Unlocking the Future of Industrial Automation
ADI + Siemens Integrated OPA Testbed at MxD
Demonstrating real-world, multi-vendor interoperability in a live industrial environment.
Open. Interoperable. Intelligent.
The Integrated Open Process Automation (OPA) Testbed is an innovative automation ecosystem developed through a partnership between ADI, Siemens, the University of Michigan, and MxD. The testbed leverages real-time communication between disparate software platforms, distributed control, and adaptive machine learning models to bring the vision of software-defined manufacturing to life.
What the Testbed Demonstrates
The Integrated OPA Testbed brings to life a modern digital engineering environment for manufacturing. It demonstrates how open, standards-aligned systems can deliver real-time performance, vendor-neutral interoperability, and AI-powered analytics through:
- Real-time OPC UA messaging between Siemens and ADI control nodes
- Distributed control and edge computing with integrated diagnostics
- Digital twin-driven anomaly detection and predictive fault monitoring
- Semi-autonomous model retraining with live operational data
- Scalable, secure architecture bridging local and cloud-based systems
This testbed is not a lab simulation—it’s a working implementation of digital engineering principles. It shows how engineering teams can unify control, sensing, and computing equipment to increase reliability, reduce downtime, and accelerate decision-making across the full product lifecycle.
Why It Matters
Legacy manufacturing systems are often limited by rigid control architectures, vendor lock-in, and underutilized data. The OPA Testbed removes these constraints to unlock advanced smart manufacturing capabilities. Built on OPA principles, it unites ADI’s ADEPT platform and Siemens’ PCS neo through real-time OPC UA communications. This enables AI-based anomaly detection and fault prediction functions that provide novel insights into process and equipment health.
Built for the Factory of the Future
Whether you’re a plant manager, CTO, systems integrator, or defense supplier, the OPA Testbed serves as a reference implementation for modern, data-driven manufacturing. It demonstrates how digital engineering principles can be applied today to build smarter, more resilient industrial systems.
This testbed demonstrates:
- A flexible control and communication architecture that supports future updates and enhancements
- Digital twins and machine learning models that provide real-time diagnostic and predictive insights, maximizing the value of untapped operational data
- Improved uptime, safety, and operational agility with closed-loop intelligence and flexible system architecture
- Reduced vendor dependency and tech stack rigidity, accelerating innovation and adaptability
This is not theoretical, it’s live and operational on MxD’s factory floor in Chicago.
Explore the Tech
Key Features:
- Purpose-built digital twins for anomaly detection and fault prediction, powered by machine learning models trained on real process data
- Bi-directional data communication and distributed control via Siemens PCS neo + ADI’s ADEPT framework
- Real-time process monitoring and system health dashboards
- Live data visualizations and adaptive model retraining
- Open, secure, and cloud-compatible architecture built for scale
This testbed is not only a technical breakthrough, but also a playbook for manufacturers who want to stay competitive, resilient, and ready for what’s next.
