The Dawn of Virtual Factories
From long-distance communication to virtual business meetings, the evolution of digital connectedness has not only saved business untold funds and resources, they have also fundamentally changed the business model of many companies.
Now, as 3D virtualization comes within manufacturers' grasps, we are beginning to see a similar process transform factories.
One such “factory of the future” will be on display at the Hannover Messe trade show, taking place April 8 to 12 in Hannover, Germany. Hosting the demonstration is the Green Carbody Technologies Innovation Alliance (InnoCaT) – an initiative that spans the automotive and steel industries along with three Fraunhofer production technology institutes.
The alliance's goal is to improve resource and energy consumption throughout the entire manufacturing process while enhancing planning and monitoring operations.
The example to be displayed at the trade show's Fraunhofer Society stand in Hall 2 is a virtual automotive plant that will demonstrate potential savings in the tool shop, press shop, body shop and paint shop.
The idea is that by implementing systems such as this one, quality assurance professionals can save time and effort by allowing them to virtually interact with any testing object from their own desk. They can then manipulate the 3D viewing angle simply by pointing.
Making this possible is gesture recognition software created by BMW Group and the camera and 3D sensors from two Microsoft Kinect systems – the same devices used for many dance and fitness games for the Xbox.
“Until now testers have to note all detected flaws, leave their work station to go to the computer terminal, navigate several screens and then enter the flaw location and type. This is laborious, time-consuming and prone to error,” says Alexander Schick, a scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies, and Image Exploitation in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Instead, the testers are able to view the 3D rendering of, say, a bumper on their computer monitor. If there are no detected flaws the tester can swipe his hand from left to right. Otherwise, all he has to do is point to the flaw to make a record of it.
Already, we are beginning to see virtual factories being adopted by big names in manufacturing. Last year, Ford Motor Company announced the technology would make its debut in their European facilities to improve assembly-line efficiency.
Full story at ThomasNet
