Laboratories
Innovation Labs
The Innovation labs are a playground and facilities for our research where we can present virtual factory solutions and physical small-scale production.
The Innovation labs consists of the three laboratories:
- Simulation lab
- VR lab
- Smart Factory lab.
In the Simulation lab we work with computer modelling and simulation. We can model anything from production cells, production systems to complex supply chains. The purpose is to test innovative solutions and perform experiments in a safe and risk free environment to be able to develop better new solutions, faster and cheaper.
In the VR lab we work with Virtual and eXtended reality. This can be used for virtual and collaborative product development, training people in industry in assembly tasks or get to try to work at a future work place. We even have a virtual lab environment, where we are able to connect to other labs around the world, to research and demonstrate collaboration on the distance and in the virtual world.
In the Smart Factory lab we demonstrate new production concepts of the future based at modular and reconfigurable thinking. Combining virtual models and the physical systems gives new opportunities to develop and test different types of digital twins of products, production and supply chains.
Simulation lab
The Simulation Lab is a state-of-the-art facility that specializes in a variety of simulations for production and supply chains. Here, we can model anything from production cells, production systems to intricate supply chains. By using simulation software, we can create, test, improve, and communicate solutions in virtual models. This allows us to work in a secure and risk-free environment, while exploring multiple scenarios to find better solutions quickly and cost-effectively.
Our team of experts and researchers utilizes the latest software and technology to develop custom simulations that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each company. Our lab specializes in three main areas: process simulation, plant simulation, and supply chain simulation. By using these types of simulation, we can help companies to enhance internal and external operations, and provide valuable insights to optimize their entire supply chain.
VR lab
Using virtual and augmented reality, we design digital prototypes of products and the production systems. In our research, we link virtual models of production systems to simulation models, which enables a virtual “walk in” into production systems and manufacturing lines. Through adaption and remodeling of single elements or entire systems, we can then identify and utilize optimization possibilities, e.g. in the working environment with collaborative robots.
Smart Factory lab
One important element of the Smart Factory research is the design of future workplaces seen from the organizational and the human perspective. Therefore, we investigate the topic Operator 4.0, where we expect the future scenario to take human cyber-physical production systems (H-CPPS) into account. This has implications for the competences and roles of future employees and the companies and industrial structure as such. Our research in this area is thus directly related to Industry 4.0 and the implementation thereof. We research HRC - Human Robot Collaboration solutions, where we use simulation and the digital twin in the design phase as well as in the operation phase.