Volume 2 – Conference

We are pleased to present the conference proceedings for the 12th edition of the International Fluid Power Conference (IFK). The IFK is one of the world’s most significant scientific conferences on fluid power control technology and systems. It offers a common platform for the presentation and discussion of trends and innovations to manufacturers, users and scientists. The Chair of Fluid-Mechatronic Systems at the TU Dresden is organizing and hosting the IFK for the sixth time. Supporting hosts are the Fluid Power Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Dresdner Verein zur Förderung der Fluidtechnik e. V. (DVF) and GWT-TUD GmbH. The organization and the conference location alternates every two years between the Chair of Fluid-Mechatronic Systems in Dresden and the Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Systems in Aachen. The symposium on the first day is dedicated to presentations focused on methodology and fundamental research. The two following conference days offer a wide variety of application and technology orientated papers about the latest state of the art in fluid power. It is this combination that makes the IFK a unique and excellent forum for the exchange of academic research and industrial application experience. A simultaneously ongoing exhibition offers the possibility to get product information and to have individual talks with manufacturers. The theme of the 12th IFK is “Fluid Power – Future Technology”, covering topics that enable the development of 5G-ready, cost-efficient and demand-driven structures, as well as individual decentralized drives. Another topic is the real-time data exchange that allows the application of numerous predictive maintenance strategies, which will significantly increase the availability of fluid power systems and their elements and ensure their improved lifetime performance. We create an atmosphere for casual exchange by offering a vast frame and cultural program. This includes a get-together, a conference banquet, laboratory festivities and some physical activities such as jogging in Dresden’s old town.:Group 1 | 2: Digital systems Group 3: Novel displacement machines Group 4: Industrial applications Group 5: Components Group 6: Predictive maintenance Group 7: Electro-hydraulic actuatorsDer Download des Gesamtbandes wird erst nach der Konferenz ab 15. Oktober 2020 möglich sein.:Group 1 | 2: Digital systems Group 3: Novel displacement machines Group 4: Industrial applications Group 5: Components Group 6: Predictive maintenance Group 7: Electro-hydraulic actuator

Efficient Control of a Switched Inertance Hydraulic Converter With a Time-Varying Load

Switched inertance hydraulic converters (SIHC) are new digital hydraulic devices which provide an alternative to conventional proportional or servo valve-controlled systems in hydraulic fluid power. SIHCs can adjust and control flow and pressure by means of using digital control signals that do not rely on throttling the flow and dissipation of power, and provide hydraulic systems with high-energy efficiency, good controllability, and insensitivity to contamination. A flow booster is one configuration of SIHCs which can deliver more flow than the supply flow. In this article, the loading effects of SIHCs are investigated by applying a time-varying load on the flow booster. A control system consisting of a PI controller and a switching frequency optimizer was designed to operate a flow booster at its optimal switching frequencies and switching ratios to maximize system efficiency when the load varies. Simulated results showed that the flow booster with the proposed controller has very good dynamic response and can be operated at an average efficiency of 70% with a time-varying load. Compared with only using a PI controller, the proposed controller can improve the overall efficiency by up to 20%. As time-varying loading conditions are commonly found in hydraulic applications, this work constitutes an important contribution to the design and development of high-efficiency SIHCs

Actuators and Sensors for Smart Systems

Smartness of technical systems relies also on appropriate actuators and sensors. Different to the prevalent definition of smartness to be embedded machine intelligence, in this paper elegance and simplicity of solutions is postulated be a more uniform and useful characterization. This is discussed in view of the current trends towards cyber physical systems and the role of components and subsystems, as well as of models for their effective realization. Current research on actuators and sensing in the fluid power area has some emphasis on simplicity and elegance of solution concepts and sophisticated modeling. This is demonstrated by examples from sensorless positioning, valve actuation, and compact hydraulic power supply

A study to trial the use of inertial non-optical motion capture for ergonomic analysis of manufacturing work

