Factory Halls Research Articles

Development of Guidelines for the Design of Cantilevers

Cantilevers are elements typically used in the design of various structures such as factory halls or cantilever cranes. Traditionally, such elements are made of standard profiles or, in the case of large loads, by welding from standard sheets. Often, due to stationary conditions of exploitation, no attention is paid to mass reduction. Increasingly stringent requirements on reducing costs, but also on reducing environmental impact through reducing energy consumption necessary for the production, processing, and transport of materials, facilitate the application of optimization to obtain a construction solution with minimal mass. However, doing so requires advanced high-cost computer tools and increases the required competencies of designers. In this paper, a series of optimizations have been carried out for typical reach and load values of cantilevers aiming to create a database that will facilitate algorithms for selecting cross-sectional dimensions suitable for production using either additive technologies or traditional methods.

SLAM for Indoor Mapping of Wide Area Construction Environments

Abstract. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), i.e., the reconstruction of the environment represented by a (3D) map and the concurrent pose estimation, has made astonishing progress. Meanwhile, large scale applications aiming at the data collection in complex environments like factory halls or construction sites are becoming feasible. However, in contrast to small scale scenarios with building interiors separated to single rooms, shop floors or construction areas require measures at larger distances in potentially texture less areas under difficult illumination. Pose estimation is further aggravated since no GNSS measures are available as it is usual for such indoor applications. In our work, we realize data collection in a large factory hall by a robot system equipped with four stereo cameras as well as a 3D laser scanner. We apply our state-of-the-art LiDAR and visual SLAM approaches and discuss the respective pros and cons of the different sensor types for trajectory estimation and dense map generation in such an environment. Additionally, dense and accurate depth maps are generated by 3D Gaussian splatting, which we plan to use in the context of our project aiming on the automatic construction and site monitoring.

Optimizing industrial transport with a connected automated vehicle demonstrator for assembly systems and end-of-line production

In recent years, the automotive industry has witnessed significant progress in the development of automated driving technologies. The integration of advanced sensors and systems in vehicles has led to the emergence of various functionalities, such as driving assistance and autonomous driving. Applying these technologies on the assembly line can enhance the efficiency, safety, and speed of transportation, especially at end-of-line production. This work presents a connected automated vehicle (CAV) demonstrator for generating autonomous driving systems and services for the automotive industry. Our prototype electric vehicle is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and systems for perception, localization, navigation, and control. We tested various algorithms and tools for transforming the vehicle into a self-driving platform, and the prototype was simulated and tested in an industrial environment as proof of concept for integration into assembly systems and end-of-line transport. Our results show the successful integration of self-driving vehicle platforms in the automotive industry, particularly in factory halls. We demonstrate the localization, navigation, and communication capabilities of our prototype in a demo area. This work anticipates a significant increase in efficiency and operating cost reduction in vehicle manufacturing, despite challenges such as current low traveling speeds and high equipment costs. Ongoing research aims to enhance safety for higher vehicle speeds, making it a more viable business case for manufacturers, considering the increasing standardization of automated driving equipment in cars. The main contribution of this paper lies in introducing the general concept architecture of the integration of automated driving functionalities in end-of-line assembly and production systems. Showing a case study of the effective development and implementation of such functionalities with a CAV demonstrator in a more standardized industrial operational design domain.

On the Road to an Automotive Digital Twin

The teaching case describes BMW’s ongoing journey to implement a digital twin at its plant in Spartanburg, SC with the help of NavVis, a reality capture solution provider. Plant Spartanburg has long been an innovation center for BMW’s automotive group, which, since its opening in 1994, has produced 1,500 vehicles each day. The case reflects on the different phases of becoming a virtually enabled plant, starting with point data that captures 3D images of factory halls and floors, to turning these 3D images into interactive digital environments, to thinking about use cases and simulations that can mirror the physical operations taking place at the plant in real-time. The case is written from the perspective of Knudt Flor, former President and CEO of Plant Spartanburg, and his aspirations in his new role as Senior Vice President for Innovation and Industry Engagement at the College of Charleston to utilize what he has observed during BMW’s digital twin journey for bringing higher education into the industry fold again.

