Cyber-Physical Systems as Key Element to Industry 4.0: Characteristics, Applications and Related Technologies

Abstract This paper aims to review the state-of-the-art in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) as a key element to Industry 4.0 and to provide engineering managers with adequate and sufficient knowledge about CPS, highlighting their characteristics, technologies, capabilities, and applications. A three-stage research method was applied to provide an extensive search and systematic literature review (SLR). We identified, selected, and reviewed 218 publications. The convergences in specific areas in which studies are still needed were detailed. We identified 5 characteristics, 7 capabilities, 17 related technologies, and 11 areas of application. Four application areas remain as an opportunity to be explored in future research, such as environmental sustainability; smart and precision agriculture; smart construction, and social sciences. This article is the first to present a wide-ranging review of CPS and bringing together a significant number of publications. Its originality is focused on detailing and analyzing CPS characteristics, technologies, and multidisciplinary applications allowing engineering professionals and managers to identify which technologies a manufacturing equipment should integrate, as well as the level of development of each of them to achieve its full operation in Industry 4.0 environment. The main limitation of this work is the fact that new features, applications, and technologies will certainly appear soon.