A Glimpse at Circular TwAIn’s Industrial Data Space for the Circular Manufacturing Chain
CircularTwAIn is developing a data space for the trusted sharing and use of product and material information across circular actors. The CircularTwAIn data space is currently implemented in line with the Minimum Viable Data Space (MVDS) concept of the Industrial Spaces Association (IDSA). The MVDS specifies the minimum set of essential components that are required to provide a functional version of a data space that can support secure and sovereign data exchange. In the scope of the project, the MVDS is implemented by extended open-source components that are provided by the International Data Spaces (IDS) and the Eclipse Dataspace Components (EDC).
Modelling Data in the Circular TwAIn Data Space
Two different types of data specifications and file formats are used for static data sharing within the CircularTwAIn DS:
Data specifications of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) are used for modelling data within each participant of the circular chain.
Data specifications of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for the Industry 4.0 initiative are used for modelling data that are exchanged across participants of the circular chain.
Our intention is to combine and benefit from two relevant standards, namely the digital nameplate (DNP4.0) (IEC 61406) and the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) (IEC 63278). This will enable the use of the standardised AAS model and its sub-models to represent the product-relevant data and the standardised AAS API (Application Programming Interface) for providing and/or consuming the data.
AAS files are related to the manufacturing (or de-manufacturing) process and the product and materials information, while DPP4.0 compliant models will be used to share this information through the data space.
Some of the DPP/DPP4.0 attributes and information that are destined to be implemented and exchanged through the project’s data space, including Circular Economy Metrics (e.g., product recyclability, environmental impact of materials), Supply Chain Transparency information (e.g., source of materials, transportation details), Consumer Engagement information (e.g., QR codes or RFID tags on products), End-of-Life information (e.g., information about recycling, repurposing, disposal), along with information about the confidentiality of the DPP data, the management of IP (Intellectual Property) related information, and regulatory compliance information (e.g., data sharing standards and constraints).
Use Case Specific Modelling: A Batteries Example
The specific data attributes and information to be shared will also depend on the requirements of the various use cases of the project. As a prominent example, to support the batteries pilot of the project, the following information will be exchanged through the data space:
Material sourcing.
Carbon footprint.
Percentages of recycled materials used.
Battery durability.
Repurposing and recycling guidelines.
This information is in line with the European Batteries Regulation, which will come into force in 2026. According to the regulation, every industrial and electric vehicle battery must come with a DPP, including the above-listed information that is essential for supporting safety requirements and providing information about recycled content in batteries.
The implementation of DPP4.0 for batteries within a data space can provide access to valuable information, enabling various value-added services. The DPP allows standardised APIs and accurate data semantics, facilitating scalable services for batteries. A list of services that can be derived and implemented based on this approach include:
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The DPP can calculate the carbon footprint of batteries by considering their bill of materials and individual component life cycles. This service can offer rapid feedback to developers during product design, aiding in the selection of sustainable battery options for comparable assemblies.
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Manufacturers can offer detailed product data beyond legal requirements, including additional information on primary battery components.
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Consumers and users can visualise DPP4.0 contents in a user-friendly manner towards enhancing transparency and understanding. This can positively influence behaviour when purchasing or recycling products (e.g., batteries).
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The DPP can ease the addition of the battery bill of materials and documentation of component changes. Engineering, production, or service employees can keep the DPP up to date throughout the battery's lifetime. Furthermore, component removal information can also highlight recycling or repair possibilities.
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DPP4.0 decentralised or centralised repository service enables providers to store and share battery product data in a decentralised or centralised manner in line with the implementation of the data space infrastructure used.
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The integration between DPP and AAS allows the inclusion of sub-models for disassembly, service notifications, or spare part services. Considering the entire battery lifecycle (cradle-to-grave), Industrial IoT data can be used for monitoring or anomaly detection services. Additional value-added services can also be implemented based on the integration and use of machine learning over the available data. For instance, end-of-life prediction and analysis services could be implemented.
Digital Twin Integration
The Circular TwAIn data space will be integrated with Digital Twins systems, which specify the internal formats used by data space participants to share information and perform internal optimisation operations. For instance, they enable circular chain participants to perform internal operations like asset optimisation, process optimisation, product and materials tracking, and sustainability assessments.
Overall, Circular TwAIn is developing a novel data space for the trusted and efficient sharing of information across different actors of the circular manufacturing chain. The data space leverages standards-based approaches to modelling data, leveraging and combining models from the AAS and DPP4.0 initiatives.
More information about the project’s technical approach is currently available within the project’s deliverables.
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Written by: John Soldatos & Nikos Kefalakis, INTRASOFT
