As Europe’s largest semiconductor distributor, EBV Elektronik supplies all the electronic components necessary for the development of autonomous robots capable of interacting closely with people. But that is not all, as Bernard Vicens, EBV Director Segment Smart Consumer & Building, emphasises. If required, the company offers its customers a complete ecosystem of solutions, identifying new…
According to “The Robot Report”, 2016 was the best year for robotics start-ups: Almost 2 billion Dollars – around twice as much as in the previous year – was invested, and 128 new businesses were established. here We present some of the start-ups in the robotics sector. Workmate robot The robots named Baxter and Sawyer…
Delivery robots are the solution to steadily rising parcel volumes resulting from online retail. They will deliver parcels to customers’ doors quickly, safely and autonomously, and so relieve road congestion. Logistics service provider Hermes has been testing the robot 6D9 from Starship Technologies over a number of months in Hamburg. The consequences of the trend…
The STAR robot has performed operations on soft tissue with greater precision than a human surgeon – and entirely autonomously. An innovative tracking system allows it to compensate for any movements during the operation, such as in the muscle itself. The use of robotic systems in operations is no longer something new; the da Vinci…
Where am I? Where am I going? And via what route? Those are the three key questions robots have to answer in order to move around autonomously within a given environment. In doing so, they employ a wide variety of different navigation solutions, which are frequently also combined, to ensure optimal orientation. Robust autonomous navigation…
The cleaning industry suffers from a permanent shortage of personnel and a high staff turnover. This is where robots can help. Danish manufacturer Nilfisk is bringing out a machine in 2017 that can wet-clean rooms autonomously. The interest in automated solutions has grown massively in the cleaning industry over the past few years. Cleaning robots…
Robots are increasingly being deployed for military purposes, too. Until now, these robots have mainly been remotely controlled, but they are becoming ever more autonomous on the battlefield. The construction of fully autonomous systems which can make the decision to fire of their own accord is not a question of technology these days, but rather…
At the footwear warehouse of logistics service provider Fiege, autonomous robots pick online orders. Since September 2016, logistics service provider Fiege has been employing three Toru Cube mobile robots at its footwear warehouse in Ibbenbüren, Germany, to pick online orders. Using its laser and camera system, the perception-controlled, network-connected robot from Munich-based start-up Magazino can…
Versatile robots need grippers which are capable of both grasping objects forcefully, yet also handling sensitive items with care and delicacy. To that end, researchers are developing grippers which increasingly emulate the human hand not only in terms of shape, but also in their sense of touch. The hand is a real miracle of nature….
The Internet of Things – interconnecting objects, data, processes and people – long ago ceased to be merely a future vision, and is now a reality. IT company Cisco estimates that products and solutions relating to the Internet of Things today already generate sales of some 613 billion US Dollars worldwide. Yet despite those impressive…
A key factor in the success of the Internet of Things will be the ability to make appropriate use of the vast amount of data generated by the interconnected objects. Specialist ‘Big Data’ technologies will not only store that data, but most especially analyse it and make it available for a wide variety of purposes….
The Internet of Things is imbuing everyday things with major significance in terms of security. The potential of the Internet of Things can only be fully realised if the manufacturers of smart products build security into their software and hardware. The USA is being threatened by a new kind of terrorism: A group headed by…
The Internet of Things has the potential to change our entire society. All the participants in the round-table discussion agree. Their views differ only on the question of how the breakthrough can be achieved and the widest possible circle of users attracted. Previously we were only capable of interacting with data via a few interfaces…
Know-how and electronic components for the Internet of Things Electronic components are the basic building blocks of the Internet of Things. Power supply, connectivity, sensors, data processing and security – the electronics industry offers solutions for all those key challenges. But creating a product or application for the Internet of Things takes quite a…
The Internet of Things is a wellspring for lots of new ideas and products. Many young, innovative companies are developing solutions for the interconnected world. We looked at a number of interesting start-ups. Tracking infections Toronto-based company Infonaut is using a real-time location system to help prevent infections in hospitals. The system is able to…
Car-to-X technology is still in the test phase. But even now its practical benefits are clear to see. Safe, stress-free, economical driving demands high levels of concentration. Drivers need to monitor what everyone else is doing, predict their next movements, and respond rapidly. To provide those levels of safe, stress-free, economical driving, in the near…
Vehicle makers and mobile communications providers are hard at work on making cars active users of the World Wide Web. That goes well beyond the mere exchange of music files between a smartphone and a car stereo system. Networking cars will enable completely new applications, of which the European emergency call system eCall is only…
The automotive industry believes that linking vehicles and infrastructure is the solution to the transport problems of the future. Communication between cars and traffic lights and other traffic systems will be used to reduce traffic jams and help prevent accidents. The upcoming markets in the world already point to the traffic problems we will face…
