Abstract
The most effective expression of the 4.0 Era is represented by cyber-physical systems (CPSs). Historically, measurement and monitoring systems (MMSs) have been an essential part of CPSs; however, by introducing the 4.0 enabling technologies into MMSs, a MMS can evolve into a cyber-physical measurement system (CPMS). Starting from this consideration, this work reports a preliminary case study of a CPMS, namely an innovative robotic platform to be used for measurement systems in confined and constrained remote environments. The innovative system is a soft growing robot composed of a robot base, to be placed outside the remote environments and a robot body that accesses the site through growth. A pneumatic actuation mechanism enables the controllable growth of the system through lengthening at its tip, as well as its controllable steering. The system can be endowed with sensors to enable remote measurement and monitoring tasks, or can be used to transport sensors in remote locations. A digital twin of the system is developed for simulation of a practical measurement scenario. The ultimate goal is to achieve a self-adapting, fully autonomous system for remote monitoring operations to be used reliably and safely for the inspection of unknown and/or constrained environments.
Highlights
The 4.0 Era is characterized by an innovative multidisciplinary approach which addresses technical challenges by seeking transverse solutions to both technological and methodological problems [1]-[8]
This means that measurement and monitoring systems (MMSs) can evolve into cyber-physical measurement systems (CPMSs), becoming a proactive expression of the 4.0 Era, strengthening the role of measurement, but the performance of the overall 4.0 ecosystem
A definition for CPMS was introduced and a soft growing robot was presented as a case study
Summary
The 4.0 Era is characterized by an innovative multidisciplinary approach which addresses technical challenges by seeking transverse solutions to both technological and methodological problems [1]-[8]. This requires a fundamental change of perspective, in which the enabling technologies stop being employed as external superstructures for MMSs, and become embedded solutions, intrinsically present in the architecture of the MMS, and fully effective through an adequate metrological configuration This approach emphasizes the holistic nature of monitoring and paves the way for 4.0 transition-driven monitoring systems. This means that MMSs can evolve into cyber-physical measurement systems (CPMSs), becoming a proactive expression of the 4.0 Era, strengthening the role of measurement, but the performance of the overall 4.0 ecosystem Starting from these considerations, this work introduces a definition for the CPMSs and presents a preliminary case study, i.e., a “soft growing” robot for measurement and monitoring applications in constrained and confined remote environments.
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