in cooperation with

Asset Administration Shell

Reading Guide (as of January 2022)

Dr. Jörg Neidig (Siemens AG), Andreas Orzelski (Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG), Stefan Pollmeier
(ESR Pollmeier GmbH)

The interaction with the AAS can follow different patterns which
Aim of this document
have different technical requirements, i.e. file exchange,
Over the course of the last years the Plattform Industrie 4.0
server-client and peer-to-peer interaction (Figure 1).
and related organizations have published numerous papers
concerning the Asset Administration Shell. This document
acts as a guide by recommending selected „must-read” Recommended documents
documents for different reader groups and will be updated For this reading guide the documents have been sorted by
regularly. interest groups rather than topics. In some cases, only
specific pages or sections are recommended reading
material.
Goals of Industrie 4.0
Industrie 4.0 (I4.0) refers to the intelligent networking of
machines and processes for industry with the help of  Where to start: If you have never heard of the AAS
information and communication technology. Today’s rigid and  For the generally interested reader: If you want to
strictly defined value chains are replaced by flexible, highly learn more about the subject
dynamic and globally connected value networks with new
forms of cooperation. The Asset Administration Shell helps  For decision makers: If you are interested in the
implementing digital twins for I4.0 and creating business side of I4.0
interoperability across the solutions of different suppliers.  For software developers and architects: If you want to
know how to create software for the AAS
Asset Administration Shell in a nutshell  For users of the AAS and domain experts: If you are
The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is the digital interested in using the AAS for specific tasks
representation of an asset. The AAS consists of a number of
 Security and AI: If you want to deep dive into these
submodels in which all the information and functionalities of
a given asset – including its features, characteristics, special topics.
properties, statuses, parameters, measurement data and
capabilities – can be described. It allows for the use of
different communication channels and applications and
serves as the link between objects and the connected, digital
and distributed world.

The structure of the AAS is defined via a technology

independent metamodel and several technology specific
serialization mappings such as XML, JSON or OPC UA. Its
contents are defined via domain-specific submodel
templates.

Figure 1: AAS interaction patterns

Asset Administration Shell Reading Guide
(as of January 2022) in cooperation with

Where to start
When completely new to the topic of I4.0 and the AAS we
highly recommend visiting the website of the Plattform
Industrie 4.0 [1]. Then start with the Two-Pager [2] and the
presentation slides [3]. The first few slides of the Presentation
[4] cover general AAS topics, later slides introduce some
advanced topics. All these should provide a brief and quick
introduction into the topic in general. For a deep dive [5] gives
a comprehensive overview of recent and current activities of
the Plattform I4.0.

For the generally interested reader

The most extensive introduction into I4.0 can be found in the
book [6]. The introduction and the chapters on how to
transport semantic information are insightful, but the more
technical sections are partially outdated. [7] gives a
condensed overview of the concepts and serves in many
ways as a leading picture. It also outlines how existing and
future standards shall be brought into alignment to these
concepts. [9] is recommended, because it covers all major
aspects of I4.0 (including finding use cases, creating
semantic models, and operation) by using a drive as an
example. The described concepts can easily be transferred
to sensors and actors in general.
For users of the AAS and domain experts
For decision makers If you are interested in using or creating AAS we recommend
[8] answers why semantic interoperability will become crucial to start by looking into the software tool AASX package
for future manufacturing. [10] includes a detailed list of explorer (see below) and the screencasts at http://admin-
technical criteria that need to be fulfilled for an I4.0 shell-io.com/screencasts/. The first submodel templates have
component. It also includes a technology roadmap and lists been released e.g. “Digital Nameplate”, “Technical Data”. A
several examples of commercially available products that current list of templates is available on the websites of
fulfill these criteria. [11] provides companies with support in Plattform Industrie 4.0 and IDTA. [11] and [15] might also be
determining how their own data organization can be revised of interest. [14] shows best practice patterns for the
and gives step by step realization guidelines. implementation of AAS. It provides practical guidance on how
to model the AAS (including AAS for assets composed of
For software developers and architects multiple assets) and how to use it in applications. [16] gives
an introduction and example on how to model an asset using
The most important documents are [12] and [13]. Part 1 of the
standardized properties, however some technical details
Series “Asset Administration Shell in Detail” covers the AAS
might be outdated.
meta model and its technology specific serializations,
whereas Part 2 focuses on the concept and realization of the
AAS API. For implementations the open source projects on Security and AI
https://github.com/admin-shell-io and others (see below) are Although it does not deal specifically with the AAS, [15]
highly recommended. As an overview [8] describes the highlights requirements for the secure use of OPC UA for
different shapes of the AAS from a technical perspective communication in I4.0 scenarios and presents
including security. implementation options. [17] describes requirements and
implementations of a secure communication in the
engineering process.
Asset Administration Shell Reading Guide
(as of January 2022) in cooperation with