Particularly in the field of patient monitoring, experts see a large market and a wide range of possibilities for the Internet of Things. By linking patients, doctors and medical equipment, the goal is to reduce costs in the healthcare sector and improve patient care – even if patients are no longer being monitored constantly in…
More safety for the patient and more efficient processes at hospitals – these are the benefits which it is hoped will be gained with smart objects in the day-to-day running of a clinic. In the first projects, RFID chips are being used to track surgical instruments or blood reserves and to record their status. Unorganised…
The Internet of Things is changing the entire structure of healthcare, both in terms of organisation within the hospital itself, and in communication between patients and clinicians. In the “Life 2.0” survey conducted by Deutsche Telekom back in 2010, one in six decision-makers in the healthcare sector described the Internet of Things as the key…
Michael Ganser, Senior Vice President for Cisco Central Europe, predicts: “In manufacturing we will see increasingly intelligent factories with automated systems, robots and sensors monitoring energy consumption, supply chain management and quality.” It is in supply chain management – or logistics – that Cisco currently sees the greatest potential for the Internet of Things. German…
The advance of the Internet of Things into the industrial environment is just beginning. A lot of research and development still needs to be done. Nevertheless, a number of projects are already demonstrating the prospects for adding value that Industry 4.0 opens up. At the last Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, the…
The Internet of Things is invading the world of manufacturing. This “fourth industrial revolution” will see a dramatic change in production processes based on the use of information and communications technology in all areas. President of the German Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) Professor Dieter Kempf asserts: “Industry is on…
The connection of machines and everyday objects to the Internet is changing the world fundamentally. The close interaction between the digital and physical worlds is opening up entirely new applications with far-reaching economic and social implications. The Internet of Things is not the future anymore. The Internet of Things is the present,” asserted Kevin Ashton…
In few other places will the Internet of Things be as inextricably linked with people and their everyday lives as in the modern city. Professor Carlo Ratti investigates ways in which this new technology influences our conception, the design and our way of life in cities. An architect and engineer, he works in Italy and…
In future buildings will relieve us of many burdensome decisions, managing themselves so as to minimise energy consumption for example. Such smart building automation is already a reality in many areas today, and can even serve as a model for the Internet of Things. The year 2012 was an exciting one in building automation. According…
The Internet of Things will be a key element in mastering the global spread of urbanisation. Only by interlinking state-of-the-art technologies in infrastructures, intelligent applications and buildings will cities be able to meet the challenges of the future. The world’s major cities are growing at breath-taking speed. Already today, 3.6 billion people – more than half…
With the global population growing exponentially and more and more people moving to cities, plus the continued industrialisation of society, the Smart City market is set to explode over the next few years. Up to now, procedures and processes in cities have been ineffective in many areas. But with recent advancements in digital technology and…
If we are going to conquer the universe, we will need help from autonomous vehicles, such as the HDPR Mars Rover. They have to travel over unfamiliar terrain without the possibility of human intervention – and must sometimes show a little courage as well. As an extension of humans out in the wider universe, intelligent…
Artificial intelligence is a crucial technology for autonomous vehicles. Adaptive control systems make it possible to process the immense data sets delivered by the surrounding area sensors, then work out which actions should be taken. For a vehicle to drive autonomously, it is not enough to simply equip it with a large number of sensors for…
As connectivity advances, protection of vehicles against attacks from cyberspace is becoming ever more important. The only way to assure such protection is with a comprehensive cybersecurity concept, integrated into the development process right from the start. Autonomous vehicles are nothing other than mobile computers with innumerable communications interfaces – exchanging data with infrastructure or other…
Communication in autonomous vehicles will be a key technology in autonomous driving. They can benefit from the other vehicles’ experiences through the cloud, download data that they have gathered onto freely accessible maps in real time and send danger warnings to their surrounding area via WLAN. Nowadays, sensor systems such as lidar, radar and cameras…
Mankind consumes more resources than our planet produces. What’s more, the numbers of people moving to cities are constantly on the rise. Together, these two aspects are becoming the key factor when it comes to the sustainability of our society. Mankind is living beyond its means. In total, we consume 50 per cent more resources…
The smart city is the answer to increasing urbanisation across the globe. By using a wide range of networked technologies and processes, it aims to consume fewer resources, get citizens more involved, andmitigate the negative consequences of growing urban populations. According to forecasts from The World Bank, about 70 per cent of the global population…
Communication networks are the foundation of any smart city. The technology they rely on to capture and transfer data efficiently differs from one case to the next, depending on the requirements that need to be met. The backbone of every communication network in a Smart City is broadband. This is what enables citizens, institutions and…
