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Content archived on 2024-04-15

Transponders for Real-Time Activity Control of Manufacturing Links to CIM Information Technology Systems

Objective

The objective of this project was to develop a transponder system for the identification of parts and assemblies flowing through automated assembly plants. The transponder had to fulfil the following requirements:
-the ability to reliably survive manufacturing processes involving vibration, dust, oil, acid, paint and heat
-no requirement for special positioning of transponders or interrogators
-no faults in allocation, even in high-density stocking
-programmability.
A transponder identifying parts and assemblies in an automated assembly environment must be able to cope with arduous operating conditions including vibration, dust, oil and heat. It must be programmable, freely positionable and achieve error free identification even in high density stocking situations. The intelligent transponder developed under this project will permit reliable and efficient tracking of parts and other objects both in factories and elsewhere. The provision of local storage will considerably reduce the load and dependency on the central computer integrated manufacture (CIM) database and related communication channels.

The objective of this project was to develop a transponder system for the identification of parts and assemblies flowing through automated assembly plants. The transponder had to fulfil the following requirements: the ability to survive manufacturing processes involving vibration, dust, oil, acid, paint and heat; no special positioning; no faults in allocation, even in high-density stocking; and programmability. Hardware and software requirements were defined and transponders with 2 Kbyte storage developed and tested. The data transfer rates were speeded up by a factor of 5 to 10. Software for connecting read/write stations to automobile manufacturing workstations wasdeveloped. Several tests carried out with a motorway tolling company were very promising: cars could be identified when passing at speeds up to 70 km/h.

There have been no negotiations about the first small installations but quite a number of large installations have been carried out, including installations in Hoesch, Thyssen, Volkswagen, Citroën and Mercedes.
Hardware and software requirements were defined and transponders with 2 Kbyte storage developed and tested. The data transfer rates were speeded up by a factor of 5 to 10. Software for connecting read/write stations to automobile manufacturing workstations was developed.
Several tests carried out with a motorway tolling company were very promising: cars could be identified when passing at speeds up to 70 km/h.
Exploitation
The results will be applied to the computer-integrated manufacture of automobiles, where up to now no information carrier has been available which can be used throughout the manufacturing process. They are also targeted for application in material flow management systems, essential in CIM environments.
Tests in several car manufacturing plants have led to negotiations which should lead to the first small orders.
The intelligent transponder system will enable the reliable and efficient tracking of parts through the factory as well as outside it. The provision of local storage will considerably reduce the load and dependency on the central CIM database and on the related communication channels.
The results of the project have led to a DIN standard which will be used first in Volkswagen and hopefully later on throughout the European automotive industry.

Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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Coordinator

Redar Nah-Ortungstechnik GmbH
EU contribution
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Address
Schleiermacherstraße 23
64283 Darmstadt
Germany

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Total cost
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Participants (1)