Together with the Institute for Textile Technology Augsburg (ITA), BWF Tec GmbH & Co. KG, Dr. Schenk GmbH Industriemesstechnik GmbH and Baumüller Nürnberg GmbH, we are launching the research project KI-FlORiDA with full energy. Over the coming three years, we will work on an AI-supported and autonomous control system for nonwoven cards and complete production lines.
Quality and Automation as Drivers
High quality requirements for technical products demand precise control of production processes. Until now, evaluating uniformity and specifically improving the visual appearance of nonwovens could not be automated due to the complexity of the raw materials and processes. At the same time, fluctuations in raw materials – for example through the increased use of recycled fibers, batch or supplier changes – as well as varying environmental influences make a holistic stabilization of the process necessary. This is where KI-FlORiDA comes in, as we develop an intelligent solution that:
- uses AI-supported optical inspection systems for quality monitoring,
- employs intelligent servo drives for more precise process monitoring and control, and
- integrates adaptive production software that enables autonomous process interventions.
The developed solutions will be tested on the industrial nonwovens line at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. Operated as an AI production platform for continuous processes (KIPP), this facility provides the ideal conditions for industry-oriented research and enables the consortium to test and optimize new technologies under realistic production conditions.