Connect4HCA
Implementation of advanced technologies and structures for connectivity in production.
Contact person

Matthias Lück, M.Sc. Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
AI Project Manager | Networked Production Systems
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO
University of Stuttgart Institute for Human Factors and Technology Management IAT

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carmen Constantinescu, MBA
Specialist
ARENA2036
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO
Connect4HCA
Connect4HCA aims to put people at the center of industrial automation by implementing advanced connectivity technologies and structures in production.
About the project
The Connect4HCA project aims to design production processes in such a way that the focus is on people and technology adapts to the needs and actions of the workers. This concept, described as Human-Centered Automation 5.0 (HCA 5.0), involves the situational adaptation of automated and manual work processes. Connect4HCA promotes the reversal of the relationship between man and machine in production, whereby technology is increasingly adapted to the needs of humans. The project envisages the development of new communication technologies and a flexible, needs-based communication infrastructure that enables the smooth transfer of information between man and machine. In addition, technical intelligence will be decentralized in order to be able to react to changing production parameters in real time.
Aims of the project
Connect4HCA aims to design a Decentralized Technical Intelligence (DTI) that controls the entire value chain of product, process and production along the product life cycle in close cooperation with humans. A holistic demonstrator is used as a research platform to examine connectivity in various dimensions. This includes the integration of processes, plants, production lines and locations, supply chains as well as systems and data across their lifecycles. An important aspect is also the connectivity between human and artificial intelligence. The project promotes the ability of humans to design and optimize the production system, taking occupational safety and health aspects into account. The consortium partners' technology modules enable a holistic view of connectivity in industrial production.


About Balluff
Balluff was founded in 1932 in Neuhausen auf den Fildern and stands for innovative technology, quality and cross-industry experience in industrial automation worldwide. As a leading sensor and automation specialist, the fourth-generation family business offers a comprehensive portfolio of sensor, identification and network technologies and software for integrated system solutions.Project participation in the ARENA2036
Links


About NAiSE GmbH
Thanks to its patented localization network, NAiSE enables precise localization and near-real-time communication from and between all intralogistics participants. Based on this, mixed operation is intelligently coordinated and the efficiency and safety of the intralogistics flow of goods is increased.Project participation in the ARENA2036

About Fraunhofer
Project participation in the ARENA2036
Project partners in the ARENA2036 research factory are the two Fraunhofer Institutes IAO and IPA.
Fraunhofer IPA implements highly innovative and sustainable solutions in production technology and automation for customers in a wide range of future-oriented industries. The solutions are always linked to the institute's strategic cornerstones of "mass sustainability" and "mass personalization".
In ARENA2036, Fraunhofer IPA is coordinating research into innovative methods in vehicle production. To this end, a research factory is being built in which technologies are developed that enable individualized products in batch sizes of one at the cost of mass production. The core technology for this is adaptable production systems with which companies can react to fluctuating competitive factors or shortened product life cycles. Fraunhofer IPA develops solutions for planning these systems and realizes components for them, such as versatile assembly stations.

About ISG
As a strong technology partner in automation, ISG Industrielle Steuerungstechnik GmbH has been enthusiastically offering innovative software solutions and technologies as well as qualified and reliable services for more than 35 years. ISG-kernel, ISG-virtuos, ISG-dirigent and TwinStore are established ISG brand products for automation technology.Project participation in the ARENA2036
Links

About Siemens
Project participation in the ARENA2036
Siemens offers solutions from four elementary areas for the company of the future: The Digital Enterprise Software Suite, the areas of industrial communication networks and industrial security, as well as business-specific services.
With know-how and products from the first two areas, Siemens AG is supporting the ARENA2036 research campus in the realization of a digital twin of real production and in the reliable and secure networking of flexible logistics systems.

About the University of Stuttgart
Project participation in the ARENA2036
The University of Stuttgart and many of its institutes are involved in the ARENA2036 research platform:
Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB)
Institute of Parallel and Distributed Systems (IPVS)
Institute of Plastics Technology (IKT)
Institute of Textile Technology, Fiber-based Materials and Textile Machine Engineering (ITFT)
Institute of Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW)
Institute of Ergonomics and Technology Management (IAT)
Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Automotive Engineering (IVK)
Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion (iew)
Institute of Educational Science, Department of Vocational, Business and Technical Education (BWT)
Institute of Energy Transmission and High Voltage Technology (IEH)
Institute of Polymer Chemistry (IPOC)
Institute of Linguistics: English Studies (IfLA)
Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Factory Operation (IFF)
Institute of Materials Handling and Logistics (IFT)
Institute of Shotblasting Tools (IFSW)
The Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB), for example, is involved in the LeiFu project and the DigitPro project with several employees in ARENA2036. The Khoch3 project is supported by university employees from BWT.
The integration of the ARENA2036 research building into the university campus forms the perfect basis for an intensive and interdisciplinary transfer of expertise between science and industry. This is what the guiding principle "Industry on Campus" stands for.

About Nokia
Nokia creates the technology to connect the world. Driven by the research and innovation of NOKIA Bell Labs, Nokia has invented many fundamental technologies that enable modern information and communications networks and all digital devices and systems, and serves communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers with the most comprehensive end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing.Project participation in the ARENA2036
Funding body and project sponsor in the project

About Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
The BMBF stands for the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany. It is a federal agency responsible for funding education and research programs within Germany. The main objectives of the BMBF include promoting science and research to maintain the country's international competitiveness, improving educational opportunities for people at all stages of life and supporting innovation and technology development. The Ministry works closely with educational and research institutions, industry and international partners to achieve its goals.Project participation in the ARENA2036
The "Research Campus - Public-Private Partnerships for Innovation" initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is a funding program that aims to strengthen cooperation between science and industry in Germany. This initiative enables public research institutions and companies to work together in long-term partnerships to develop and carry out innovative research projects. The idea behind it is to create an environment in which science and industry can work together on pioneering technologies and solutions that promote both scientific progress and economic development.
The research campus initiative supports selected projects in various technological and scientific fields, from renewable energy and sustainable mobility to digital technology and health sciences. The aim of these partnerships is to enable a direct transfer of knowledge and technology between research institutions and industry, which accelerates the market launch of new technologies.

About Project Management Agency Karlsruhe
The Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA) is part of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and offers comprehensive services relating to the funding of research, development and education projects. Its tasks include advising applicants for funding, evaluating project proposals, monitoring ongoing projects and disseminating and utilizing research results.Project participation in the ARENA2036
Links
https://www.zukunft-der-wertschoepfung.de/forschungscampus/