# PROSIM in the Cloud: Remote Automation Training Platform with Virtualized Infrastructure
## 6 Conclusions and Development Perspectives  
The article presented and end-to-end solution for cloud-based, virtualized, remote industrial automation training platform that leverages the HUBCAP sandboxing environment for deployment and collaboration. The solution leverages several phases of development for an industrial process simulator whereby new Industry 4.0 technologies are integrated. Standardized industrial communication is an essential instrument that enables a scalable and replicable solution, which in our case is represented by OPC-UA integration. The main advances that allowed the virtualization of the developed PROSIM industrial process simulation into a cloud-enabled solution include:  
* New simulations for the process industry including pumping systems, heat exchanger and smart metering applications that embed both the backend functionality with OPC-UA client libraries and the frontend user interface; a modelling stage using has been carried out for a proper MBD methodology;  
Figure 12: PROSIM PLC remote training and automation solution running in the cloud through a HUBCAP sandboxing environment VM. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**SBOX\_ASSET** & **CPU\_sec** & **RAM\_gb** & **Cores** & **NET\_IO\_kb** & **DSK\_RW\_mb** \\ \hline Shared\_Storage & 189 & 1 & 1 & 390,069 & 1241 \\ \hline PRO-CPS & 27,356 & 8 & 4 & 27,352 & 6462 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Simulation VM metrics. * Virtual PLC controller running in the background of the host machine; this leverages existing automation services and includes the control logic for each of the simulated processes as well as supporting the local OPC-UA server functionality;
* Deployment of the cloud tool in the HUBCAP sandboxing platform through provisioning and configuration of a dedicated virtual machine with required dependencies; dynamic adjustment of the available VM resources ensures the scalability of the training solution through multiple simulations in a single VM or multiple VMs running in parallel on the platform to assure concurrent access to the software. Several key lessons learned over the development of the fourth, cloud-based, PROSIM solution are highlighted. The need for a robust cloud platform that provides ease-of-use to a heterogenous audience, composed of students, technicians and engineers, is considered highly important. Challenges in the access and performance of the virtualized environment can discourage the student and distract them from the key concepts and practical skills that should be the focus of the training. With regard to the development of new process simulations that can run in the cloud, these should aim for a suitable balance between realistic models of industrial automation applications, covering electrical diagrams, control narratives and i/o lists, as well as rich visual feedback through quality diagrams, objects and animations. Finally, the simulation solution for automation and PLC training should constantly be improved to keep up with the pace and anticipate the development of new industrial technologies--sensors, controllers, communication protocols and software components--while maintaining support for existing and legacy technologies to account for the extended upgrade cycles of industrial automation applications. The current limitations of this work are mainly related to the integration of open application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow interaction with external systems and real laboratory equipment. This could improve the applicability of the solution to a wider range of training scenarios. Validation of the system with end users in professional training courses is foreseen which will lead to continuous improvement. This can be best achieved in hybrid mode, where the trainees gather experience working on the virtual system under professional guidance, followed by hands-on laboratory sessions on the real equipment.