Perform – Industry 4.0 demonstrator
Combining industry 4.0 technologies into one device!
Perform demonstrator: Combining industry 4.0 technologies into one device! [EIT Success story 2020]
While there are different training devices available for individual manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing or augmented reality (AR), there has not been a demonstrator that combines these digital technologies to provide a single, multipurpose educational tool. This new tool offers more realistic training, as a number of different digital technologies are generally combined in advanced manufacturing operations in the real world.
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The device has demonstrated the ability to monitor sensor data for trainees in different countries in real time. Using PERFORM, the project has developed a comprehensive Industry 4.0 education programme. The training enabled by the PERFORM demonstrator will help ensure that Europe’s industry remains at the forefront of the digital transformation.
Pilot training programmes involving 110 undergraduate engineering students and 28 industry trainees were carried out in 2020 using the PERFORM demonstrator on practical applications of the above-mentioned digital manufacturing technologies.
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The training demonstrator developed by this project combines the technologies of additive manufacturing (3D printing), sensorised process monitoring, IoT, data analytics, augmented reality, and the design and application of a digital twin. These technologies are demonstrated based around the printing of a turbine and their evaluation within a turbine testing device. The data generated by this sensorised system is available in real-time, on devices such as Android tablets and mobile phones.
The results of this EIT Manufacturing program were presented at the 54th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems, held online during 22-24 September 2021. The associated paper, titled “Development and Implementation of a Digital Manufacturing Demonstrator for Engineering Education”, has been accepted for publication in Procedia CIRP. The performance of the PERFORM demonstrator has been further enhanced by increasing the mechanical performance of the turbine. The equipment continues to be used in Industry 4.0 training of undergraduate students, with 95 undergraduate engineering students currently receiving the training at University College Dublin alone.
How does this show the EIT Knowledge triangle in action?
The project was developed by a diverse consortium involving academic and industrial partners:
• Demonstrator design and fabrication: University College Dublin, Ireland
• Industry engagement and Industry 4 delivery: Mondragon, Spain
• Wire additive manufacturing: Lortek, Spain
• Digital Twin: Aalto University, Finland
• Augmented reality: University of Patras and LMS, Greece
Published results:
The results of this EIT Manufacturing program were presented at the 54th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems, held online during 22-24 September 2021. The associated paper, titled “Development and Implementation of a Digital Manufacturing Demonstrator for Engineering Education”, has been accepted for publication in Procedia CIRP. The performance of the PERFORM demonstrator has been further enhanced by increasing the mechanical performance of the turbine. The equipment continues to be used in Industry 4.0 training of undergraduate students, with 95 undergraduate engineering students currently receiving the training at University College Dublin alone.
