Metrology for the Factory of the Future

Factories of the future will use Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) environments; networks of devices and machine-learning algorithms that can automate decision-making and manage production. Advanced digital-only sensors that can measure dynamic, time-dependent qualities such as acceleration, force, and pressure, and pre-process collected data are quickly becoming the de-facto standard in the IIOT. It is vital for manufacturing processes that such digital sensors measuring dynamic qualities are accurate and well-calibrated. However, the high-level calibration services currently offered by National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) are still focussed on analogue, rather than digital, outputs.

This project will develop calibration methods for advanced digital-only industrial sensors, including those with internal pre-processing capabilities. It will also establish the infrastructure and software needed to take account of measurement uncertainty and quality together with measurement data, and synchronise data flow in sensor networks. This will help NMI facilities to become digital ready, and enable European factories of the future to be competitive with their global counterparts.