Embracing Industry 4.0 paradigms for digital transformation at the Gran Telescopio Canarias

The 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias or GTC currently stands as the world's largest infrared optical telescope, notable for its considerable scale and intricate operational complexities. It is operated by the Spanish state-owned company GRANTECAN S.A. The telescope aligns with prevailing trends in industry, emphasizing smart factory strategies rooted in Industry 4.0, with a recent pivot towards human-centric human-machine interaction (Industry 5.0). The initial focus was identified in refining connectivity and defining the typology of sensors for optimizing operations. This led to the implementation of an Industrial Internet of Things or IoT middleware, grounded in Fiware3. The incorporation of smart sensors, leveraging links and protocols like LoRaWAN, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, has been streamlined through MQTT connectivity while the integration of AI, edge computing, confined space control, flow management, electric vehicle charging, and photovoltaics represents a multifaceted technological augmentation. Looking ahead, the primary challenges lie in bolstering cybersecurity (Operations Technology or OT), achieving seamless integration with Business Process Management (BPM), advancing data analytics capabilities, standardizing prescriptive maintenance protocols, and refining logistics processes. It is now possible to obtain data and information in a flexible way from the systems, and they can interact with each other. The connection to higher decision layers and cost savings is now also an opportunity, together with the ease of deployment made possible by the system's scalability. This has allowed a real and tangible focus on anticipating action on maintenance and operations, rather than reacting to problems encountered, among other opportunities.