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ITRI: experiencing the value of smart manufacturing
—— An exclusive interview with Wen-Tung Hsu, Division Director of Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Labs.
It is less than a month until iMTduo 2018 starts its exhibition, the ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute) has organized a highly diverse display for the visitors, aiming to provide the visitors with true, real-time experiences in what is seen as the ‘future factory’. The entire program and exhibit plans are coordinately organized by 5 major research centers at ITRI including the Information and Communications Research Lab, Laser and Additive Manufacturing Center, Electronic and Optoelectronic System Research Lab, Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Lab, and Smart Microsystems Technology Center. Through the displays, ITRI wishes that the term ‘smart manufacturing’ will be freed from the impression of being difficult and distant from manufacturers. The institute intends to show that the idea of smart manufacturing is practical and affordable to be introduced to your factory. The division Director of Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Labs Wen-Tung Hsu joined the interview to discuss the exhibit content of ITRI at iMTduo 2018.
The three major exhibit themes for ITRI are Sensor control (IaaS) module, IOT platform (PaaS) and Application service (SaaS) module. These themes represent the intelligent manufacturing strategy of Taiwan, while each theme indicates one crucial route to the destination of smart manufacturing. Director Hsu explained the content of the three exhibit theme respectively:
Sensor control (IaaS) module theme:
IOT platform (PaaS) is the first step to embed machines with sensors: ITRI has developed NIP, National IoT Platform, and Cloud SCADA with OPC UA, a visualization platform for equipment monitoring. Robotic tactile sensing technology delivered by a start-up from ITRI will also be exhibited at the booth, as it is the core technology for human-robot collaboration.
IOT platform (PaaS) theme:
Created by the Information and Communications Research Lab the IoT platforms store data and statistics collected from sensors. The platforms offered by ITRI are as following: NIP, National IoT Platform, Cloud SCADA with OPC UA, a visualization platform for equipment monitoring.
Application service (SaaS) module theme:
Finally, the application service (SaaS) will utilize the data collected for boosting productivity and increase performance according to differing needs in the sector. The modules include - prognosis monitoring system (PMS), performance monitoring system for spindle of machine tool, analytical engine for causes of defect in manufacturing process, system of manufacturing quality prediction (SPM), demonstration of human-robot collaboration, and demonstration of 3D surface quality inspection.
The booth will be equipped with demonstrations of the pilot production line for bicycle part machining established in Taichung by government, and visitor could see the information of procedure of smart manufacturing on the electronic monitors. Technologies such as activation monitoring, automatic generation of tool path, management system of production scheduling, and smart AOI system that are connected to the production line in Taichung will also be under display for visitors to see real-time data monitoring. ‘In fact, in future factories, every factory will be facilitated with a “situation room” that closely monitors the production conditions’ Director Hsu said.
Other key demonstrations at the booth are successful production lines that the institute had cooperated with manufacturers -the rearview mirror production system is one of them. The manufacturing of rearview mirror originally relies heavily on human labor, but by embedding computing systems on analysis, gauging, and measuring, the production line could increase the degree of automation while reducing the human error in cutting, and molding.
Through these solutions and cases completed with the private sector, it is an exemplification of integrating precision mechanical techniques and the ICT technology. The roadmap to smart manufacturing has also become clearer. ‘We wish to send the message to domestic industries, encourage them to adopt these practices to enhance the value of their products and equipment, as well as their overall competency. If successful, the next level could be exporting these turnkey solutions to the global manufacturing sector in the future’ Director Hsu shared his vision.
System Integration must return back to the basic of machines
ITRI has been an essential figure for the industrial progression of Taiwan since the 1970s. It grasps both the strength and challenges that the entire domestic sector faces. Being exposed under strong forces of geopolitical and economical trade competition globally, Director Hsu insists that ‘smart manufacturing is the only choice for the future. Speaking of new factories, or refurbished factories, it will all be automated and featured with intelligent equipment or systems. Therefore, integrating ourselves to the smart production chain is the only way to show our capability’. Furthermore, SI is also the precondition for smart manufacturing to develop. “Presently, number of solutions that target IIoT are introduced by many SI companies, but I believe that in order to preserve the unique domain knowledge in different sectors, and to avoid the gap in application machine manufacturers must be the key actor during the process. Particularly for the reason of the manufacturers’ mechanical specialty in the field, the knowledge is valuable to make SI more feasible and practical to the true demands of manufacturers’ Director Hsu remarked. He stresses that making machines smart is thus the primary step, and the indispensable basic to build if the sector is to succeed in system integration. In 2017, the total output of Taiwan’s smart machinery industry reached 1.1 trillion NTD, Director Hsu believes that with the continuing power from ‘two engines’ of smart manufacturing and smart machines, the value of the industry has a very good opportunity to soar.
As the main institution of industrial technology, ITRI is committed to three goals: reducing the gap between industry and R&D institute and accelerating the industrialization of technology; increasing the involvement in technological trial and transfer the models to the private sector; finally, develop AI technology. Director Hsu summed up his anticipation to the exhibition that ‘iMTduo hopefully will become the annual platform to showcase our efforts and results to global audience. We wish that by presenting the trials and successful projects to the wider public, the manufacturers can have a more positive expectation to engage in smart manufacturing’.
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