It is going to be increasingly important for manufacturing system designers to incorporate human activity data and ergonomic analysis with other performance data in digital design modelling and system monitoring. However, traditional methods of capturing human activity data are not sufficiently accurate to meet the needs of digitised data analysis; qualitative data are subject to bias and imprecision, and optically derived data are hindered by occlusions caused by structures or other people in a working environment. Therefore, to meet contemporary needs for more accurate and objective data, inertial non-optical methods of measurement appear to offer a solution. This article describes a case study conducted within the aerospace manufacturing industry, where data on the human activities involved in aircraft wing system installations was first collected via traditional ethnographic methods and found to have limited accuracy and suitability for digital modelling, but similar human activity data subsequently collected using an automatic non-optical motion capture system in a more controlled environment showed better suitability. Results demonstrate the potential benefits of applying not only the inertial non-optical method in future digital modelling and performance monitoring but also the value of continuing to include qualitative analysis for richer interpretation of important explanatory factors

Digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence and Vocational Occupations and Skills: What are the needs for training Teachers and Trainers?

The paper seeks to explore the impact AI and automation have on vocational occupations and skills and to examine what that means for teachers and trainers in VET. It looks at how AI can be used to shape learning and teaching processes, through for example, digital assistants which support teachers. It also focuses on the transformative power of AI that promises profound changes in employment and work tasks. The paper is based on research being undertaken through the EU Erasmus+ Taccle AI project. It presents the results of an extensive literature review and of interviews with VET managers, teachers and AI experts in five countries. It asks whether machines will complement or replace humans in the workplace before going to look at developments in using AI for teaching and learning in VET. Finally, it proposes extensions to the EU DigiCompEdu Framework for training teachers and trainers in using technology

Digital strategy implementation in process manufacturing firms: the Sirmax case.

The elaboration aims to investigate how to effectively implement a digital strategy in process manufacturing firms. After having analyzed literature and benchmark cases, the focus is on the digital strategy implementation proposal for Sirmax, a process manufacturing firm.ope

Efficient control of a switched inertance hydraulic converter with a time-varying load

Digital hydraulics is a novel alternative to proportional or servo-valve-controlled systems in fluid power engineering, providing hydraulic systems with high-energy efficiency, good controllability, and insensitivity to contamination. Switched inertance hydraulic converters (SIHCs) are new digital hydraulic devices that can adjust flow and pressure by digital switching instead of throttling the flow. In this paper, an efficient closed-loop control system is proposed for SIHCs subject to time-varying loading conditions in which the load pressure and/or flow varies with time. The control system is designed to operate SIHCs at optimized switching frequencies and ratios that maximize system efficiency when the load varies. With the proposed controller, the SIHC can effectively adapt to the time-varying load and has achieved up to 10% efficiency improvement and up to 65% pressure ripple reduction without affecting the system’s dynamic responses, compared with using a non-optimized controller. The work shows the feasibility and advantages of simultaneously controlling the switching ratio and switching frequency of SIHCs with a time-varying load. As time-varying loading conditions are commonly found in hydraulic applications, the research outcomes constitute an important aspect in the design and development of highly efficient SIHCs and their practical use in hydraulic machinery

Efficient control of a switched inertance hydraulic converter with a time-varying load

Digital hydraulics is a novel alternative to proportional or servo-valve-controlled systems in fluid power engineering, providing hydraulic systems with high-energy efficiency, good controllability, and insensitivity to contamination. Switched inertance hydraulic converters (SIHCs) are new digital hydraulic devices that can adjust flow and pressure by digital switching instead of throttling the flow. In this paper, an efficient closed-loop control system is proposed for SIHCs subject to time-varying loading conditions in which the load pressure and/or flow varies with time. The control system is designed to operate SIHCs at optimized switching frequencies and ratios that maximize system efficiency when the load varies. With the proposed controller, the SIHC can effectively adapt to the time-varying load and has achieved up to 10% efficiency improvement and up to 65% pressure ripple reduction without affecting the system’s dynamic responses, compared with using a non-optimized controller. The work shows the feasibility and advantages of simultaneously controlling the switching ratio and switching frequency of SIHCs with a time-varying load. As time-varying loading conditions are commonly found in hydraulic applications, the research outcomes constitute an important aspect in the design and development of highly efficient SIHCs and their practical use in hydraulic machinery

