Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

Digital networking of machines and systems offers enormous opportunities to make production chains more efficient, flexible and sustainable. However, small and medium-sized manufacturing companies are uncertain about which specific information technology solutions are suitable for their production environment and what benefits they actually obtain. The "International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production ICNAP", a consortium of three Fraunhofer Institutes in Aachen, is now providing a digital service portal for interested companies, offering them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the benefits of a digital toolbox for networked, adaptive production. As of now, services such as an NC data analysis or an assistance system for the targeted selection of machine learning algorithms can be tested free of charge.

For several years now, 5G has promised to improve production by enabling the monitoring of process flows or, for example, the control of mobile robots in real time. There are numerous companies with an interest in 5G, but many lack the know-how and resources to take the first steps. The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen has therefore designed a "5G Portfolio", an offering that supports companies on their journey to 5G production, created with Ericsson’s Private 5G network solution. The 5G portfolio ranges from evaluation and testing of various use cases, to in-house network planning and installation. Companies also can test a mobile 5G test system on their own shop floors. The system is provided to the Fraunhofer IPT by Ericsson. This is particularly attractive for small and medium-sized companies, where the initial costs represent a hurdle and the added values of 5G must first be proven.

Today, public cloud systems can be used for outsourcing computationally intensive applications and storing large amounts of data. However, these systems are not designed for millisecond-accurate control of machines in production environments. They are not freely configurable and are difficult to connect to real-time-capable networks. The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT has developed the Fraunhofer Edge Cloud in collaboration with other institutes and its partner German Edge Cloud to show companies how they can use local cloud systems to monitor their machines and plants and exchange sensor information. The hardware and software architecture of the Fraunhofer Edge Cloud will be showcased using various example applications from May 30 to June 2 at the Hannover Messe 2022 at the joint Fraunhofer booth in Hall 5, Booth A06.

Since the end of 2019, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen has been making research in industrial applications of 5G mobile communication technology – and now the findings from previous research projects are to be transferred to the construction and mining sectors. The aim of a consortium of research institutions and industrial companies in the "5G.NAMICO - Networked, Adaptive Mining and Construction" project is to drive digitization in construction and mining, as well as to increase the efficiency of work processes and relieve personnel of monotonous and dangerous work. To test the possibilities of the technology, our partners are using two newly established 5G networks: one at a reference construction site in Aachen and one in an underground mine in Sondershausen, Thuringia.