Research
Research Vision
We are working in the field of Machineries & Factories; i.e. smart motion products (industrial machines, robotics, energy applications and vehicles) and smart production systems (assembly & batch processes).
This revolution is driven by connectivity: motion products and production systems will remain in data connection. This brings along exiting new concepts including cyber-physical systems, vertical & horizontal integration, end-to-end engineering and human-worker 4.0 concepts.
As such it will allow new business models to emerge such as lot-size one production at the cost of series production and XaaS (X as a service).
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Machines resp. Factories need to be DESIGNED in view of capabilities of factories (e.g. assembly) resp. industrial machines.
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During factory OPERATION the industrial machines (e.g. robots, drilling &, 3D printing machines) realise key steps in the manufacturing of (motion) products. The performance (e.g. in terms of quality and energy efficiency) of the factories and machines are mutually impacted by their performance.
Finally, some machines could be considered as factories on wheels (e.g. off road agricultural vehicles), and flexible assembly systems increasingly rely on mobile transportation systems (AGV).
Digital twins and artificial intelligence (AI) are key enabling technologies.
This domain specific and expert knowledge can present itself in the form of multi-physical, scalable models; traditional control loops or optimisation routines; and knowledge graphs drafted by humans.
The human designer or quality manager needs to be provided with actionable and interpretable decision support systems. The (assembly) operator needs to receive information with state-of-the-art (immersive) technology to flexibly adapt the operation in order to improve the performance of the product or production system whether it is in view of energy efficiency, quality or life time. In all this, the environmental impact should be considered.
Research topics
The Ghent University M&F industrial research platform is active on the following research topics:
- Electromechanical engineering - motion products: multi-physic modelling of physical phenomena in actuators and systems forms a strong basis for the machine level control and design. Our test benches allow to validate smart motion products in an emulated relevant environment (TRL4/5).
- Electromechanical engineering - decision, sensing & control: (Hybrid) models are developed and used for the design, soft sensing, optimisation, condition monitoring and advanced (yet industry friendly) control of motion products. Digital twin technology and AI control for electromechanical systems.
- Industrial systems engineering: we design, optimise and validate flexible (hybrid) assembly cells incl. the task allocation and the virtual commissioning based on digital twin. Strategies for production and maintenance are combined with quality control strategies & supply chain logistics. Our lab infrastructure resembles real industrial assembly cells and factory settings.
- Industrial economics: our researchers have a profound knowledge and insights in business and economics while understanding engineering challenges building cost & value models optimising (digital) production operations.
