A multifunctional gateway unit may connect at least one apparatus, which is in particular used for machining, handling or storing workpieces that preferably consist of, at least in portions, of wood, wooden materials, or plastic. The multifunctional gateway unit may include, at least one data interface for connecting the gateway unit to a data server; at least one computing unit which comprises a CPU and is designed to interchange data with the data interface; at least one sensor interface which is designed to receive data from a sensor, which is associated with the apparatus, and to forward the data to the computing unit; and/or at least one output interface which is designed to receive data from the computing unit and to forward the data to at least one unit of the apparatus.

A self-testing automation system includes a decentralized distributed ledger-type database comprising a plurality of subscriber nodes, wherein the subscriber nodes exchange data with one another per transaction, and the database stores the transactions in data blocks which are linked together; a regulating mechanism which is implemented into each of the subscriber nodes, said regulating mechanism comprising information on the number and identity of all of the subscriber nodes as well as rules relating to actions, properties, and states of each of the subscriber nodes; and a plurality of automation components which are subscriber nodes of the decentralized database. Each of the subscriber nodes is designed to test or validate transactions between the subscriber nodes at all times using the regulating mechanism, and each of the subscriber nodes is designed to carry out at least one measure if a violation of the regulating mechanism is detected.

A system for communication with a field device, comprising: an apparatus which includes a communication module and an adapter. The communication module includes a connection region and a communication area. The communication area includes at least one communication interface for communication for the field device. A first connecting structure is provided on the connection region, and a second connecting structure provided on an adapter, wherein the second connecting structure is embodied complementary to the first connecting. The adapter includes an interface, and the adapter is embodied passively A display/servicing device, wherein the interface is embodied for connection to the display/servicing device, wherein the display/servicing device is embodied as a portable mobile device, wherein the mobile device is embodied for single-use battery- or rechargeable battery operation, and wherein the first connecting, the second connecting structure and the interface are embodied as plug contacts.

A system, device, and method for managing connections in an industrial installation are described. The system includes one or more field devices, one or more automation devices, and a self-configurable device. The self-configurable device is adapted to dynamically configure, based on type of the one or more field devices and the one or more automation devices, such that the self-configurable device manages a connection between the one or more field devices and the one or more automation devices. The self-configurable device is adapted to calibrate one or more field devices and manage automation functions in the industrial installation.

A vehicle wash component at a vehicle wash location includes a processor for controlling an operational status of the vehicle wash component, an actuator communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to operate the vehicle wash component, and a power source electrically coupled to the processor and the actuator. The processor receives a signal from a car wash controller located at the vehicle wash location, the signal for commanding control of the vehicle wash component, and upon receipt of the signal, the processor interprets the signal, generates a separate signal, and transmits the generated signal to the actuator. The actuator receives the signal from the processor for controlling the operational status of the vehicle wash component based thereon. The power source provides power to the actuator for operating the vehicle wash component based on the operational status of the vehicle wash component.

A connecting unit to transmit process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system. The connecting unit comprises a field bus module, network module and interface module. The field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection. The network module is configured to interchange the process data with the external data infrastructure, use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure, and retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure. The interface module is configured to interchange the process data between the field bus module and the network module. The interface module prompts interchange of the process data autonomously.

System and method for producing a sensor for a processing machine/plant, wherein a digital twin sensor is provided that is related to the sensor, wherein the digital twin sensor is stored in a database (10), wherein the digital twin sensor forms a data model of the sensor, wherein the data model comprises at least one data building block with data for a sensor housing, for an electronic system, for a control and evaluation unit, for a primary sensor element and/or for mechanical components of the sensor, wherein the digital twin sensor is loaded into a construction program for the processing machine/plant, wherein the digital twin sensor is configured in the construction program, wherein the digital twin sensor is adapted to the processing machine/plant and the adapted digital twin sensor is produced as a real adapted sensor.

A method for secure communication between a field device and an end device is disclosed. The method includes: storing an individual access code in the end device, transmitting an access code of the end device to the field device, connecting the field device to an authentication server via a server communication link, using the field device to transmit the access code or an access code derived from the access code to the authentication server, storing authentication data on the authentication server, checking the authenticity of the access code on the authentication server using the authentication data, transmitting the resulting authentication result from the authentication server via the server communication link to the field device, and, depending on the authentication result transmitted to the field device, making resources of the field device available to the end device.

A plant asset management system and method for managing field devices in a plant are implemented by association between control loop and plant asset value. One or more control loop configurations are extracted from one or more control system definitions of a process control system. One or more device configurations are extracted from one or more device management system definitions of a device management system. There is automatically determined whether one or more control loops and one or more devices are respectively associated with each other, based on the one or more loop configurations and the one or more device configurations.

System and method for producing a sensor for a processing machine/plant, wherein a digital twin sensor is provided that is related to the sensor, wherein the digital twin sensor is stored in a database (10), wherein the digital twin sensor forms a data model of the sensor, wherein the data model comprises at least one data building block with data for a sensor housing, for an electronic system, for a control and evaluation unit, for a primary sensor element and/or for mechanical components of the sensor, wherein the digital twin sensor is loaded into a construction program for the processing machine/plant, wherein the digital twin sensor is configured in the construction program, wherein the digital twin sensor is adapted to the processing machine/plant and the adapted digital twin sensor is produced as a real adapted sensor.