Comparison of different methods to determine the sound reduction index R of walls

The laboratory method (ISO 10140-2:2021) is probably the most accurate method to determine the sound reduction index R of walls. Flanking noise (ISO 10848-1 and 4:2017) is almost fully eliminated in the laboratory setup whereas this is not the case for in situ measurements (ISO 10052:2021). The measurements are even more difficult for measurements in open air or in factory halls with mock-up setups. Manufactures of building elements, such as prefabricated walls, are interested in quick measurements of the sound reduction index R of their products. This paper compares the traditional laboratory measurements, the intensity method and the Sopranoise road barrier method (EN 1793-6) with the vibration velocity / sound pressure method (ISO 140-4:1998). Different setups were measured using different methods in laboratory and in open air. Most of the experiments were done with loudspeakers used as an excitation source, but some were also done with shakers and a tapping machine. The importance of the use of sound shielded accelerometers will be elucidated.

In the shadow of the Holocaust. Poles and their attitudes towards Jewish forced laborers in HASAG ammunition factory in Skarżysko-Kamienna during World War II

ABSTRACT The State Ammunition Factory in Skarżysko-Kamienna, just after the outbreak of World War II was taken over by the German company Hasag from Leipzig which produced weapons and ammunition for the Wehrmacht during the occupation. In Skarżysko the German authorities used the Jewish forced laborers, who were forced to work at an inhumane rate and endure horrendous sanitary and living conditions. The plight of exploited Jews may have been influenced by their Polish colleagues who worked side by side with them in factory halls. The aim of this article is to characterize the attitudes Polish nationals of towards the Jews working in Hasag in Skarżysko.

Kulturní a sociální dějiny pracovního prostředí do roku 1950

Work environment theory has always been straddled between various sciences and their sub-disciplines; to some extent there is a certain “nomadicity” in this field. Generally speaking, during his development man has been exposed to the pressure of the environment, not only natural but also the “artificial” one, in this case work evironment or “residential” issues (so-called housing issue). Furthermore, the entire historical situation was also influenced by industrial production with its factory halls. People (male and female workers) had to find their position in this surroundings. The presented sketch deals as well with the hygiene of work and the occupational diseases. The development of technocratic tendencies is also taken into account.

Potentials for Energy Saving and Quality Improvement of Assembly Presses Using Data Mining

Modern assembly lines are usually optimized towards output and tact time as well as process capability and quality. Yet, approaches for energy saving are hardly used in assembly presses. Therefore, assembly lines are using more electric power and compressed air than necessary. Especially at high load, during handling phases and in different idle modes there is a huge potential for energy savings. Current research is focusing on high-power consuming turning and milling machines as well as laser welding. Energy saving projects usually focus on whole factory halls instead of manufacturing lines and single assembly machines. Therefore, this paper presents a new methodology using a top-down-approach and data mining analysis regarding a conventional assembly press as well as a whole assembly line. Here, relevant information types like process data, quality factors, expenditure of energy per produced part and power consumption are used to generate more insight into chained assembly processes. Various tools like energy analysis, process flow and correlation analysis are used to identify focus stations of a whole assembly line for energy saving projects and quality improvements. This novel holistic approach regards the electrical power and compressed air consumption of each relevant station and its machine components during different operating states as well as its correlations between process data, quality factors and energy consumption. Besides tact-time-analysis of the process, the scheduled and unplanned downtimes of the machine are also regarded. Furthermore, it enables predictions of tool wear and breakdown, quality impacts of supplied parts, as well as energy savings on process and machine level. Due to an increased quality, the material efficiency may rise as well.

Roboethics [TC Spotlight

Roboethics is not the ethics of robots nor any artificial ethics, but it is the human ethics of the robots' designers, manufacturers, and users. Robotics research and application are increasingly raising ethical implications, related to the more strict interaction between robots and human beings, as well as to the ever closest interaction between robotics itself and biological science. Progress in the field of computer science and telecommunications has allowed us to endow machines with enough intelligence so that they can act autonomously. However, as the application field for robots is widening and the robot is coming out of the factory halls, new challenges are seen both from the technical and the social point of view. Therefore, we can forecast that in our century humanity will coexist with the first aliens we have ever come in contact with-robots.

A new temporal method for the identification of source directions in a reverberant hall

The study presented here is related to the reduction of noise in factory halls. The type of factory hall considered here has large dimensions and contain several industrial machines, running 24 h a day. A method is presented to determine the angular directions which provide the main contributions to the sound levels at any point in the hall. These directions correspond to the sources and their images on the walls and on the obstacles. The method is based on the use of cross-correlation functions of sound signals measured on a microphone array. It is adapted to the constraints of the problem (short measurement time, no possibility to stop the machines, small dimensions of the array, etc.). Experimental results are shown first for several test cases carried out in a semi-anechoic room and in a rectangular room, and, then, for the case of a surface-planing machine in a cluttered hall.

