Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPTResearch Project "FabOS"
Artificial intelligence (AI) can already be used sensibly in production today: to monitor processes and make them more efficient, to take over routine tasks and support decision-making. But up to now there is no infrastructure that bundles AI systems and enables real-time, secure operation of data-driven services and AI applications.
An industry 4.0 platform as an open and distributed system
Together with project partners from industry and research, the Fraunhofer IPT is developing a platform for these services and applications in order to make Industry 4.0 secure and manageable in everyday production, and to create a basis for a real-time capable cross-domain network.
This platform is designed as an open system in order to keep it as flexible as possible and to be able to develop it further. The openness of the system creates access to innovations and resources that individual companies can hardly provide on their own. The deliberate renunciation of a supercomputer in favor of a distributed system ensures scalability and reliability.
Research and industrial companies jointly define the requirements that are placed on such a platform in terms of production processes and process chains as well as the connection to machines and sensors. Based on these specifications, the platform is then built. Data standards help to reduce the effort required for the integration of AI solutions by bundling data from different connected systems. In addition, the Fraunhofer IPT is developing modules with which recorded machine data can be visualized and evaluated in the context of other data.
Various production systems with connection to the industry 4.0 platform
The individual functionalities of the platform will be tested using various application scenarios and integrated into machine tools, robotics applications and production control systems. The aim is, for example, the online visualization of product quality, anomaly detection or condition monitoring. The data management and control of machines and processes are directly connected to the platform so that all other systems can access and react to events reliably and in real time. The production systems' access to AI technologies, the bundling of data and the networking of various services and systems enables intelligent automation of machines and processes.
The project at a glance
Concept phase
- Recording, analysis and documentation of use cases and requirements with a focus on real-time connection of machines and sensors as well as configuration and updates for AI applications
- Development of general approaches for the provision of AI modules and data as well as management of AI services
- Conception of interfaces and data models in the context of heterogeneous acquisition of process data from machines and sensors
Development and implementation
- Development of a modular software framework for data collection and processing
- Implementation of AI services to synchronize heterogeneous production data streams
- Implementation of different strategies for data aggregation and reduction
- Automated labeling of data for training of AI models
- Validation of the FabOS platform on the basis of various use cases of the industry partners
- Development of AI services for applications in production
Consortium
Project coordinator
Fraunhofer IPA, Stuttgart
Project partners
- Advaneo GmbH, Düsseldorf
- AI4BD Germany GmbH, Furtwangen
- BÄR Automation GmbH, Gemmingen
- Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen
- COMPAILE Solutions GmbH, Karlsruhe
- COSMO CONSULT AG, Berlin
- ASCon Systems GmbH, Stuttgart
- German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH (DFKI)
- Eclipse Foundation, Ottawa (Canada)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE, Kaiserslautern
- Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI, Berlin
- Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, Stuttgart
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Aachen, Department of Production Metrology and Precision Engineering and Automation
- inno-focus businessconsulting gmbh, Berlin
- Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units ISW (University of Stuttgart), Stuttgart
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Karlsruhe
- Kenbun IT AG, Karlsruhe
- Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co KG
- NXP Semiconductors N.V. Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart
- Siemens AG, Munich
- SOTEC Software Development GmbH, Ostelsheim
- SYSGO GmbH, Klein-Winternheim
- TRUMPF GmbH + Co KG, Ditzingen
- USU Software AG, Moeglingen