Everyone is talking about Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the Internet of Things (IoT), but when it comes to implementing it many still hesitate. However, already with today’s state of the art machinery and components it is possible to realize the vision of Industry 4.0 and the individualization of products up to lot size 1. This is exactly what VDMA as the client plus ITQ GmbH as the idea generating and project-oriented company have implemented with the smart4i demonstrator. In collaboration with partners from industry, science and research, ideas and solutions for tomorrow’s machines, will be presented in detail in the VDMA Technology Lounge in Hall 5 / J38.
The smart4i demonstrator shows how the customer can individualize a Powerbank on the Internet via smartphone or tablet PC. The configuration options include colour selection of the Powerbank, its accessories (with or without USB cable) as well as a personalized text for labelling both the Powerbank and the packaging. The customer sends the order to the central order management system of the demonstrator and from there to is passed on to its sequence control. With this direct route from the customer to the shop floor the order can be processed much faster.
The demonstrator at a glance
The demonstrator consists of several modules or stations. The central element is an intelligent transport system operating according to the principle of the linear drive. Its shuttles are individually controllable. Carriers for different blisters as well as for the Powerbanks are mounted on these. Depending on the order, the transport system carries the shuttles to different modules. The blister module separates the appropriate blisters depending on the order (with or without a cable) and places them in the corresponding carrier of the shuttle. The transport system then carries them either to the cable module for inserting a USB cable or directly to the laser module. At the same time, the Powerbank module uses an articulated robot with its vacuum gripper to select a Powerbank in the chosen colour and place it on a shuttle which then takes it to the laser module. Here, a worker takes the Powerbank as a "Cyber-Physical-System" and places it in the laser station for engraving the personalized text as well as a data matrix code. The operator then places the printed Powerbank in the blister pack, which is also present at the station. Once the blister is completely filled, the shuttle moves to the lid module which places a cardboard cover on the blister. From there it is transported to the sealing station. The sealed and finished packaging travels on to the output module.
A look behind the scenes
It should be emphasized that it took ITQ only a few weeks to introduce a nearly 40-member student team of five universities to the latest engineering methods and tools. From different locations in Germany and Gran Canary these teams conceived and realized the smart4i demonstrator using nothing but standard components. All modules were completely simulated during the development phase and tested with a virtual control run. The subsequent implementation and commissioning was therefore extremely short. The students also proved how efficiently complex tasks in virtual teams can be solved across national borders, and what modern training or the new way of working in the virtual world can look like where Industry 4.0 is concerned.
Interested visitors will be able to find out about these and other innovations, as well as practical research results from the partner companies, at the VDMA stand in Hall 5 / J38.
