Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Rao, M;Lynch, L;Coady, J;Toal, D;Newe, T
2020
October
Applied Sciences (Switzerland)
Integration of an MES and AIV Using a LabVIEW Middleware Scheduler Suitable for Use in Industry 4.0 Applications
Published
2 ()
Optional Fields
MANUFACTURING EXECUTION SYSTEM AUTOMATION REVOLUTION
10
Featured ApplicationThis work provides details of an integration of a mobile Autonomous Intelligent Vehicle (AIV) with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), which helps to minimize human intervention requirements in a manufacturing process. Reduction in human intervention in the manufacturing process is one of the key requirements of Industry 4.0. The proposed integration technique helps to ensure efficient production and provides optimum use of the production cells in a smart manufacturing environment.Industry 4.0 uses the analysis of real-time data, artificial intelligence, automation, and the interconnection of components of the production lines to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MESs) and Autonomous Intelligent Vehicles (AIVs) are key elements of Industry 4.0 implementations. An MES connects, monitors, and controls data flows on the factory floor, while automation is achieved by using AIVs. The Robot Operating System (ROS) built AIVs are targeted here. To facilitate MES and AIV interactions, there is a need to integrate the MES and the AIVs to help in building an automated and interconnected manufacturing environment. This integration needs middleware, which understands both MES and AIVs. To address this issue, a LabVIEW-based scheduler is proposed here as the middleware. LabVIEW communicates with the MES through webservices and has support for ROS. The main task of the scheduler is to control the AIV based on MES requests. The scheduler developed was tested in a real factory environment using the SAP MES and a Robotnik 'RB-1 ' robot. The scheduler interface provides real-time information about the current status of the MES, AIV, and the current stage of scheduler processing. The proposed scheduler provides an efficient automated product delivery system that transports the product from process cell to process cell using the AIV, based on the production sequences defined by the MES. In addition, using the proposed scheduler, integration of an MES is possible with any low-cost ROS-built AIV.
BASEL
2076-3417
10.3390/app10207054
Grant Details