[18] explains different secure data access architectures and The site also includes the AASX-server as code, binaries or
looks at questions regarding at implementation and pre-built docker images making AASX packages accessible
applicability. [19] focusses on the application of AI in industrial via REST, OPC UA and MQTT, a highly recommended FAQ
production and analyses different use cases for potential with best practices (https://github.com/admin-shell-
impact and questions. [22] discusses the means of capability io/questions-and-answers/) and further resources.
and skill to provide standardized information about an assets
functionality. BaSyx (https://bit.ly/3mNRe85) provides various modules to
cover a broad scope of I4.0 (including AAS). Hence its
Tools, examples and prototypes substantially more complex architecture. PyI40AAS
The website https://github.com/admin-shell-io contains the (https://bit.ly/307hPmJ) is a Python module for manipulating
latest version of the AASX package explorer, which can be and validating AAS. On http://www.i40-aas.de/ one can
used to create, edit and view AAS file serializations (*.aasx). access numerous AAS examples of different vendors based
on the use case of a digital nameplate.

References
[12] „Details of the Asset Administration Shell, Part 1”,
[1] „What is Industrie 4.0?”: https://bit.ly/3kaRz2N.
11/2020: https://bit.ly/3phSUYB.
[2] „The Asset Administration Shell: Implementing digital
[13] „Details of the Asset Administration Shell, Part 2”,
twins for use in Industrie 4.0, A starter kit for
11/2021: https://bit.ly/3phSUYB.
developers”, 12/2019: https://bit.ly/3kZZSPl.
[14] „AAS Reference Modelling”, 12/2021:
[3] „The digital twin in Industrie 4.0 - A short introduction to
https://bit.ly/3qAm4U3.
properties, submodels & Asset Administration Shells
(AAS)”, 05/2021: https://bit.ly/32FVdOf [15] „Secure Implementation of OPC UA for operators,
integrators and manufacturers”, 04/2018:
[4] „Details of the Administration Shell - from idea to
https://bit.ly/3kZm2kJ.
implementation”, 07/2019: https://bit.ly/2H8c2Hn.
[16] „Examples of the Asset Administration Shell for Industrie
[5] „Fortschrittsbericht 2021. Industrie 4.0 gestalten. Wenn
4.0 Components”, 04/2017: https://bit.ly/2Ti9tVC.
Vision Realität wird (English version pending)“, 0/2021:
https://bit.ly/3HnvF7s. [17] „Secure Download Service”, 10/2020:
https://bit.ly/3cPSq6A
[6] The Reference Architecture Model RAMI 4.0 and the
Industrie 4.0 component, ISBN: 978-3-8007-4990-4, [18] „Access control for Industrie 4.0 components for
2018. application by manufacturers, operators and integrators”,
12/2018: https://bit.ly/37qAJJQ.
[7] „Structure of the Administration Shell”, 04/2018:
https://bit.ly/34jbHdo. [19] „AI Application Guide“, 09/2020: https://bit.ly/3KbCIT4.
[8] „What is the Asset Administration Shell from a technical [20] „German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0”,
perspective?” 04/2021: https://bit.ly/3d0kvbw 03/2020: https://bit.ly/3dKrRQj.
[9] „Drive 4.0 - Vision becomes Reality”, 04/2018: [21] „Digital business models for Industrie 4.0”, 02/2019:
https://bit.ly/388ST35. https://bit.ly/2FOroA6.
[10] „Which criteria do Industrie 4.0 products need to [22] „Describing Capabilities of Industrie 4.0
fulfil?”, 12/2020: https://bit.ly/2Tdti0d. Components”, 12/2020: https://bit.ly/3tK1Uao
[11] „Interoperability by standardized properties”, 08/2019:
(available upon request) https://bit.ly/3oVQpLh.

Contact: Office of Plattform Industrie 4.0 | [email protected] | www.plattform-i40.de

Illustrations: Page 1: Plattform Industrie 4.0, Page 2: Plattform Industrie 4.0 / Anna Salari, designed by freepik