DSLs and Middleware Platforms in a Model-Driven Development Approach for Secure Predictive Maintenance Systems in Smart Factories

Jobish John, Amrita Ghosal, Tiziana Margaria, Dirk Pesch

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

In many industries, traditional automation systems (operating technology) such as PLCs are being replaced with modern, networked ICT-based systems as part of a drive towards the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The intention behind this is to use more cost-effective, open platforms that also integrate better with an organisation’s information technology (IT) systems. In order to deal with heterogeneity in these systems, middleware platforms such as EdgeX Foundry, IoTivity, FI-WARE for Internet of Things (IoT) systems are under development that provide integration and try to overcome interoperability issues between devices of different standards. In this paper, we consider the EdgeX Foundry IIoT middleware platform as a transformation engine between field devices and enterprise applications. We also consider security as a critical element in this and discuss how to prevent or mitigate the possibility of several security risks. Here we address secure data access control by introducing a declarative policy layer implementable using Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based Encryption (CP-ABE). Finally, we tackle the interoperability challenge at the application layer by connecting EdgeX with DIME, a model-driven/low-code application development platform that provides methods and techniques for systematic integration based on layered Domain-Specific Languages (DSL). Here, EdgeX services are accessed through a Native DSL, and the application logic is designed in the DIME Language DSL, lifting middleware development/configuration to a DSL abstraction level. Through the use of DSLs, this approach covers the integration space domain by domain, technology by technology, and is thus highly generalizable and reusable. We validate our approach with an example IIoT use case in smart manufacturing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLeveraging Applications of Formal Methods, Verification and Validation - 10th International Symposium on Leveraging Applications of Formal Methods, ISoLA 2021, Proceedings
EditorsTiziana Margaria, Tiziana Margaria, Bernhard Steffen
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages146-161
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)9783030891589
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Event10th International Symposium on Leveraging Applications of Formal Methods, ISoLA 2021 - Rhodes, Greece
Duration: 17 Oct 202129 Oct 2021

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume13036 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference10th International Symposium on Leveraging Applications of Formal Methods, ISoLA 2021
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityRhodes
Period17/10/2129/10/21

Keywords

  • Domain-specific languages
  • EdgeX-Foundry
  • Predictive maintenance
  • Secured access

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