Cover Feature: Breaking Down the Barriers between the Digital and the Real: Mixed Reality Applied to Battery Manufacturing R&D and Training (Batteries & Supercaps 7/2024)

International audienc

Breaking Down the Barriers between the Digital and the Real: Mixed Reality Applied to Battery Manufacturing R&D and Training

International audienceIn a scenario in which the manufacturing of high‐performance, safe batteries on an unprecedented large scale is crucial for the energy transition and fight against climate change, research laboratories and cell production industries are facing challenges due to the lack of efficient data management and training tools. In this context, the use of intelligent devices plays an important role on the path towards the optimization of the manufacturing process and the enhancement of the battery performance while reducing production costs. In this Concept, we present an innovative Mixed Reality tool for efficient data collection and training in real‐time in battery research laboratories and battery manufacturing pilot lines, which runs on Microsoft HoloLens 2 glasses. We report a deep analysis on its ergonomic and usability aspects, and describe how we solved the problems found during its development. Thanks to this tool, users can collect data while keeping their hands free and receive advice in real time to design and build batteries with tailored properties. This optimizes data management in battery manufacturing environments. Now, thanks to our Mixed Reality application, users can collect data in the place of work, save this data automatically on a server and exploit it to receive advice and feedback to support their decision‐making and learning of the manufacturing process

Breaking down the Barriers between the Digital and the Real: Mixed Reality applied to battery manufacturing R&D and Training

In a scenario in which the manufacturing of high-performance, safe batteries on an unprecedented large scale is crucial for the energy transition and fight against climate change, research laboratories and cell production industries are facing challenges due to the lack of efficient data management and training tools. In this context, the use of intelligent devices plays an important role on the path towards the optimization of the manufacturing process and the enhancement of the battery performance while reducing production costs. In this Concept, we show how Mixed Reality technology can be used for data collection and training in real-time in battery research laboratories and pilot lines. We introduce a Mixed Reality application run on Microsoft HoloLens 2 glasses, provide a deep analysis on its ergonomic and usability aspects, and we describe how we solved the problems found during its development. Thanks to this application, users can collect data while keeping their hands free and receive advice in real time to design and build batteries with tailored properties. This optimizes data management in complex and dangerous environments, like the ones found in battery research laboratories or pilot lines. Now, thanks to our Mixed Reality application, users can collect data in the place of work, save this data automatically on a server and exploit it to receive advice and feedback to support their decision-making and learning of the manufacturing process

Virtual Reality interface with the ARTISTIC Online Calculator - Version 1

<p> </p> <p> </p> <p>We release here the first version of a Virtual Reality application that enables users wearing HTC VR headsets and using controllers to interact with the <a href="https://www.erc-artistic.eu/computational-portal">ARTISTIC Project Online Calculator</a>. Users can engage with existing data and initiate new computational physics-based simulations for battery electrode slurry, slurry drying, electrode calendering, and electrolyte infiltration using the models developed in the <a href="https://www.erc-artistic.eu/">ARTISTIC project</a> (ERC funding, grant agreement #772873) coordinated by Prof. Alejandro A. Franco and the HPC facilities provided by the Université de Picardie Jules Verne, in Amiens, France. Our Virtual Reality application development, funded by the <a href="https://www.big-map.eu/">European BIG MAP project</a> (Stakeholders Initiative, European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 957189), is primarily dedicated to educational purposes, yet it also serves as a valuable tool for research in battery electrode and cell manufacturing simulations.</p> <p>The detailed description of this Virtual Reality application and user cases will be the subject of an incoming scientific publication by us. </p&gt

Breaking down the Barriers between the Digital and the Real: Mixed Reality applied to battery manufacturing R&D and Training

In a scenario in which the manufacturing of high-performance, safe batteries on an unprecedented large scale is crucial for the energy transition and fight against climate change, research laboratories and cell production industries are facing challenges due to the lack of efficient data management and training tools. In this context, the use of intelligent devices plays an important role on the path towards the optimization of the manufacturing process and the enhancement of the battery performance while reducing production costs. In this Concept, we show how Mixed Reality technology can be used for data collection and training in real-time in battery research laboratories and pilot lines. We introduce a Mixed Reality application run on Microsoft HoloLens 2 glasses, provide a deep analysis on its ergonomic and usability aspects, and we describe how we solved the problems found during its development. Thanks to this application, users can collect data while keeping their hands free and receive advice in real time to design and build batteries with tailored properties. This optimizes data management in complex and dangerous environments, like the ones found in battery research laboratories or pilot lines. Now, thanks to our Mixed Reality application, users can collect data in the place of work, save this data automatically on a server and exploit it to receive advice and feedback to support their decision-making and learning of the manufacturing process

