Festo
No more machine downtime!
Festo presented the 'Festo Automation Experience' label - 'Festo AX' for short - at SPS Connect. Dr. Dominic Kraus, Product Manager Digital Business at Festo, explains what's behind it.
Dr. Kraus, what is behind 'Festo AX'?
Dr. Dominic Kraus: In short, 'Festo AX' monitors the 'state of health' of components and systems by carrying out predictive maintenance and estimating when failures could occur. The system visualizes and analyses the energy consumption and energy efficiency of a controller, an electrical handling system or a pneumatic actuator.
This works independently of the manufacturer, in the cloud or 'on edge'. The system has a modular structure: From 'Festo AX Core' for the core functions to 'Festo AX Maintenance' for preventive maintenance, the software package is successively expanded to include 'Festo AX Energy' for energy efficiency and 'Festo AX Toolkit'. Festo AX Core' is the basis for making decisions based on facts. Users can conveniently collect data from components and machines, visualize it in a meaningful way and monitor it over time.
What role does artificial intelligence play in this?
Dr. Dominic Kraus: Artificial intelligence is the basis for 'Festo AX Maintenance'. Intelligent algorithms predict when component and machine failures are to be expected. To do this, the normal states of an application or a component are taught using AI algorithms, allowing deviations to be detected at an early stage and forwarded with recommendations for corrective measures. The system continuously learns from the user's input. Ultimately, time savings of 10 to 20 % are possible in error detection.
What consequences can be derived from the data obtained?
Dr. Dominic Kraus: By linking digital value-added services, the system triggers a maintenance order directly - either in our maintenance manager 'Smartenance' or in the maintenance system of another manufacturer. This allows the maintenance staff to rectify the fault directly with the right tool or spare part. As soon as a new component is installed, the AI is 'trained' via Label & Train and notified of the new component. Troubleshooting is confirmed and the AI model is updated.
'Smartenance' is available as a mobile app for download from the Apple and Google app stores for smartphones and tablets. The dashboard for production managers is accessed via the web browser.
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