Model-driven realization of IDTA submodel specifications: The good, the bad, the incompatible?

TL;DR

This paper presents a model-driven method to automatically generate APIs from IDTA Asset Administration Shell submodel specifications, highlighting successes and challenges due to specification inconsistencies.

Contribution

It introduces a scalable approach to transform IDTA specifications into executable API code and tests, addressing automation needs in Industry 4.0.

Findings

Successfully processed all current IDTA specifications

Generated over 50,000 lines of code

Encountered syntax issues requiring human or AI intervention

Abstract

Asset Administration Shells are trending in Industry 4.0. In February 2024, the Industrial Digital Twin Association announced 84 and released 18 AAS submodel specifications. As an enabler on programming level, dedicated APIs are needed, for which, at this level of scale, automated creation is desirable. In this paper, we present a model-driven approach, which transforms extracted information from IDTA specifications into an intermediary meta-model and, from there, generates API code and tests. We show we can process all current IDTA specifications successfully leading in total to more than 50000 lines of code. However, syntactical variations and issues in the specifications impose obstacles that require human intervention or AI support. We also discuss experiences that we made and lessons learned.