When is the Smart Factory ready? This question arises when dealing with the topics Industry 4.0., Internet of Things and Smart Factory. An approach is developed here to answer at least part of this question. A systematization of numerous concepts and terms with similar uses is required. The Smart Factory, based on the technological Cyber-Physical Systems, is an element in a network of several Smart Factories, where the vision of Industry 4.0 is finally realized through industry-wide interconnection.
The Smart Factory and its Cyber-Physical Systems possess new technological capabilities including a capability of comprehensive intuitive and multimodal Human-Machine Interaction. This new form of interaction is particularly emphasized in the Smart Factory. After the failure of the CIM-concept the design of the future factory is tending towards a human-centered solution. The initial question is applied to this aspect of the Smart Factory here. Furthermore, production logistics, which complete fundamental tasks in manufacturing, are taken into account.
The technological readiness of a selection of application technologies realizing the new form of interaction is examined. The application technologies considered comprise three wearable technologies, those being the Mobile Device, Smart Glasses and the Smart Watch as well as three recognition technologies: Speech Recognition, Gesture Recognition and Gaze Recognition. An expert survey is carried out in order to answer the following expedient questions: estimates as to the future relevance of the selected application technologies, the required technological capabilities, up-to-date technological challenges, and respective solution approaches, as well as a final estimate of the point of technological readiness. The results are summarized and visualized in a Technology Roadmap.
Content:
- The Smart Factory, Internet of Things and Industry 4.0.
- Smart Glass, Smart Watches and Mobile Devices
- Human-Machine Interaction
- Technology Roadmap and Recommendations
- Challenges and Solutions
- Expert Survey
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Problem Definition
1.2. Research Objectives
1.3. Research Questions
1.4. Research Method
1.4.1. Forecasting
1.4.2. Selection of Method
1.4.3. Technology Roadmap
1.5. Thesis Design
2. Theoretical Principles
2.1. Technological Systematization
2.1.1. Technology
2.1.2. Classification of Technologies
2.1.3. Technological Paradigm
2.2. Production and Logistics
2.2.1. Logistics
2.2.2. Production Logistics
2.2.3. Main Function
3. Smart Factory
3.1. Internet of Things
3.1.1. The New Internet
3.1.2. Technical Core - Smart Object
3.1.3. New Technological Paradigm
3.2. Internet of Services
3.2.1. Internet of Things Complement
3.2.2. Cloud Services
3.2.3. Internet of Things and Services
3.2.4. Related Notions
3.3. Further “Internets” in Literature
3.3.1. Internet of Data
3.3.2. Future Internet
3.3.3. Internet of Everything
3.4. Smart World
3.4.1. Smart City
3.4.2. Smart Energy/ Smart Grid
3.4.3. Smart Mobility
3.4.4. Smart Home
3.4.5. Smart Health
3.4.6. Smart Manufacturing/ Smart Factory
3.5. Industry 4.0
3.5.1. 4th Industrial Revolution
3.5.2. Digitization
3.5.3. Industry 4.0 Potential
3.5.4. Technology Paradigms in the Industry 4.0
3.5.5. Industry 4.0 Definition
3.6. Cyber-Physical Systems
3.6.1. Technical Development
3.6.2. Embedded Systems
3.6.3. Cyber-Physical System Definition
3.7. Definition of Smart Factory
3.7.1. Distinction of Smart Factory
3.7.2. Technological Capabilities
4. Human-Machine Interaction in the Smart Factory
4.1. Development of the Human-Machine Interaction
4.1.1. Change of the Human Factor
4.1.2. Technology-Centered vs. Human-Centered
4.1.3. Smart Factory as a Sociotechnical System
4.1.4. Human Capabilities and Limits
4.1.5. New Work Organization
4.2. Kinds of Human-Machine Interaction
4.2.1. Interaction Variants
4.2.2. Multimodal Interaction
4.2.3. Vision of Human-Machine Interaction
4.2.4. Human-Machine Cooperation and Collaboration
4.2.5. Development of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
4.2.6. Human-Machine Interaction Requirements
4.3. Further Conceptual Distinction
4.3.1. Informational and Physical Interaction
4.3.2. Information Processing and Information Transfer
4.3.3. Information Recognition and Presentation
4.3.4. Application Technologies
4.4. New Technologies of Human-Machine Interaction
4.4.1. Data Preparation
4.4.2. Virtual Reality
4.4.3. Augmented Reality
4.4.4. Wearable Technologies
4.4.5. Mobile Device
4.4.6. Smart Glasses
4.4.7. Smart Watch
4.4.8. Human Awareness
4.4.9. Speech Recognition
4.4.10. Gesture Recognition
4.4.11. Gaze Recognition
4.4.12. Black Box – Data Processing
4.5. Conclusion
5. Empirical Social Research
5.1. Conceptual Review
5.2. Expert Survey
5.3. Survey Design
5.3.1. First Part
5.3.2. Second Part
5.3.3. Third Part
5.3.4. 4th Question
5.3.5. Choice of Experts
5.3.6. Choice of Software-Tool
5.3.7. Restrictions of Empirical Study
5.4. Statistical Methods for Study Analysis
5.4.1. Descriptive Statistics
5.4.2. Inductive Statistics
5.5. Study Analysis
5.5.1. General Analysis
5.5.2. First Part
5.5.3. Second Part
5.5.4. Third Part
5.5.5. Fourth Part
5.6. Summary and Conclusion
5.7. Critics of Survey
6. Technological Readiness, Technology Roadmap and Recommendations
6.1. Technological Readiness
6.2. Technology Roadmap
6.3. Recommendations
6.3.1. Application Technologies for Smart Factory
6.3.2. Importance for Production Logistics
6.3.3. Technological Solution
6.3.4. Technological Capabilities
6.3.5. Social Challenges
7. Summary and Outlook
7.1. Summary
7.2. Outlook
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This thesis investigates the technological readiness of application technologies designed to facilitate intuitive and multimodal Human-Machine Interaction within the Smart Factory, aiming to establish a technological timeline. By evaluating wearable and recognition technologies through an expert survey, the work bridges the gap between current industrial capabilities and the vision of Industry 4.0.
