What role does AI play in your drive and automation solutions?

AI now plays a central role in drive and automation technology. The importance of AI for process optimization and as a means of combating the shortage of skilled workers is constantly increasing. Our current task as a manufacturer of drive and automation systems is to prepare our components for the use of AI. This means that we are creating the platform on our systems to collect and analyze data at a very high process speed.

How does AI help to increase energy efficiency and process reliability?

We currently detect irregularities in the process directly in the drive and can send notifications to the user based on threshold values. AI offers the possibility of detecting machine failures or wear and tear even earlier and making it even easier to plan. When it comes to energy monitoring, we are also currently collecting all the data that is important for monitoring and optimizing energy efficiency. In the future, AI will take over the evaluation of the data here and will be able to adjust the process parameters accordingly in self-adapting machines so that energy consumption can be constantly minimized. On the one hand, we are an enabler here by providing the necessary data from our servo drives. On the other hand, we will be able to implement trained models in our inverters.

Are there examples where AI brings benefits in motion control applications?

A current example is the use in the processing of recycled materials. We are involved in two research projects at the Institute of Textile Technology Augsburg ITA. In these projects, recycled textile fibers are processed into technical nonwovens. The properties of the material supplied vary greatly, but the end product is expected to be of consistent quality. The idea is to use sensors and our servo drives to monitor the material properties during the process. With the help of our analyses in the servo drive and an installed AI, these values can then be subjected to pattern recognition and the process parameters can be adjusted in a self-adapting system so that the end product meets the very high quality requirements regardless of the recycled material fed in.

Which data sources do you use for your AI approaches?

As experts in drive and automation technology, we are mainly concerned with process data such as speed, power, vibrations, etc. We record most of this data directly in the drive, so that a high communication speed is possible. Environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity, material properties or the required quality of the end product are also relevant for AI-supported process optimization.

How do you combine AI with digital twins?

We use the digital twin particularly in the design of drive solutions for complex kinematics or for virtual commissioning. Here it offers the advantage that different load profiles can be tested in the model without the need for a prototype. Simulation avoids problems caused by undersizing and unnecessarily high costs due to oversized drives. It is already possible to use the digital twin in conjunction with AI applications, as our models can be integrated directly via standard interfaces and linked to the data from the process. This creates a digital shadow, i.e. a digital image of a real object or process based exclusively on data that has actually been collected, which can be used for analyses and forecasts.

How do you support customers with the integration of AI?

We cover the entire lifecycle, from design and commissioning through to servicing. We offer individual training courses to enable our customers to enter the world of AI in cooperation with Baumüller. We are an enabler for the use of AI for our customers and support them with a constantly evolving portfolio. Our components are designed to collect, analyze and communicate process data and are prepared for connection to AI. When training our own AI models, our experts incorporate their expertise in drive technology and process optimization.

What competencies is Baumüller building up internally to drive AI forward?

We have set up an internal working group to look at the potential uses of AI, but also the risks, and to develop and introduce specific recommendations and tools for the Baumüller Group. We are also focusing on a further training concept to prepare our employees for the new way of working in the best possible way. Through research projects, we are close to the applications and can incorporate the knowledge gained into the products in a targeted manner and make it available to our customers as added value.

Which partnerships help you to do this?

Active cooperation with institutes and universities, such as the ITA, gives us the opportunity to gain practical experience and exchange ideas with experts from the mechanical engineering sector. This allows us to test ideas and solutions for their practical suitability and get to know the needs of machine manufacturers and operators.

Through our involvement in various associations, such as ZVEI and VDMA, we are involved in cross-industry and cross-manufacturer exchanges and collaborate on joint projects. Corresponding demonstrators are exhibited at the individual trade fair stands of the associations, e.g. also at the SPS in November.

What do you expect from Industrial AI in the next few years?

The world of work will change: Many activities and processes will be taken over by AI or supported by it in the future. On the one hand, this will ease the shortage of skilled workers in production. On the other hand, even more experienced and specifically trained specialists and experts will be needed to introduce and use AI in the company in a targeted manner and to review and evaluate the results. As a system provider, we will also offer trained models as a package with our devices and thus become an AI provider ourselves. Self-adapting machines are a major topic. This possibility will not only make processes more transparent and the operation of machines less complex, but will also further increase the quality of the end products. As a drive system partner, we will continue to focus on working in partnership with customers, suppliers and partners in the future, as human relationships will never be replaced by AI systems.