Smart cities can only play to their strengths if as much of the data they generate as possible is open and shared. To achieve this, the cloud needs flexible resources. To a greater or lesser extent, the majority of Smart City applications used nowadays are island solutions in that the data they collect is not…
Smart projects that are designed to make cities more sustainable and liveable rely on armies of sensors to work successfully. Today, smart cities are even equipped with special sensor platforms that are able to measure a whole host of different values and communicate at the same time. Chicago is the first of the USA’s major…
In a smart city, it should be possible to supply the countless devices and sensors with electricity using energy from the surroundings. This is why mini power stations on roofs, in pavements or on machines harvest power from movements, differences in temperature and the wind, to name just a few examples. The ideal device for…
Street lamps are becoming multi-function stations for smart cities. They can be used as charging stations for electric vehicles, WLAN nodes, measuring stations or emergency telephones. In Europe alone, around ten million street lamps will be replaced or repaired over the next few years. This modernisation now gives local authorities the chance to go beyond…
Bicycles, buses and trains are becoming more and more important in replacing the car as a means of transport and thus making cities attractive places to live. At the same time, smart systems are making traffic flow more freely. In 2015, the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, launched a large-scale plan which will completely reshape…
Electromobility is a key building block when it comes to creating a sustainable city. Modern charging technology means that zero-emission cars can be used in the same way as regular vehicles. Reducing inner-city air pollution is one of the most significant environmental aims in cities. Electric vehicles make a significant contribution to this. Not only…
The British capital is one of the most active globally when it comes to the fight against inner-city air pollution. The plan of action covers extensive measures as well as hybrid taxis and apps to provide information for residents. London is serious about reducing air pollution, just as Mayor Sadiq Khan demonstrated with his dramatic…
A mark of a sustainable city is that the waste it produces is disposed of efficiently, and as much of it as possible can be recycled. Automated waste disposal is just the first step along that route. The aim is to utilise the city as a source of raw materials. There are no refuse trucks…
In the Kalasatama area of Helsinki, a smart, flexible municipal power grid is ensuring that renewable energy is better integrated and emissions are cut. It is thus helping to realise the vision of sustainable urban living. Helsinki is already regarded as one of the world’s smartest cities – and in Kalasatama, that is especially true….
Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town near Tokyo is one of the first greenfield Smart Cities. Among its features are virtual fences to protect the residents. They are a particularly common sight in South America: gated towns – areas surrounded by high walls, accessible only through security gates. Reminiscent of forts in Hollywood western movies, they offer…
The information and communication technologies of the Smart City can also be used to make the health system more efficient. The city of Vienna, for example, has already introduced an electronic patient record, while Düsseldorf is developing a system for telemonitoring of the elderly. The interconnected, all-embracing communications infrastructure of the Smart City can also…
Intelligent functionality and smart connectivity are increasingly being seen in consumer electronics, domestic appliances, healthcare products, and mobile electronic devices. The market in miniature devices for personal wellness and fitness is growing particularly strongly. We present just a few of the many exciting new smart devices available. Smarter training Fitbit Surge is a slim fitness…
Digital technologies are helping improve the efficiency of municipal services and administration. Valencia is one of the first cities to use an open Cloud platform for the purpose. Valencia claims to be the first fully integrated Smart City in Spain. It is certainly a ground-breaker, having consolidated all its services on a Cloud platform. The…
India is going to build 100 Smart Cities all over the country. The cities will be more sustainable, offering their residents an enhanced quality of life, making them more prosperous, healthier and happier. There is not one truly Smart City in the world,” asserts Amitabh Kant, Secretary in the Indian government’s Department of Industrial Policy…
Creating a smart city requires electronics solutions and technical expertise from all kinds of areas. Karl Lehnhoff, Director of Smart Grid at EBV Elektronik, believes his company is well placed here with its vertical market segments. He wants to implement future smart city projects in direct cooperation with cities and communities. How do you define…
Smart Cities enhance quality of life and attract young, well educated people – and thus also innovative businesses. Consequently, “smartness” will become key to the competitiveness of a city. But cities might well achieve that status in quite different ways. All the participants in the expert discussion are agreed: the future of the city will…
The subject of digitisation is a new one for many cities. Dr Lutz Heuser advises local authorities on the way to the Smart City. He knows how cities can be persuaded to adopt the relevant applications, and who the right people to contact are. Until 2010, Dr Lutz Heuser was Head of Research with SAP,…
SMART CITIES ARE BEING CREATED ALL OVER THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. THE MAYORS OF CITIES IN GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG AND south KOREA REPORT ON THEIR PROJECTS AS THEY SEEK TO BECOME SMART CITIES AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. Lydie Polfer: Luxembourg POPULATION: APPROX. 115,000 LAND AREA: APPROX. 52 km2 Dieter Reiter: Munich, Germany POPULATION: APPROX. 1.45 Mill….
