Dynamic applications of large volume metrology in industry of tomorrow environments

Short Name: DynaMITE, Project Number: 20IND02
Image of a industrial robotic arm in a factory
The yellow metal arm is placing components into a metal box

Supporting automated and reconfigurable manufacturing systems


Breakthrough levels of production speed and efficiency are anticipated for Europe’s most advanced manufacturing industries from integrating various digitalisation and automation concepts. Conceptualised as ‘Factory 4.0’ or ‘Industry 4.0’, vastly improved production flexibility, even personalised manufacturing in large-scale production, is envisaged, but metrology capable of supporting the required integration of production control systems is not yet accurate at scale. For example, solutions using laser trackers are either too expensive or too slow. Moreover, no integration is yet possible between localised and factory-wide metrology, impeding transitions between measurement devices along production lines.

 

The project will build on the previous LUMINAR and LaVA projects, that delivered prototype instruments and new approaches, by developing dynamic tools based on modern sensors and techniques suited to aerospace and automotive production. Improved, dynamic-capable and traceable measuring tools will be developed for operational use, capable of integrating with reconfigurable factory coordinate metrology networks. Frequency Scanning Interferometry techniques will be developed, as well as low-cost photogrammetry-based metrology systems. Further outcomes include IoT-based architecture integrating cooperative systems with reconfigurable, self-automating processes; and equipment, models and strategies to dynamically evaluate machine tool performance.

 

These new tools will support digitalisation that can integrate factory production and assembly process controls, with reduced latency. Traceable metrology and connectivity between devices can then enable automated tool and facility reconfiguration, that could be applied to manufacturing lighter-weight aircraft or more efficient automotive production.

 

Project website
Other Participants
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France)
Ideko S.Coop (Spain)
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (Germany)
University College London (United Kingdom)
University of Bath (United Kingdom)