- Systematization of Industry 4.0 concepts, Cyber-Physical Systems, and the Smart Factory.
- Evaluation of wearable technologies (Mobile Device, Smart Glasses, Smart Watch) and recognition technologies (Speech, Gesture, Gaze).
- Analysis of production logistics requirements and the human role as a production factor.
- Development of a Technology Roadmap identifying future relevance, challenges, and technological maturity points.
Book Excerpt
1.1. Problem Definition
Industry 4.0, Smart Factory, Intelligent Manufacturing and Human-Machine Collaboration are just some items from a long list of more and more frequently appearing catchwords. These terms have become indispensable in the research and news industry. A large number of populist and scientific publications use these terms. The generic term in Germany for the digitization movement is Industry 4.0, the use of which was clearly seen at the world’s most important industry fair Hannover Messe 2015. At this fair the message that the Industry 4.0 has arrived in the present was sent. In fact, a multitude of ready to use technological systems, island solutions, software and robotics were shown by exhibitioners, giving the visitor a feeling of being in the middle of the Industry 4.0 vision.
A review of the literature and research projects partly confirmed the impression given at the fair. Technologies for Industry 4.0 already exist to a large extend within the highly developed automation technologies used in manufacturing facilities. However, to meet the technical requirements of Industry 4.0, the different parts from automation technology, electronics, IT, and engineering have to be combined and interlinked. Connectivity is the main characteristic of Industry 4.0, where the separate technologies are just a small piece of the vision. Of course, as is apparent in the appropriate literature, obstacles still exist on the way to Industry 4.0 and the Smart Factory. Thus, the Industry 4.0 - euphoria on one side is opposed by the critics on the other side, who point at big technological and societal challenges. Within this controversy the question of “when” arises for the author. When is Industry 4.0 reality?
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the research problem, objectives, and questions, while outlining the forecasting methodology used to address the technological readiness of the Smart Factory.
2. Theoretical Principles: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation, explaining central terms like technology and paradigm, and classifying production logistics as a key industrial element.
3. Smart Factory: This chapter clarifies concepts related to the Internet of Things and Services, defining the Smart Factory and the role of Cyber-Physical Systems within the Industry 4.0 vision.
4. Human-Machine Interaction in the Smart Factory: This chapter explores the development and significance of Human-Machine Interaction, categorizing interaction types and identifying key technologies required for intuitive industrial control.
5. Empirical Social Research: This chapter details the expert survey methodology, including survey design, expert selection, and the statistical analysis of the acquired data regarding application technologies.
6. Technological Readiness, Technology Roadmap and Recommendations: This chapter consolidates the survey results into a Technology Roadmap and provides recommendations for integrating application technologies into production logistics.
7. Summary and Outlook: This chapter summarizes the core findings regarding technological readiness and discusses future industrial implications and the necessity of organizational change.
Keywords
Smart Factory, Industry 4.0, Human-Machine Interaction, Cyber-Physical Systems, Internet of Things, Internet of Services, Technology Roadmap, Production Logistics, Wearable Technologies, Speech Recognition, Gesture Recognition, Gaze Recognition, Technological Readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work investigates the technological readiness of Human-Machine Interaction technologies within the Smart Factory context, specifically focusing on how these technologies can be integrated into production logistics.
What are the primary themes addressed?
Central themes include the definition of the Smart Factory, the evolution of Cyber-Physical Systems, the transition toward human-centered automation, and the assessment of specific wearable and recognition technologies.
What is the primary research question?
The initial research question asks: "When will the technologies of the Human-Machine Interaction in the Smart Factory be technologically ready?"
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs an exploratory, qualitative approach using an expert survey to gather current data and forecast technological developments in an unexplored field.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers theoretical principles, the conceptual framework of the Smart Factory, detailed analysis of interaction technologies, and an empirical social research study to evaluate these technologies.
Which keywords define this thesis?
Key terms include Smart Factory, Industry 4.0, Human-Machine Interaction, Cyber-Physical Systems, Technology Roadmap, and production logistics.
Why are wearable technologies considered crucial?
Wearable technologies like Mobile Devices and Smart Glasses are seen as essential for providing workers with real-time, context-sensitive information, thereby reducing media breaks in production.
What is the significance of the Technology Roadmap?
The roadmap provides a simplified visual representation of when specific technologies are expected to reach technological readiness, assisting in strategic planning for industrial stakeholders.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Oliver Grunow (Autor:in), 2015, Smart Factory and Industry 4.0. The Current State of Application Technologies, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/317791