What might life in a Smart City be like in the near future? An imagined day in a European city in a few years’ time… 7 a.m. Breakfast. On the table, there are fresh tomatoes, cultivated on a “vertical farm” inside a decommissioned underground railway tunnel just three streets away. 7.50 a.m. After you leave,…
The Smart City offers lots of opportunities for the application of new products and services. Many start-up businesses are developing innovative ideas for Smart City applications. We profile some of the latest, most interesting start-ups. On one wheel The Onewheel from Future Motion is an electric-powered skateboard which provides a new ride sensation either on…
Nature is like a library providing the best ideas taken from life – often, these can be applied to technical product development. Plants and animals are thus increasingly becoming models for new smart technologies. Nature presents researchers and developers with a wealth of ideas for innovative Smart Systems. Not only can they find fantastic functional…
In conversation with Ana Toni, Chair of the Board of Greenpeace International With the rise of the megacity, it is easy to imagine cities as being the biggest threat to the environment. Yet Ana Toni, Chair of the Board of Greenpeace, believes that cities can drive positive environmental change throughout the World. You are living…
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In the public domain, Industry 4.0 is often viewed as a purely technical subject. Yet essential elements of the concept also relate to new social infrastructures, empowering people to play key roles in Smart Factories. The debate surrounding Industry 4.0 concentrates primarily on the technical aspects. Yet Smart Factories will also entail major impacts on…
The convergence of information technology and production engineering offers scope for lots of new ideas – and opens up exciting opportunities for start-up businesses. We profile six successful start-ups exemplifying the range of new businesses being established. Turning data into knowledge US company Sight Machine, founded in 2011, has developed one of the leading production analysis…
The technology exists, and standardisation and data protection pose no obstacles on the way to Industry 4.0, according to the experts participating in the round-table discussion. The biggest challenge lies in defining useful applications for interconnected production which are also economically viable. The experts around the table all readily agree that Industry 4.0 is not…
Micro-electronics already provide the components needed for Industry 4.0. Yet there is still very much a need for further development, as Antonio Fernandez, Director Technical Marketing EBV Elektronik, asserts. He regards Industry 4.0 as a fantastic opportunity for the entire semiconductor industry. But rather more than electronic chips will be required to create successful applications….
