Architecture of Integrated Systems for Modern Industries

The rapid emergence and adoption of the Internet of Things, Edge Computing, Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchains, 5G Telecommunications, Quantum Computing, such as yet other radically new technology trends manifesting their effectiveness and potential to disrupt traditional approaches, is gradually reshaping the fabric of modern industries all over the globe. All these advancements are enabling the development of tailored systems fulfilling specific requirements, whether in manufacturing or energy, transportation or healthcare, environment or safety, security or finance or any other sector. The gradual implementation of such tailored systems constitutes what many refer to as the Industry 4.0 revolution paradigm shift. These trends and developments are presenting novel opportunities yet also introducing unprecedented challenges when it comes to implementing integrated systems that allow diverse technologies, plants, and services to work cohesively and appear as a single powerful facility to customers, for example.

To serve specialized, niche purposes yet work collectively as a more complex Super-System in a decentralized manner whenever possible, the industry-focused systems are best understood as a specific instance of What System of Systems encompass: a collection of independent and using different styles in terms of technology, infrastructure, and system integration approach to fulfil dedicated function(s) that can combine efforts at certain times yet also be utilized separately, when needed, in a truly scalable and flexible way. As such, the more special cases of theme-based industries represent then a resolution to the two-size-fit-all dilemma by allowing the deployment of specialized systems tailored for niche areas while also providing integration patterns that permit combining resources across the broader landscape when needed.