The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is actively engaged in the transfer initiative which goes by the name of HAW Transfer Platform Industry 4.0, which is funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg.
This platform is particularly intended to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to gain access to the topics relating to Industry 4.0. The universities of applied sciences in Aalen, Esslingen and Reutlingen have teamed up with the Steinbeis Foundation to actively take up the challenges in research, teaching and advanced training to support the small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs.
Doctoral theses on topics concerning “Smart Factory Data and Simulation” in the context of Industry 4.0 are supervised in the Virtual Automation Lab of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The work is undertaken as part of the PROMISE 4.0 collaborative doctoral programmes.
Marc Schnierle at a demonstration. Photo: Hochschule Esslingen
A real laboratory in the mechanical engineering faculty - with superimposed virtual elements. Foto: Hochschule Esslingen
Hardly any other occupational profile has changed with such dynamism in recent decades as that of technical specialists: In the 1980s, the introduction of factory automation triggered completely new disciplines and subsequently made new job profiles necessary. Today, with the shift towards the "Smart Factory", similar challenges face us as automation and digital networking of machines continue to increase. In particular, this development will also change the requirements for training concepts.
In order to meet these new requirements for the training of technical specialists, training using Mixed Reality in the Loop Simulation (MRiLS) is being researched as part of this project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany. The simulation model used for this purpose will be connected to the real control hardware, thus making it possible for the first time for technical specialists to work with the real control technology and to experience the reaction of the virtual production plant almost live. The use of modern visualization methods such as Augmented Reality Glasses and Virtual Reality Glasses allows an multiplication of the immersive and realistic virtual image of the real plant, so that the learners can learn cooperatively and across locations. In addition, the use of MRiLS, in contrast to training on the real plant, enables a reproducible representation of hazard scenarios in the virtual world and thus the risk-free practice of behavior in these exceptional situations. The researched methods are tested and evaluated in vocational and operational training as well as in higher education. The task of the project partner University of Applied Sciences Esslingen is to research the mixed reality simulation models and to synchronize several training participants in a common virtual environment.
Project duration: 02/2020 - 01/2023
Supported by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany (BMBF)
Project volume: € 1.83 million (thereof 76% BMBF funding)
Project partners:
ISW, University of Stuttgart
University of Bamberg
Virtual Automation Lab (VAL), University of Applied Sciences Esslingen
![[Translate to Englisch:] Marc Schnierle bei einer Vorführung. Foto: Hochschule Esslingen](/fileadmin/media/Fakultaeten/ms/Bilder_mb/VAL_bilder/MRiLSSchnierle.png "[Translate to Englisch:] Marc Schnierle bei einer Vorführung. Foto: Hochschule Esslingen")
