Smart screwdrivers part of first European testbed for Industrial Internet Consortium led by Bosch
- Collaborative effort with Tech Mahindra, Cisco, and National Instruments
- Better quality and higher efficiency in manufacturing
- Major industry potential as connected industrial tools ensure quality
A collaborative effort between Bosch and three international companies is driving forward tool connectivity with the aim of improving quality and efficiency in industrial manufacturing.
The first outcome of their collaboration on the ‘Track and Trace’ project is the ability to determine the position of a cordless nutrunner on the shop floor with extreme precision, among other applications. This positioning information is used to automatically select the correct torque for the respective task, making it possible to tighten safety-relevant screws with exactly the required force, for example. It is also possible to automatically document these settings to ensure and test product quality.
Open standards are set to enable the seamless integration of industrial power tools used to drill, tighten, measure, and solder into an overall system of networked tools in the future. The potential applications of connected hand-held nutrunners, riveting tools, and measuring equipment include the construction and maintenance of engines and aircraft. “There is no other solution like this out there; it harbours major potential for industry as a whole,” says Dirk Slama, the project manager at Bosch.
Bosch is cooperating on ‘Track and Trace’ with Indian IT company Tech Mahindra, U.S. IT company Cisco, and National Instruments, a supplier of automation and measurement technology systems. The international alliance is also the first European testbed for the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC).
Avoid errors, increase safety
The design and assembly of complex industrial and consumer goods requires exacting work. Machinery, vehicles, and aircraft necessitate the highest standards of quality. Often, screws must be tightened with precisely the right amount of force.
In aircraft construction, for example, there are precise regulations that specify the kind of screw and the amount of force that must be used to join specific parts. Joints on the wings require a different amount of force than those on a window. When it comes to passenger aircraft, there are thousands of such screws that must be tightened and precisely documented. Connected tools speed up this time-consuming task.
Open standards ensure universal use
Thanks to open standards, this system of connected tools can be used universally. Industrial power tools used to drill, tighten, measure, solder, and rivet fit seamlessly into an overall system of connected tools, regardless of the brand or type of tool. A computer system is used to manage and regulate the tools. The testbed highlights several key aspects of digitally connected manufacturing. One of these aspects is cross-industry cooperation on equal footing among companies who are working to create open standards for the purpose of data exchange. Hardware, software, localisation technology, backend integration, and safety features are all integrated in the solution architecture.
Internet:
Details about IIC: http://bit.ly/1126gvy
Details about the IIC’s testbeds: http://bit.ly/1DQ6SX4
Details about the Industry 4.0 platform: http://bit.ly/1w1NLz9
Details about the Nexo cordless nutrunner from Bosch Rexroth: http://bit.ly/16gAeOU
Details about the Bosch ConnectedWorld Conference in Berlin from February 17-18, 2015: http://bit.ly/1zkBMTv
Contact: Sabrina Mayeen, 44 (0) 1895 838813
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to preliminary figures, its roughly 290,000 associates generated sales of 48.9 billion euros in 2014. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s strategic goal is to deliver innovations for connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.”
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.
Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.co.uk and www.bosch-press.com.
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