The use of an intelligent, adaptive sensor/actuator module for machine tools has prevented vibration and improved heat control. The result is higher quality and improved productivity. Key elements of Industry 4.0 are machines capable of adapting autonomously to changing ambient conditions. The EU’s HARCO project has developed components for metal-working machinery which are able to…
Lots of the ideas from Industry 4.0 are already being implemented in state-of-the-art, fully automated logistics centres. They are quite inflexible and struggle to handle change, however. A new conveyor truck offers a remedy. In-house logistics is without doubt one of the areas in which the ideas underpinning Industry 4.0 are already in most widespread…
The Siemens electronics plant at Amberg in Bavaria is already deploying some key elements of Industry 4.0. Products communicate with machines, and all in-plant processes are computer-controlled. Industry 4.0 is an initiative of the German Federal Government. In late February 2015, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel toured the Siemens electronics plant at Amberg in Bavaria to…
A car-maker in China is co-ordinating the production of different engine variants with the aid of RFID. By doing so, it has made its production a zero-defect operation, with complete transparency throughout. A Chinese car-maker produces multiple engine variants on one line. To ensure that the right components for the various engines are fitted during…
3D printing is the perfect production technique for Industry 4.0. Components can be fabricated directly from CAD data, and the production of single items no longer represents a major cost factor. BITKOM President Prof. Dieter Kempf has no doubt: “3D printers will revolutionise value chains. Products will be developed and manufactured entirely digitally, with design…
Many companies are today already using technologies in line with the idea behind Industry 4.0. They are often just island solutions, but they are increasingly penetrating the industrial world. Industry 4.0 is not just a research topic. Machinery and plant with embedded, interconnected systems (CPS) are already in widespread use in the industrial environment. Specific…
The increasing connectivity of components and plant even beyond the bounds of the factory, as embodied in the Industry 4.0 concept, provides lots of potential vulnerabilities for cyber-attack unless appropriate countermeasures are taken. As laboratories, factories and warehouses operated by suppliers, manufacturers and customers exchange increasing volumes of data within Industry 4.0, the factory gates…
Smart Factories deliver quadrillions of bytes of data a year from machine tools and production machinery – so-called “Big Data”, which has to be consolidated into “Smart Data” in order to identify potential for optimisation and gain a competitive edge. Prof. Wolfgang Wahlster, CEO of the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, comments: “Smart…
Thanks to Industry 4.0, increasing numbers of objects are interchanging increasingly large volumes of data. In order to handle this deluge of data, robust, high-performance communications technologies are essential. With machines and sensors producing an ever-increasing amount of data, companies are facing an unprecedented challenge. They need to act in real time with the incoming…
Actuators are the basic components carrying out the actual actions in production. Power electronics ensure they move with maximum precision and efficiency. Sensors, microprocessors and communications interfaces turn smart drives into miniature so-called cyber-physical units. Actuators, or drives, provide the movement in a factory – driving conveyor belts, opening valves, and lifting robot arms, for…
Cyber-physical systems need to be aware of their surroundings. That is only possible with sensors which are becoming more and more intelligent as Industry 4.0 advances. Sensors are indeed the sensory organs of Industry 4.0, because without them production plant would be deaf and blind. The trend towards decentralisation in automation – culminating (for the…
Microprocessors and microcontrollers are the brains of Industry 4.0. In fulfilling that role, they are not only having to become ever smaller and more powerful, but also process and relay signals in real time. What machine is going to be used to make a product? What is the workflow sequence? And what happens if one…
Cyber-physical systems unite the physical world of machines with the virtual world of the Internet. They are the core of Industry 4.0. The concept of cyber-physical systems arose from the idea that a workpiece can be fully simulated from the design phase through to production and autonomously identifies its own optimal production process. This means…
Fitted out with sensors, processors and communication modules, machines, lines and workpieces become “smart”. They record processes in the physical world, connect them to the virtual world of the Internet and so provide the basis for Industry 4.0. State-of-the-art electronic and micro-electronic components and systems are essential to Industry 4.0. Today, already around 90 percent…
The digitisation of value chains through Industry 4.0 will bring lots of benefits to businesses: They will be able to meet customers’ needs and wishes more quickly and effectively, design processes more efficiently, and even create new business models. Industry 4.0 is a real productivity driver. The digitisation and connectivity of production and smart products…
Following on from the invention of the steam engine, the conveyor belt and electronic controls, the integration of the Internet into manufacturing is heralding the fourth industrial revolution. Anyone who ignores the trend will be left behind. The Internet has fundamentally and irreversibly changed the business world and people’s private lives, and is now in…
In conversation with Prof. Dr Gesche Joost, the German Federal Government’s Internet Ambassador Teaching is her mission: as Professor of Design Research at the Berlin University of the Arts, Gesche Joost builds bridges between technological innovation and the real needs of people in their everyday lives. She regards the Design Research Lab that she heads…
Manufacturing industry and IT experts all agree: the convergence of automation and the Internet will revolutionise the entire industrial sector over the next 10 years. The technologies and processes underlying that trend can be described in a few keywords: in Germany, for example, the term “Industry 4.0” has become established, while in the USA terms…
The future belongs to Smart Systems. We present six exciting start-ups that might well play a big role in tomorrow’s world. Autopilot for diabetes therapy Healthcare for diabetics worldwide costs more than 400 billion Dollars, 43 percent of which is spent in hospitals. That problem is being addressed by Danish start-up Admetsys with its “Smart Pancreas”….