The ARTISTIC Battery Manufacturing Digitalization Initiative: From Fundamental Research to Industrialization

International audienceOur ARTISTIC project was born in 2018 to improve the efficiency of lithium‐ion battery cell manufacturing process through computational modelling, allowing the research and development of new digital tools to accelerate the optimization of this process. Thanks to the development and use of innovative numerical models, machine learning algorithms and virtual and mixed reality tools, we could significantly advance the understanding of manufacturing/performance battery‐cell performance relationships. However, scientific research by itself is not enough to bring innovations into practical applications for society. The creation of spin‐offs or start‐ups can ease the transition from research to application, since it allows scaling up the research outputs into products or services ready‐to‐use by the customers. In this Concept, we discuss the benefits of this transition, we introduce the research findings obtained in the last years within the framework of our ARTISTIC project, and our actions to move from our research to industrial products

Combining Virtual Reality with Mixed Reality for Efficient Training in Battery Manufacturing

The manufacturing process of batteries can be complex and time-consuming. We introduce a new version of the digital twin of our lithium ion battery pilot line, Simubat 4.0 Gen-2, based on a new combination of Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality. This digital twin is designed to deliver training on the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process and electrode properties. This tool aims to make users active learners, helping them visualize and understand complex concepts and meets a strong need for skilled labor linked to the blooming of battery gigafactory, in particular in our region. We report here a detailed study of the educational contribution of Simubat 4.0 Gen-2. This study was performed during two filmed training sessions: the first one with chemistry MSc. students, and the second one with AESC Gigafactory trainees. We used questionnaires to measure the usability and usefulness and at the same time, we studied the usage by analyzing errors and by qualitatively assessing communications among the participants. Our study revealed that users had more knowledge after using our digital twin; our digital twin was evaluated as being efficient by the users and it has been proven to be suitable for training in battery manufacturing

From Battery Manufacturing to Smart Grids: Towards a Metaverse for the Energy Sciences**

International audienc

Combining Virtual Reality with Mixed Reality for Efficient Training in Battery Manufacturing

The manufacturing process of batteries can be complex and time-consuming. We introduce a new version of the digital twin of our lithium ion battery pilot line, Simubat 4.0 Gen-2, based on a new combination of Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality. This digital twin is designed to deliver training on the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process and electrode properties. This tool aims to make users active learners, helping them visualize and understand complex concepts and meets a strong need for skilled labor linked to the blooming of battery gigafactory, in particular in our region. We report here a detailed study of the educational contribution of Simubat 4.0 Gen-2. This study was performed during two filmed training sessions: the first one with chemistry MSc. students, and the second one with AESC Gigafactory trainees. We used questionnaires to measure the usability and usefulness and at the same time, we studied the usage by analyzing errors and by qualitatively assessing communications among the participants. Our study revealed that users had more knowledge after using our digital twin; our digital twin was evaluated as being efficient by the users and it has been proven to be suitable for training in battery manufacturing

Combining virtual reality with mixed reality for efficient training in battery manufacturing

International audienceThe manufacturing process of batteries can be complex and time‐consuming. We introduce a new version of the digital twin of our lithium‐ion battery pilot line, Simubat 4.0 Gen‐2, based on a new combination of Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality. This digital twin is designed to deliver training on the lithium‐ion battery manufacturing process and electrode properties. This tool aims to make users active learners, helping them visualize and understand complex concepts and meets a strong need for skilled labor linked to the blooming of battery gigafactory, in particular in our region. We report here a detailed study of the educational contribution of Simubat 4.0 Gen‐2. This study was performed during two filmed training sessions: the first one with chemistry MSc. students, and the second one with AESC Gigafactory trainees. We used questionnaires to measure the usability and usefulness and at the same time, we studied the usage by analyzing errors and qualitatively assessing communications among the participants. Our study revealed that users had more knowledge after using our digital twin; the tool was evaluated as being efficient by the users and it has been proven to be suitable for training in battery manufacturing