COPA-DATA Connector

Introduction

zenon is a software platform developed by COPA-DATA, primarily used in the field of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), human-machine interface (HMI), Process Orchestration (MTP POL) and historian systems.

zenon offers a comprehensive set of tools for visualization, process control, and data acquisition in industrial environments. It allows users to monitor and control various processes and machinery in real-time, providing insights into production processes, energy management, and quality control.

FrontWell Solutions has created a connector and a Tulip app to showcase the integration between zenon and Tulip. In the present document we will walk you through a generally applicable yet simplified process of bi-directional data exchange between a manufacturing system (Tulip) and an industrial automation system (COPA-DATA zenon).

Connecting Tulip with COPA-DATA zenon via REST API presents numerous advantages and can effectively address diverse customer use cases within the manufacturing sector. Below is a customer-centric illustration emphasizing the benefits derived from this integration.

In case you need assistance in realizing more complex interfacing scenarios please feel free to contact us.

Network Considerations

In case COPA-DATA zenon is hosted or reachable from the public cloud no tulip-specific networking setup is necessary.

In case COPA-DATA zenon is hosted on-premises appropriate access has to be set up for the Tulip to communicate through the local host (e. g. firewall rules adjustment -> “whitelisting” of Tulip’s IP) or respective Connector Host setup (Link: https://support.tulip.co/docs/introduction-to-tulip-connector-hosts). A Oauth 2.0 token needs to be generated by Tulip.

COPA-DATA zenon Configuration

Prerequisites:

zenon IIoT Services must be installed and licensed in zenon software platform in order to enable IIoT API (REST interface).
Minimum zenon version supported is v.12

Configuration:

IIoT Services must be configured in zenon engineering studio.
Access from external APP (Tulip) needs to be configured in zenon IIoT Service Configuration Studio.

The API was built by using Swagger, and there is a detailed and interactive documentation of the API’s structure. This open API documentation is available on request and it can be very helpful in building new connectors.

zenon IIoT API needs Token authentication.

By using IIoT API, it is possible to:

• Reading real time process variables from zenon:
• Writing process variables to zenon
• Querying real time and historical Alarms
• Querying Audit Trails
• Querying Time Series Data.

REST API calls parametrization must consider the zenon project resources like, Project ID, Variables Names, Alarms group/class, Archives name, etc.

For more information about zenon IIoT API, please refer to COPA-DATA online help. A zenon engineer should provide project information in order to correctly call IIoT API from 3rd part APP.

For more information about the zenon software platform configuration and features, please refer to the COPA-DATA online help or access the COPA-DATA Academy.

Tulip Configuration

Access the Connectors menu in Tulip and click on the TULIP Copa Data Connector configuration.

Set the "Running on" field to “Cloud Connector Host” (depending on your connector host setup: https://support.tulip.co/docs/introduction-to-tulip-connector-hosts) choosing from the drop-down list.

Set the Host to the IP of your COPA-DATA zenon X

Set the Port to "9400" as indicated in the COPA-DATA zenon documentation.

Subsequently the connection should be tested and assured that it is functional.

Connector Function

The present connector is using the REST API and its standard functions GET, PUT, POST and DELETE.

The following automation related generic interactions have been implemented in this Connector. In real-life scenarios usually more complex interactions could be required that can be achieved by extending the present connector and its functions. In case you need assistance in realizing the more complex scenarios please feel free to contact us.

Filling & Packaging Function

According to the common scenario the manufacturing system is the master for the Work Order (WO) management. In case of a complex automation (e.g. SCADA or DCS/PCS) the manufacturing system usually triggers the WO start and releases the batch after completion of the WO.

After the starting the WO execution, the operator tracks the status of the production in Tulip through a dashboard that receives real-time data from the CopaData zZenon. This assures that the operator continuously has an overview on the production process relevant data e.g. Machine Status, Machine Speed, Lot Status and also the list of Critical Alarms with description and timestamp.

After the equipment finishes the execution of the WO, the operator reviews the production data and the alarms and signs for completion in Tulip, also having the option to add comments.