Current oscillations in lighting systems with discharge lamps

This study is focused on the energy consumption parameters of large, higher-density lighting installations such as factory halls, commercial centres, offices and many other space-limited areas. Current oscillations are related only to installations with the discharge lamps supplied by standard magnetic ballasts. Those oscillations occur under normal operating conditions as a result of the presence of a good quality resonant circuit formed by the complex net impedance and the compensation capacitors of installed luminaries. Those oscillations cause power losses which can lead to the malfunction of the power grid.Presented here are the studies of the four different types of luminary wirings: parallel compensation, DUO (serial) compensation, mixed wiring and group compensation. The objective is to choose the wiring arrangement with the best combination of serviceability and consumption parameters. Measurement of real systems were used for analysis and verification.

Is it worth applying sound particle scattering methods to sound propagation in factory halls?—Results and comparisons of some simulations

Sound particle simulation, a version of ray tracing, is meanwhile a well-established method in room acoustics. In usual closed rooms, sound propagation is dominated by multiple reflections. In factory halls, the problem arises that a lot of inner sound scattering obstacles (machines, etc.) may practically not be registered in detail. A principal deficiency of ray tracing is the impossibility of taking diffraction into account. Often only a mean level decay per distance is of interest. Therefore, it is a well-founded and -tested semi-analytical approach of using only a mean scattering surface area per volume q=S/(4V) and combining that with a simple mirror image source method for rectangular rooms (German guideline VDI 3760). With the sound particle method, this multiple scattering is directly simulated in a Monte Carlo manner. This has several advantages: rooms of arbitrary form, diffuse reflecting surfaces, and inhomogeneous distributions of scattering bodies may be simulated. Meanwhile, on modern PCs, computation times lie in the range of only a few minutes. A disadvantage is the much higher effort of defining the (often uncertain!) input data. Some recent results of simulations of typical setups in factory halls (not computable by common methods) are presented and compared.

Modèle de prévision acoustique en espace clos basé sur les hypothèses de réflexion diffuse et spéculaire en parois

This paper presents a mathematical model for the calculating of sound fields in inclosed areas, even where the internal dimensions are disproportionate: particular reference is made to the diffusive effect of walls. The model is based on a classical ray tracing method. However, not all of the reflected energy necessarily follows the specular path; some of it can be scattered, forming, as it were new sources. The coefficient of diffusion associated with the sample of wall involved in the reflection regulates the sharing of the reflected energy. In order to determine this diffusion coefficient, we have developed a method that allows the measuring of the diffusion of a sample of wall. We have measured the sound propagation curves in several factory halls and compared the results to the previously calculated values. The high degree of correlation between the theoretical and experimental results validates the model and our approach of the coefficient of diffusion

Measurement of radio channels using an elastic convolver and spread spectrum modulation. II. Results

A spread spectrum measurement system using a surface acoustic wave convolver has been used to measure radio wave propagation in steel works at 1.75 GHz with an echo delay resolution of /spl ap/20 ns. Due to the high metal content of the factory halls, path loss is found to be small and its exponent to range between 1.1 and 2.3 only. We observed a delay spread between 82 and 548 ns depending on the size of the steel mill, its construction and machinery. Characterizing the radio channel by a stochastic delay line model the echo amplitude probability distribution is found to fit a Rician or log-normal distribution rather than a Rayleigh distribution. The fit of the amplitude distributions is determined by a /spl chi//sup 2/ hypothesis test. From the channel impulse response the coherence bandwidth is deduced to range between 2.4 and 27.4 MHz. >

Sound Field in Very Wide and Long Rooms

The sound-pressure level versus distance from a single point source was measured in many factory halls and similar rooms. These rooms were either flat—ten times wider and longer than high—or long—ten times longer than high or wide. The sound field is not diffuse in these rooms and the simple statistical theory could not be applied. In flat rooms for distances greater than several meters from the source, the sound-pressure level decreased a fixed amount for each doubling of distance. This amount was proportional to the average sound absorption coefficient α in the room. In long rooms, the sound-pressure level decreased directly proportional to the distance from the source for distances over 30 m from the source. Details of the measurement techniques were given in a previous paper [E. Lübcke and H. Gober, “Schallausbreitung in Fabrikhallen,” Forschuugsher. No. 1364 des Landes Nordrbein-Westfalen (Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, Germany, 1964) ].