We have been deeply committed to research and development for years, particularly in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and software-defined manufacturing (SDM). Through active collaboration with various institutions, such as the Fraunhofer Institutes, institutes at the University of Stuttgart, and numerous other partners, we develop innovative solutions for networking and digitizing industrial processes in joint research projects. One successful result of our research projects is the CloudPlug Edge.
We collaborate research institutions to bridge the gap between research and practical application. Our projects deliver solutions for the industry and foster exchange of knowledge with researchers.
Our involvement in research projects allows us to stay at the forefront of technology and expand our expertise. This enables us to effectively shape the digital transformation of industrial processes.
As an industrial partner, we guide the research projects towards critical questions related to current challenges and help address them with new ideas and solutions.
The RoX research project is creating a digital ecosystem for AI-based robotics. This ecosystem will offer scalable and innovative solutions that facilitate the practical application of AI robots.
Our contribution primarily involves our expertise in the Cloud/Edge. In sub-projects, we are establishing the connection to the cloud and developing crucial interfaces in the field of robotics. In the area of AI, we are driving forward reliable visual quality control that can be seamlessly integrated into the new ecosystem.
GUmProDig – Ganzheitliche Umform-Prozess-Digitalisierung – is a research project in which Fraunhofer IPM, together with partners like us, is developing a system for geometric inspection of formed parts in lightweight construction. This system aims to enable energy-efficient production with quality monitoring and component tracking, thus contributing to CO₂ savings.
We contribute by extending the system to surface defect detection. Leveraging Google Cloud and Vertex AI, we utilize a separate, generative AI model to create reference images, which are then used to train the quality control model.
Within the project SDM4FZI – Software-Defined Manufacturing in der FahrZeugIndustrie – partners are working on the foundations for adaptive digital production where IT and OT converge. The goal is to make production more flexible and efficient. Software will play a central role in controlling and adapting manufacturing processes.
Specifically, we are investigating the possibilities offered by technologies from the fields of IIoT, Edge and Cloud computing, and demonstrating the resulting flexible linking of hardware and software for digital control processes.
The FabOS research project created a production “operating system” that simplifies machine-to-IT connectivity and enables plug-and-play integration, facilitating data-driven control and machine learning in manufacturing.
We developed and demonstrated AI-powered solutions for industrial automation, such as the “Cognitive Camera” module integrated into the “Smarter Workpieces Carrier” at Hannover Fair (HMI). Additionally, we integrated components of the FabOS ecosystem in the areas of monitoring, Asset Administration Shell, and service lifecycle management.
Together with our project partners, we want to counteract increasing complexity in the networking of smart services with the hardware and software from industrial production. Key to this integration are established cloud computing technologies. They form a communication layer between the various subsystems and should offer a high level of user-friendliness in addition to industrial requirements.
Our contribution involved implementing and demonstrating the developed concept between machine and software services based on ZeroMQ technology.
In this project, partners developed an intelligent service system (iSrv) that uses machine and operational data to proactively detect and address production errors. The goal was to reduce downtime and increase efficiency by enabling SMEs to utilize proactive maintenance, even without specialized expertise..
We contributed by developing Data Analytics and Machine Learning (ML) services for production, which are demonstrated and evaluated as part of demonstrators at the industrial application partners’ sites.
The MultiCloud project developed a cloud-based platform enabling businesses to easily collect data from various sources, such as production or quality control, and process it with different services. The platform supports multiple cloud providers for flexible and customized solutions.
Our contribution was the development of a solution using multi-cloud connectors & services that simplifies the use of applications across different cloud platforms.
PLC in the cloud – how should that be possible? We addressed this question in the pICASSO research project. In addition to topics such as safety, security and deterministic behavior. The main goal was to separate automation technology from the control program in order to make information processing in the field more flexible.
Our contribution was the development of a concept for machine control from the cloud.
The Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW) at the University of Stuttgart is one of the leading research centers in the field of control engineering. From planning to manufacturing, from idea to product: ISW conducts interdisciplinary research on technologies for the production and automation of tomorrow.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation was founded in 1959 and deals with organizational and technological tasks from production to research and development topics. Fraunhofer develops, tests, and implements new methods and technologies for production – from individual components to complete machines.
