Digital Twins & ZeroConf AI: Structuring Automated Intelligent Pipelines for Industrial Applications

๐Ÿ“… 2025-10-05
๐Ÿ›๏ธ IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics
๐Ÿ“ˆ Citations: 0
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๐Ÿค– AI Summary
This work addresses the challenges of efficiently deploying and reusing AI/ML solutions in industrial cyber-physical systems, which are hindered by heterogeneous protocols, data formats, and devices. To overcome these limitations, the authors propose a modular and interoperable architecture based on digital twins, introducing the novel concept of a โ€œzero-configuration AI pipeline.โ€ In this framework, the digital twin serves as an intelligent orchestrator that integrates semantic data modeling with modular machine learning, enabling decoupling and automated integration of AI components with physical systems. The approach supports dynamic deployment of AI functionalities, concurrent execution of multiple models, and cross-platform reuse. Experimental validation in a MicroFactory scenario demonstrates that the proposed solution significantly enhances the deployment efficiency and flexibility of intelligent services in complex industrial environments.

Technology Category

Application Category

๐Ÿ“ Abstract
The increasing complexity of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), particularly in the industrial domain, has amplified the challenges associated with the effective integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Fragmentation across IoT and IIoT technologies, manifested through diverse communication protocols, data formats and device capabilities, creates a substantial gap between low-level physical layers and high-level intelligent functionalities. Recently, Digital Twin (DT) technology has emerged as a promising solution, offering structured, interoperable and semantically rich digital representations of physical assets. Current approaches are often siloed and tightly coupled, limiting scalability and reuse of AI functionalities. This work proposes a modular and interoperable solution that enables seamless AI pipeline integration into CPS by minimizing configuration and decoupling the roles of DTs and AI components. We introduce the concept of Zero Configuration (ZeroConf) AI pipelines, where DTs orchestrate data management and intelligent augmentation. The approach is demonstrated in a MicroFactory scenario, showing support for concurrent ML models and dynamic data processing, effectively accelerating the deployment of intelligent services in complex industrial settings.
Problem

Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.

Cyber-Physical Systems
Digital Twin
AI integration
Industrial IoT
Interoperability
Innovation

Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.

Digital Twin
Zero Configuration AI
Interoperable AI Pipelines
Cyber-Physical Systems
Industrial AI
Marco Picone
Marco Picone
ISPRA Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale - Universitร  Roma Tre
Environmental EngineeringEnvironmental Statistics
F
Fabio Turazza
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering (DISMI), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, Pad. Morselli, Reggio Emilia, Italy
M
Matteo Martinelli
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering (DISMI), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, Pad. Morselli, Reggio Emilia, Italy
Marco Mamei
Marco Mamei
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Pervasive ComputingGeo-localized data analysis