More and more scientists and business leaders are warning against the dangers of intelligent machines. It is predicted that machines will have intelligence similar to that of humans in just a few years. Rapid developments in electronics and software are creating more and more Smart Systems to aid our decision-making and provide active assistance in…
Smart products improve existing systems, allow for completely new products and create the basis for new business models, according to the participants of the round table. Despite this, people cannot be left forgotten, as a positive user experience is an important feature of development in all applications. Many factors combine to turn a technical system…
There are lots of factors to consider when developing a smart product. As well as the mechanical and electrical components and software, the complete system must also be analysed as a unified whole. Safety and security aspects are increasingly important. Thomas Staudinger, Vice President Vertical Segments and Technical Marketing at EBV, explains how EBV supports…
There is a real hype about drones out there. One of the most innovative is Zano: the ultra-portable little selfie-maker owns several features which make it stand out. Unlike many other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Zano is very small, offers sophisticated technology like swarming and obstacle avoidance and most importantly: Zano retails for a price…
Many cities have already fitted out their waste bins with sensors and connectivity. They signal when they are full. This means refuse collection vehicles can optimise their routes to collect from only the containers that actually need emptying. Global waste production is set to increase by almost 50 percent over the next decade. This will…
A digitised city helps to enhance the quality of life of its residents and to conserve resources. The starting point for the digitised city is the connected, intelligent home. Rising levels of urbanisation are forcing towns and cities around the world to find a balance between limited resources, sustainability, and the public’s desire for comfort…
Robots assist personnel in the healthcare sector. Whether in hospital logistics, as household helpers, or in rehabilitation: service robots are being successfully deployed in more and more areas. People and machines are increasingly combining to make well-coordinated teams, thanks to systems which incorporate motion detection, navigation, learning capabilities and artificial intelligence. A major example of…
Intelligent technologies are also driving innovations in medical technology. From smart trousers to artificial eyes – all over the world, new systems are being developed for treating illnesses and overcoming handicaps. Making coffee, doing the laundry, tying shoes: for someone who has lost an arm and is reliant on an artificial limb, life is full…
New technologies can help the elderly to continue living independent lives. Sensor-based systems using complex analytical methods are able to detect emergencies and call for help when necessary. Populations in many industrialised nations are getting older. This entails wide-ranging changes and problems in many different areas. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL for short) can play a…
Ever-expanding cities require a public transport system that carries more people more efficiently. Increasing automation aims to increase the capacities of trains on existing tracks – and that includes driverless trains. The global shift to city life shows no sign of slowing down. Experts estimate that today nearly half the world’s population lives in cities,…
When we think about drones these days, it often causes us to have mixed feelings. Yet technologies that enable autonomous flying also help to save lives. Flight DL1889, early August 2015: the Airbus A320 was caught in a tremendous thunderstorm over the US state of Colorado. The plane was shaken by severe turbulence and large…
The latest assistance systems use data from a wide range of different sensors and connect to the Internet. These trends will enable fully autonomous driving in future. The video was a big hit on the internet: a pram follows a young father step by step, completely autonomously, as he goes jogging, walks through the park,…
Autonomous machines, precision farming and networked tractors – for some years now, intelligent technologies have been conquering fields and barns. Automation in agriculture aims to meet the increasing need for food for the rapidly growing world population. Agricultural machines are increasingly being equipped with intelligent technologies to communicate with each other and to automatically coordinate…
Linking smart technologies with established structures is giving rise to completely new fields of application and efficiency potentials The orange-coloured vehicle stirs into motion with a soft whirr. Shortly afterwards, the next vehicles set off, and it isn’t long before dozens of mini-transporters are moving about the warehouse. As if steered by some ghostly hand,…
Intelligent, autonomously acting workpieces and machines are revolutionising industrial manufacturing. An Industry 4.0 or smart factory can react autonomously to fluctuating conditions and manufacture customised products economically. Modern production lines are typically required to manufacture increasingly customised products in small-volume batches with maximum efficiency. Rigid, inflexible and centrally controlled processes stand in the way of…