A rainy Friday in May was the starting point for interesting insights and good discussions in Stuttgart. A delegation with a focus on IoT technology was visiting Europe. The delegation was in Stuttgart on Friday, May 17.
The delegation, consisting of representatives of the Wuxi High-Tech Zone, representatives of the IoT Zone and representatives of relevant companies in the technology field, were interested in exchanging ideas with companies on the one hand and gaining impetus from research at the Fraunhofer IAO on the other.
In close coordination with the delegation trip organization, we managed to arrange an interesting and diversified program.
First of all, we presented three exciting projects to the participants at ARENA2036. ARENA2036 is the research factory in the metropolitan area of Stuttgart, where the automotive production of the future is being researched and shaped. In addition to funding from the public sector, many companies are also involved here. So we had three presentations
- Matthias Lueck – Fraunhofer IAO – Project lead of the project Connect4HCA
He presented the "Connect4HCA" project, which aims to suggest optimizations at an early stage based on sensor data. In addition, the tools are controlled accordingly. The aim is to increasingly combine human knowledge and experience with data-driven content in order to achieve good quality more efficiently - Ilya Kozlov – NAiSE – Product manager
He presented the software from the company NAiSE, which aims to standardize all different types of AGVs (automated guided vehicles) through data interfaces. This should enable users of the software to manage and control different automated guided vehicles in use via one platform. This allows route trains to be created, collisions with each other and other entities to be prevented and capacity utilization to be maximized. - Dr. Daniel Ewert – Robert Bosch GmbH – Projekt lead at Corporate Research
Under his leadership, various scientists are working on innovations for the production of the future. Of particular note here is the "interactive factory floor", which is currently under development. The aim is for the floor to communicate with objects and people in order to work more effectively and safely and to be able to handle logistical processes. Processes on the store floor are analyzed and evaluated in real time and impulses for improvement are identified.
After the inspiring impulses in the ARENA2036, the delegation had to pass through the rain - it was really raining - to get to the Fraunhofer campus. Next on the agenda was a visit to two labs and an exchange with the avatar of "Joseph von Fraunhofer". The exciting labs were:
Nikolas Zimmermann – Head of Digital Engineering
He presented the Digital Engineering Lab . In the Living Lab for Innovative Digital Process Design for Product Realization, he outlined the topics of the projects in the lab. He then showed two specific examples of how the Fraunhofer IAO can support companies - a demonstrator of a digital twin and a tool for establishing synergy measures by several companies.
Benjamin Schneider – Project lead for the light house project in the area »Advanced Systems Engineering«
Under his guidance, the delegation was able to Cognitive Engineering and Production Lab and experience new technological and methodological developments first-hand at the Fraunhofer IAO. The objective here is to enable direct communication from product development with customers and then directly with production planning, thus ensuring fast and effective processes. In addition, the CoLEDWall is unique and a new development of the Fraunhofer IAO, in which two perspectives can be taken simultaneously and the images are optimized for both views.
After a refreshing lunch break with typical Swabian dishes such as Gaisburger Marsch, a seminar on research content at the Fraunhofer IAO took place. Keynote speeches were given by
- Nikolas Zimmermann – Intro Fraunhofer
He presented the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. He gave an insight into how projects are carried out, how the institutes are financed and what the concepts for success are. - Nikolas Zimmermann – Smart Manufacturing
In his presentation, he delved deeper into the concept of the digital twin, which can form the basis for playing out various digital services. The data can be used to optimize production and maintenance. The sustainability of the product can also be evaluated. - Thomas Komeda – Data ecosystems in GAIA-X
As external presenter of the company DeltaDAO took he the participants on a journey into the GAIA-X data ecosystem and how data and functions can be used as small digital services in the future in order to be more effective and faster. In this context, DeltaDAO provides data rooms to host digital services and make them accessible to users. - Thomas Meiren – Smart Service
In a world with a high share of services, the development of smart services is becoming increasingly important. He presented how the Fraunhofer IAO supports companies in identifying and developing the appropriate services and launching them on the market. He also discussed success factors for digital services. - Yannick Hofmann – Smart City
Data is not only becoming increasingly important for companies. In urban ecosystems, too, it is becoming increasingly important to evaluate data and use the resulting findings to make decisions. In his presentation, he showed which mechanisms are advantageous here. Aspects such as traffic concepts and the use of less frequented zones to increase the quality of life and stay as well as the effective use of space in the city are certainly an exciting use case.