Interreg 2 Zeeën - INCASE

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is the next industrial revolution. Manufacturers are focussing on client-specific production and added-value products. In Germany 84% of the companies feel the pressure to digitize and 57% will significantly change their business model due to the digital revolution. Germany is world leader in this revolution. The project main objective is to close the gap between the 2 Seas region and Germany & other leading countries, by developing and demonstrating the necessary key technologies towards companies, in this way facilitating the conversion towards I4.0.

INCASE develops knowledge, innovative applications and pilots on key enabling automation technologies for the future I4.0. INCASE will deliver 10 thematic demonstration trajectories on those key enabling automation technologies for smart factories and green technologies for smart homes and factories. The demonstration actions will inspire practicing engineers towards new products and new production methodologies. The intermediary organizations will actively create awareness on the future I4.0.

Description of the project (Dutch summary)

The project contains three main workpackages. WP1 develops pilots on key enabling automation technologies for Industry 4.0, to achieve an early market uptake by and increased awareness of the manufacturing industries. Involved technologies are Industrial Communication (Profinet, Power Line Communication, ProfiCloud, Networked Control) and Integrated Design (Mobile robotics, Industrial Hardware Targets, Cosimulation). WP2 develops pilots to reduce energy consumption in both home automation and industrial automation, and increase the awareness & knowledge for the automation and manufacturing industries. Involved technologies are Communication and HMI technologies for smart factories and smart houses (ProfiEnergy, Power Line Communication for smartgrids, Control & HMI for Smart Houses, energy monitoring devices connected to the Internet of Things).  WP3 develops demonstration tools, based on the pilots, to perform numerous demonstration actions for practicing engineers in industry. In this way the knowledge on new technologies is increased and an early market uptake of Industry 4.0’s new automation technologies is achieved in the 2 Seas region.

Objectives

The main objective of INCASE is preparing the industry (automation & manufacturing industry) for the future “Industry 4.0” (I4.0) and “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT). This is done by:

• Creating awareness of technical management and decision makers  of companies on the possibilities of the new technologies.
• Preparing practicing engineers by demonstrating new technologies for the future smart interconnected factories, smart buildings and sustainable engineering.

The project specific objectives are:

• Pilots on ProfiCloud          
• Pilots on Stress-testing on Profinet   
• Feasibility study on PLC           
• Pilots on Networked Control       
• Pilots on Integrated Design   
• Pilots for ProfiEnergy       
• Pilots for smartgrids using PLC        
• Pilots for Control&HMI for Smart homes   
• Pilots for energy monitoring devices connected to IOT, IIOT and industrial networks
• Demonstration tools & actions
  
  
  

Role of Ghent University

Ghent University Campus Kortrijk – Lab Lemcko is the lead partner of the project. Ghent University will be the main driver on the following topics:

• Co-simulation
• Communication in smart factories and smart grids, with focus in Power Line Communication
• Robustness of communication (HFPQ and EMC)

Ghent University will also actively cooperate with the project partners on:

• High performance industrial hardware targets
• Robustness of Profinet communication
• Design and validation of energy monitoring devices
• Integrated design with low-cost controllers

Other interesting topics in the project, where Ghent University will gain knowledge from the partners are:

• ProfiEnergy
• FPGA
• Profinet
• Mobile robotics
• Smart home control

This project has received funding from the Interreg 2 Seas programme 2014-2020 co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under subsidy contract No 2S01-049.

Contact

Prof. Jos Knockaert
UGent Campus Kortrijk
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture – EESA – EELAB/Lemcko
+32(0)56 24 12 11
jos.knockaert@ugent.be