OptiPro
PEM Researches Digitization of the Entire Cell Finalization Process Chain
The "Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components" (PEM) chair of RWTH Aachen University is working with numerous other research institutions on the "OptiPro" project to digitize the entire process chain of cell finishing. In doing so, the players want to enable an evaluation of the process and quality parameters of the respective process step by using innovative measurement techniques. The data is to be mapped in a virtual production system and analyzed and evaluated using artificial intelligence. All plant technologies used within the cell finalization are to communicate between the real and the virtual production system in such a way that a permanent feedback loop is created.
Higher efficiency with lower production costs
The envisaged goal of shorter process times basically induces an increase in efficiency and a reduction in production costs. The process data can then be integrated by the analysis methods both in the real plants and in the virtual production system. The continuous improvement of the diagnosis and analysis methods through the feedback between the real and the virtual system can derive direct application-specific process requirements in the long term and thereby specify the appropriate production steps and their depth.
Scrap reduction through process optimization
The background to the project is that cell finishing in battery production has so far been characterized by the limitation of the achievable throughput and insufficiently known influence on the cell quality parameters. Among other things, this is reflected in high manufacturing costs. The large energy and resource requirements of some sub-steps – including filling, forming, test storage and EoL testing – motivate minimizing process times. Since material requirements are a significant cost driver, the research partners are striving for a targeted reduction of scrap by optimizing the processes. The project is part of the federally funded competence cluster "Intelligent Battery Cell Production" (InZePro).
The project
- "OptiPro": Optimized cell finalization through innovative plant technology and parameter-based evaluation of process and quality parameters in the virtual production system
Research objectives
- Evaluation of process and quality parameters of any process step of cell finalization by using innovative measurement techniques
- Mapping of data in a virtual production system and analysis as well as evaluation with the help of artificial intelligence
Research and project partners
PEM of RWTH Aachen University
(project coordinator)
Institute of Automotive Technology (FTM) (TU Munich)
Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb) (TU Munich)
IMA & IfU Cybernetics Lab – Institute of Information Management in Mechanical Engineering & Associated Institute for Management Cybernetics e.V. (RWTH Aachen University)
Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (iSEA) (RWTH Aachen University)
Duration
- 03/01/2021 through 02/29/2024
Project management
Funding code
- 03XP0364A
Grantor