A contribution for data processing and interoperability in Industry 4.0

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia de SistemasIndustry 4.0 is expected to drive a significant change in companies’ growth. The idea is to cluster important information from all the company’s supply chain, enabling valuable decision-making while permitting interactions between machines and humans in real time. Autonomous systems powered with Information Technologies are enablers of Industry 4.0 – like Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber Physical-Systems (CPS) and Big Data and analytics. IoT gather information from every piece of the big puzzle which is the manufacturing process. Cloud Computing store all that information in one place. People share information across the company, between its supply chain and hierarchical levels through integration of systems. Finally, Big Data and analytics are of intelligence that will improve Industry 4.0. Methods and tools in Industry 4.0 are designed to increase interoperability across industrial stakeholders. In order to make the complete process possible, standardisation must be implemented across the company. Two reference models for Industry 4.0 were studied - RAMI 4.0 and IIRA. RAMI 4.0, a German initiative, focuses on industrial digitalization while IIRA, an American initiative, focuses on “Internet of Things” world, i.e. energy, healthcare and transportation. The two initiatives aim to obtain intelligence data from processes while enabling interoperability among systems. Representatives from the two reference models are working together on the technological interface standards that could be used by companies joining this new era. This study aims at the interoperability between systems. Even though there must be a model to guide the company into Industry 4.0, this model ought to be mutable and flexible enough to handle differences in manufacturing process, as an example automotive industry 4.0 will not have the same approach as aviation Industry 4.0.Espera-se que a Indústria 4.0 seja uma mudança significativa no crescimento das empresas. O objetivo é agrupar informações importantes de toda a cadeia de suprimentos da empresa, proporcionando uma tomada de decisão mais acertada, ao mesmo tempo que permite interações entre seres humanos e máquinas em tempo real. Sistemas autônomos equipados com Tecnologias da Informação possibilitam a Indústria 4.0 como a Internet das Coisas (IoT), sistemas ciber-físicos (CPS) e Big Data e analytics. A IoT coleta informações de cada peça do grande quebra-cabeça que é o processo de fabricação. Cloud Computing lida com armazenamento de toda essa informação em um só lugar. As pessoas compartilham informações em toda a empresa, na cadeia de abastecimento e níveis hierárquicos por meio da integração de sistemas. Por fim, Big Data e analytics são de inteligência que melhorarão a Indústria 4.0. Os métodos e ferramentas da Indústria 4.0 são projetadas para aumentar a interoperabilidade entre os stakeholders. Para tornar possível essa interoperabilidade, um padrão em toda a empresa deve ser implementado. Dois modelos de referência para a Indústria 4.0 foram estudados - RAMI 4.0 e IIRA. RAMI 4.0, a iniciativa alemã, concentra-se na digitalização industrial, enquanto IIRA, a iniciativa americana, foca no mundo da Internet das Coisas, como energia, saúde e transporte. As duas iniciativas visam obter dados inteligentes dos processos e, ao mesmo tempo, permitir a interoperabilidade entre os sistemas. Representantes dos dois modelos de referência estão a trabalhar juntos para discutir os padrões de interface tecnológica que podem ser usados pelas empresas que entram nessa nova era. Este estudo visa a interoperabilidade entre sistemas. Embora deva haver um modelo para orientar a empresa na Indústria 4.0, esse modelo deve ser mutável e flexível o suficiente para lidar com diferenças no processo de fabricação, como exemplo a indústria 4.0 automotiva não terá a mesma abordagem que a Indústria 4.0 de aviação