AI-based automation in production environments offers excellent opportunities for higher productivity and saving resources in industry. As part of a research project, we are involved in helping get such systems ready for practical use.
EAI – Engineering for AI-based automation in production environments: This is the title of the research project we are collaborating in, alongside the Helmut-Schmidt University Hamburg (HSU) and the BBG company. The project is funded by the German Army's Centre for Digitalisation and Technological Research (dtec.bw).
The goal of the project is to develop a tool chain for AI-based automation. It will be evaluated using a fully-automated production facility and developed as a test environment during the grant project.
The results can then be used in the long-term to optimise production processes in different industrial environments, while saving time, costs and resources. Through this work, the project is focusing on a key future topic for the economy and research.
HSU is supporting multiple aspects of the project through student dissertations and research work. BBG is building a real, modular production facility as part of the project.
We are contributing a large number of Weidmüller product solutions to the project. These include u-OS, as an open AI and ML capable engineering platform. Thanks to its standardised interfaces, our Edge operating system controller meets the requirements of the research project: it is flexible enough to be expanded with add-ons like third-party AI applications.