to create software for the AAS
suppliers. For users of the AAS and domain experts: If you are
interested in using the AAS for specific tasks
Asset Administration Shell in a nutshell
Security and AI: If you want to deep dive into these
The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is the digital repre-
special topics.
sentation of an asset. The AAS consists of a number of
submodels in which all the information and functionali-
ties of a given asset – including its features, characteristics,
properties, statuses, parameters, measurement data and
capabilities – can be described. It allows for the use of
different communication channels and applications and
serves as the link between objects and the connected,
digital and distributed world.

The structure of the AAS is defined via a technology inde-

pendent meta-model and several technology specific seriali-
zation mappings such as XML, JSON or OPC UA. Its contents
are defined via domain-specific submodel templates. Figure 1: AAS interaction patterns
ASSET ADMINISTRATION SHELL READING GUIDE
(AS OF APRIL 2021)

Where to start Whereas the technical details for composite AAS (AAS for
When completely new to the topic of I4.0 and the AAS we assets composed of multiple assets) are given in [12], the
highly recommend visiting the website of the Plattform introduction to the concept can be found in [14].
Industrie 4.0 [1]. Then start with the Two-Pager [2] and the
presentation slides [3]. The first few slides of the Presen-
tation [4] cover general AAS topics, later slides introduce
some advanced topics. All these should provide a brief and
quick introduction into the topic in general. For a deep 0 1 1 0 1

dive [5] gives a comprehensive overview of recent and

current activities of the Plattform I4.0.
0 1 0 1 0
1 0 1

For the generally interested reader 0 1

1 0 1
0 1 0

The most extensive introduction into I4.0 can be found in

the book [6]. The introduction and the chapters on how
to transport semantic information are insightful, but the
more technical sections are partially outdated. [7] gives a 0 1 0 1 0
0 1 0 1 0 1

condensed overview of the concepts and serves in many 1 0 1

ways as a leading picture. It also outlines how existing

and future standards shall be brought into alignment to
these concepts. [9] is recommended, because it covers all
major aspects of I4.0 (including finding use cases, creating
semantic models, and operation) by using a drive as an
example. The described concepts can easily be transferred For users of the AAS and domain experts
to sensors and actors in general. If you are interested in using or creating AAS we re-
commend to start by looking into the software tool
For decision makers AASX package explorer (see below) and the screencasts
[8] answers why semantic interoperability will become at http://admin-shell-io.com/screencasts/. The first
crucial for future manufacturing. [10] includes a detailed submodel templates have been released to define the
list of technical criteria that need to be fulfilled for an I4.0 contents of the submodels „Digital Nameplate“ (https://
component. It also includes a technology roadmap and bit.ly/2PmdHgr) and „Technical Data“ (https://bit.ly/31zY
lists several examples of commercially available products 0os). More will follow. [11] and [15] might also be of
that fulfill these criteria. [11] provides companies with interest. [16] gives an introduction and example on how
support in determining how their own data organization to model an asset using standardized properties, however
can be revised and gives step by step realization guidelines. some technical details might be outdated.

For software developers and architects Security and AI

The most important documents are [12] and [13]. Part 1 Although it does not deal specifically with the AAS, [15]
of the Series “Asset Administration Shell in Detail” covers highlights requirements for the secure use of OPC UA for
the AAS meta model and its technology specific serializa­ communication in I4.0 scenarios and presents implementa-
tions, whereas Part 2 focuses on the concept and realization tion options. [17] describes requirements and implemen-
of the common AAS API. For implementations the open tations of a secure communication in the engineering
source projects on https://github.com/admin-shell-io and process.
others (see below) are highly recommended. As an over-
view [8] describes the different shapes of the AAS from a
technical perspective including security.
 ASSET ADMINISTRATION SHELL READING GUIDE
(AS OF APRIL 2021)

