MindSphere is an industrial IoT-as-a-service solution[1] developed by Siemens for applications in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT).[2]
MindSphere stores operational data and makes it accessible through digital applications (“MindSphere applications”) to allow industrial customers to make decisions based on valuable factual information.[3] The system is used in applications such as automated production and vehicle fleet management.[2][4]
Assets can be securely connected to MindSphere with auxiliary MindSphere products that collect and transfer relevant machine and plant data.[2]
Examples include real-time telemetric data from moving assets like cars, time series data and geographical data, which can be used for predictive maintenance or to develop new analytical tools.[4][5]
As an industrial IoT as a service solution, MindSphere collects and analyzes all kinds of sensor data in real time.[4] This information can be used to optimize products, production assets and manufacturing processes along the entire value chain.[7] MindSphere’s open application interfaces make it possible to obtain data from machines, plants or entire fleets irrespective of the manufacturer.[2] These interfaces include OPC Foundation’s OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA).[8]
To help customers create their own software applications and services, MindSphere is equipped with open application programming interfaces (APIs) and development tools.[2][3] This allows OEMs to integrate their own technology.[9]
MindSphere is based on the concept of closed feedback loops enabling the bi-directional data flow between production and development:[10] Real-world plants, machines and equipment can be connected to MindSphere in order to extract operational data.[2] Valuable information (i.e., “digital twins” of machines) can then be extrapolated from the raw data through analytics and utilized to optimize products as well as production processes and environments in the next cycle of innovation.[3][7][11]
Timeline
August 2017 – End of closed beta phase and release of MindSphere Version 2.0
January 2018 – Release of MindSphere Version 3.0 on AWS[12]
^“MindSphere - Siemens Global Website”. siemens.com. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ abcdefNaujoks, Stefanie. “MindSphere – Siemens cloud for industry: What is it all about?” pac-online.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
^ abcWeinländer, Markus. (2017) Industrielle Kommunikation: Basistechnologie für die Digitalisierung der Industrie. Beuth Verlag. pp. 59-60. ISBN978-3-410-26857-4.
^ abcReinheimer, Stefan. (ed.) (2017) Industrie 4.0: Herausforderungen, Konzepte und Praxisbeispiele. Springer Verlag. p. 26. ISBN978-3-658-18164-2.
^ abDowling, Michael; Eberspächer, Jörg; Neuburger, Rahild; Noll, Elisabeth; Zisler, Kristina. (2016) Neue Produkte in der digitalen Welt. Books on Demand. ISBN9783741278419.
^Weinländer, Markus. (2017) Industrielle Kommunikation: Basistechnologie für die Digitalisierung der Industrie. Beuth Verlag. pp. 56. ISBN978-3-410-26857-4.
^Schmalz, Kurt; Winter, Albrecht. (2016) “Trends in Vacuum Technology and Pneumatics in the Context of Digitalization”. qucosa.de. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
^Williamson, Jonny. (2017) “Mindsphere: the next step in digital factories”. themanufacturer.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
^Dillon, Stuart; Schönthaler, Frank; Vossen, Gottfried. (2017) The Web at Graduation and Beyond: Business Impacts and Developments. Springer Verlag. p. 266. ISBN978-3-319-60160-1