Industry 4.0 for manufacturing sector

 Advanced monitoring and instrumentation systems, using techniques based on electromagnetic signals, ultrasound, microwave and optical sensors.

Design of ad hoc measurement principles and implementation of measurement instruments:

• Non-destructive inspection and characterization techniques based on electromagnetic measures with contact sensitive to the microstructure and mechanical properties of components made of steel, which enable quality control of products or production processes. Application examples are: Characterization of surface hardness and depth of the hardened layer in surface treatments of eg spindles, gears, camshafts, crankshafts; analysis of residual stresses, characterization and detection of grinding burns, analysis of the degradation of components in service such as steel cables, rails.

• Measurement and characterization techniques with ultrasound for measurements of physical parameters and alterations in materials (corrosion, etc.).

• Non-destructive and remote inspection and characterization techniques (without contact with the material) using RF and microwave waves (frequencies from a few Hz to 110 GHz): By means of these techniques, it is possible to analyze properties of non-conductive materials, as its dielectric constant, as well as characteristics and surface defects of conductive materials. It is also possible to detect the humidity level in materials such as earth or concrete.

• Optical techniques (using cameras and / or lasers) to perform inspections with a high degree of precision (orders of a few microns) in both static and dynamic environments. Inspections related to metrology (dimensional control) and defectology (surface quality) are included. The objective is to improve the productivity of the process ensuring the "zero defect" of the parts and reduce costs. Achieving these levels of precision in static environments is inherently complex, the differentiation is given by achieving it also in dynamic environments, that is, inspecting moving objects (eg on a conveyor belt).

Integration of measurement technologies into comprehensive local and remote monitoring solutions, ranging from hardware development for sensors, (wireless) communications to application software. 

 Indoor positioning systems  

Ceit's expertise includes the development of indoor and outdoor location systems, which are used to locate goods, vehicles or people in the industrial and rescue sectors and in accordance with each client's requirements. We work on the following topics:

• GNSS positioning and increased signal integration (EGNOS/EDAS)

• Development and integration of new distance-/range-estimation sensors (UWB, IMUs, etc.)

• Data fusion algorithms

• Integrity algorithms (fault detection)

The platform that CEIT has developed has direct application to various areas, including Industry 4.0 applications, intelligent transport systems and people-tracking devices. CEIT is expert in various location technologies, allowing it to undertake projects that develop advanced location systems for various sectors for both indoor and outdoor environments.

 Cognitive robotics: virtual and augmented reality and collaborative robotics

Development of the necessary technologies to create a work environment where human and robot operators work collaboratively. Robots need advanced spatial reasoning and perception capabilities to be able to perform tasks that require greater flexibility and skill than the tasks they can currently perform in the industry (tasks in which all actions are pre-programmed and the robot has little ability to adapt its movements to new situations). Greater flexibility in robots allows them to execute new tasks and integrate into environments that were forbidden to them as in applications in which human and robotic operators simultaneously share tasks, applying each of their best capabilities. Technologies such as virtual reality (digital twin to simulate different robot-human scenarios) and augmented reality (object tracking, 3D reconstruction from SLAM) are enabling technologies for most advanced robotics applications. In addition, augmented reality supposes a natural communication interface between operator and robot.

 Multidisciplinary platform for the smart manufacturing and monitoring of materials

Multidisciplinary platform for the smart manufacturing

The platform enables to develop the next aspects:

• Modelling of materials and processes

• Monitoring of the material through NDT-electromagnetic techniques and correlation of the signals with its state

• ICT applied to the monitoring of materials

• Data processing and management to control and optimize the process

• Development of integrated solutions tailored for industry 4.0.

The activity of Ceit is based on:

• Simulations of the thermo-mechanical processes: Simulation of the industrial process through lab equipment. Definition of optimized sequences and analysis of the limitations of the material.

• Metallurgical models of the material: Metallurgical models that aims at predicting the evolution of the material through all the hot working process or thermal treatment and final mechanical properties of the material

• Material monitoring: Analysis and interpretation of the monitoring signals (sensorics) based on the metallurgical knowledge. Quality control of the product:

• Hybrid models for the material and process: Development of hybrid models for the material and process that combines metallurgical models with data arising from heterogeneous sources (industrial practice, sensors, mechanical testing, etc) for optimizing the robustness of the process and achieving more consistent properties. These models will be applied on-line to control the process. 

Industrial application in the production and transformation of steel. Hot working. Conventional and induction thermal treatments. In-service behavior, monitoring of remaining life. Steel sector. Production and transformation