EmKoI4.0

Making modern communication technologies accessible for Industry 4.0

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Project description
Industrial applications are currently undergoing a paradigm shift from mass production of slightly differing goods to mass production of highly individualised goods. This paradigm shift requires the exchange of relevant information between all entities involved in the production process, their digital twins and between entity and digital twin.

In addition, the trend towards globalisation of markets and production continues, leading to a need for internationally deployable communication networks. This is challenging in the area of wireless communication due to regional regulatory conditions and the availability of communication networks such as WiFi and 5G and beyond. In addition, the increasing integration of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and the inclusion of corresponding communication protocols will create heterogeneous networks with wireless and wired sub-networks in the future.

The aim of the project is to provide methods and tools that support the investigation and development of convergent communication solutions throughout the life cycle of industrial plants and products. 5G-Advanced technologies can be the basis for fast, secure and robust communication and are considered in this project in the holistic context of a production network together with required, future-oriented wired communication technologies (e.g. TSN) and with changing production (Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing). Models for convergent communication solutions will be developed that enable easy integration into digitalised production systems. The holistic view ensures that convergent communication solutions developed for a factory or product in one country can be easily deployed in other economic regions.

Consortium
Germany: Institut für Automation und Kommunikation e. V., Technische Universität Dresden, Demag Cranes & Com-ponents GmbH, Thorsis Technologies GmbH
Japan: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology of Japan (NICT)

Duration
September 2022 – February 2025

Budget (Germany)
Total costs: € 2.6 million
Funding: € 1.8 million