Big Data in Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

A cyber physical system (CPS) is a complex system that integrates computation, communication, and physical processes. Digital manufacturing is a method of using computers and related technologies to control an entire production process. Industry 4.0 can make manufacturing more efficient, flexible, and sustainable through communication and intelligence; therefore, it can increase the competitiveness. Key technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, 3D printing, and Big Data have great impacts on Industry 4.0. Big Data analytics is very important for cyber-physical systems (CPSs), digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0. This paper introduces technology progresses in CPS, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0. Some challenges and future research topics in these areas are also presented.