Business Unit Automation and Digitalization

We offer solutions for:

• Flexible production and value chains
• Resource and process optimization in production
• Digital twins for Industry 4.0
• Industrial communication and cyber security
• Industrial data ecosystems

Welcome to the website of the business unit Automation and Digitalization of the Fraunhofer IOSB! Our activities focus on innovative, individually tailored IT solutions for complex production processes and networked production ecosystems.

From measurement and control technology to embedded systems and complex production control, we have been designing, developing and delivering groundbreaking system solutions for industrial applications for many years. Today, Industry 4.0, cybersecurity in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), collaborative human-machine systems, digital twins, and customized AI methods (especially machine learning) for use in manufacturing, assembly, and logistics play central roles.

With the SmartFactoryOWL and the Karlsruhe Research Factory for AI-integrated Production, we have optimal development and demonstration environments for SMEs and large companies.

• Concept studies & potential analysis: In moderated workshops, we analyze the specific requirements of your company, identify potential and develop solutions and implementation concepts in close coordination with your OT & IT experts. We support your company in developing and implementing the strategy in your processes. In doing so, we benefit from our many years of project experience, for example, also with regard to the necessary infrastructure.
  
• Software & System Development: We translate the common reference architectures into systems that are suitable for your purposes. We model information models and implement both customized backend services and web-based frontend applications. We offer our own solutions, most of which we provide as open source. We seamlessly integrate our customized solutions into your existing software (ERP, MES, PLM) and hardware landscape. In doing so, we rely on established solutions and standards such as OPC UA, the Asset Administration Shell (AAS), MQTT and HTTP/REST APIs.
  
• Guidelines & White Papers: We “translate” standards into easy-to-understand implementation recommendations and use examples from SmartFactoryOWL, the Karlsruhe Research Factory and research projects to highlight potential and further development needs.
  
• Continuing education: We develop customized seminars for your specific training needs, for example on the topics of OPC UA, Asset Administration Shell (AAS), cybersecurity and data-based value creation. The seminars can be held at your premises, online or at our premises, for example at our research factory in Karlsruhe or the SmartFactoryOWL in Lemgo.
  
• Prototypes & demonstrators: We work with you to build prototypes and demonstrators for trade shows or to evaluate technologies in your pilot plant.