[18] explains different secure data access architectures (*.aasx). The site also includes the AASX-server which
and looks at questions regarding at implementation and makes AASX packages accessible via REST, OPC UA and
applicability. [19] focusses on the application of AI in MQTT, a highly recommended FAQ with best practices
industrial production and analyses different use cases for and further resources.
potential impact and questions. [22] discusses the means
of capability and skill to provide standardized information BaSyx (https://bit.ly/3mNRe85) provides various modules
about an assets functionality. to cover a broad scope of I4.0 (including AAS). Hence
its substantially more complex architecture. PyI40AAS
Tools, examples and prototypes (https://bit.ly/307hPmJ) is a Python module for manipula-
The website https://github.com/admin-shell-io contains ting and validating AAS. On http://www.i40-aas.de/ one
the latest version of the AASX package explorer, which can access numerous AAS examples of different vendors
can be used to create, edit and view AAS file serializations based on the use case of a digital nameplate.

  References
[1] „What is Industrie 4.0?“: https://bit.ly/3kaRz2N. [12] „Details of the Asset Administration Shell, Part 1,“
[2] „The Asset Administration Shell: Implementing 11/2020: https://bit.ly/3phSUYB.
digital twins for use in Industrie 4.0, A starter kit for [13] „Details of the Asset Administration Shell, Part 2,“
developers,“ 12/2019: https://bit.ly/3kZZSPl. 11/2020: https://bit.ly/3phSUYB.
[3] „Der Digitale Zwilling in Industrie 4.0 - Eine Kurz- [14] „Relationships between I4.0 Components – Compo-
Einführung zu Merkmalen, Teilmodellen & Verwal- site Components and Smart Production,“ 06/2017:
tungsschalen. (English version pending),“ 10/2020: https://bit.ly/37ufwP3.
https://bit.ly/3e6Za08. [15] „Secure Implementation of OPC UA for operators,
[4] „Details of the Administration Shell - from idea to integrators and manufacturers,“ 04/2018:
implementation,“ 07/2019: https://bit.ly/2H8c2Hn. https://bit.ly/3kZm2kJ.
[5] „Fortschrittsbericht 2020. Industrie 4.0 gestalten. [16] „Examples of the Asset Administration Shell for Indus-
Souverän. Interoperabel. Nachhaltig (English version trie 4.0 Components,“ 04/2017: https://bit.ly/2Ti9tVC.
pending),“ 06/2020: https://bit.ly/3oaRVJe. [17] „Secure Download Service,“ 10/2020:
[6] The Reference Architecture Model RAMI 4.0 and the https://bit.ly/3cPSq6A
Industrie 4.0 component, ISBN: 978-3-8007-4990-4, [18] „Access control for Industrie 4.0 components for app-
2018. lication by manufacturers, operators and integrators,“
[7] „Structure of the Administration Shell,“ 04/2018: 12/2018: https://bit.ly/37qAJJQ.
https://bit.ly/34jbHdo. [19] „AI Application Guide,“ 09/2020: https://bit.ly/2GpHaS6.
[8] „What is the Asset Administration Shell from a tech- [20] „German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0,“
nical perspective?“ 04/2021: https://bit.ly/3d0kvbw 03/2020: https://bit.ly/3dKrRQj.
[9] „Drive 4.0 - Vision becomes Reality,“ 04/2018: [21] „Digital business models for Industrie 4.0,“ 02/2019:
https://bit.ly/388ST35. https://bit.ly/2FOroA6.
[10] „Which criteria do Industrie 4.0 products need to [22] „Describing Capabilities of Industrie 4.0 Compo-
fulfil?,“ 12/2020: https://bit.ly/2Tdti0d. nents,“ 12/2020: https://bit.ly/3tK1Uao
[11] „Interoperability by standardized properties,“ 08/2019:
(available upon request) https://bit.ly/3oVQpLh.

Contact: Office of Plattform Industrie 4.0 | geschaeftsstelle@plattform-i40.de | www.plattform-i40.de

Illustrations: Page 1: Plattform Industrie 4.0, Page 2: Plattform Industrie 4.0 / Anna Salari, designed by freepik