Hams Hall, UK. A four-legged robotic named “SpOTTO”
just lately joined the crew at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall within the UK. The
autonomous robotic canine scans the plant, helps upkeep and
ensures manufacturing processes run easily. Equipped with visible,
thermal and acoustic sensors, SpOTTO is deployed in quite a few distinctive
use circumstances: On the one hand, it collects priceless information for the plant’s
digital twin; on the opposite, it serves as a watchdog, overseeing
upkeep of manufacturing services. “Virtualization, automation and
synthetic intelligence are central pillars of the BMW iFACTORY,”
explains Klaus von Moltke, SVP of Engine Production at BMW AG. “Bold,
modern utility examples like these at Plant Hams Hall showcase
the total vary of prospects.”
Fully linked digital twin: Big information on three ranges
SpOTTO performs a pivotal function in creating and refining the plant’s
absolutely linked digital twin. The digital twin operates on three
ranges: On the primary degree, 3D representations of the complete plant are
generated. The second degree includes a big information layer into which
the autonomous robotic canine, manufacturing services and IT programs on the
plant feed all related data. On the third degree – the
utility degree – devoted programmes type the information collected into
understandable and traceable models. It is the mix of those
three ranges that makes the absolutely linked digital twin distinctive. Using
apps, specialists at Plant Hams Hall can now consider and utilise this
information. Application examples embody high quality assurance and manufacturing
planning. Dirk Dreher, Director of BMW Group Plant Hams Hall, is
delighted: “Thanks to the digital twin, we now have an unlimited amount
of exact information and evaluations, in addition to a real-time image of
manufacturing processes. The venture crew at Plant Hams Hall has created
distinctive use circumstances for our four-legged pal and built-in him
completely into our processes.”
A dependable upkeep watchdog
Thanks to its visible, thermal and acoustic sensors, SpOTTO is ready to
carry out quite a few upkeep duties. For occasion, he screens the
temperature of producing tools and instantly recognises if
an set up is working too scorching – an early signal of potential
failure. At BMW Group Plant Hams Hall, SpOTTO additionally specialises in
figuring out leaks within the compressed-air strains utilized in manufacturing.
Given that compressed air requires a considerable quantity of power,
detecting leaks shortly can decrease power consumption.
SpOTTO was created by Boston Dynamics with the product identify “Spot.”
It is a nimble robotic sufficiently small to make use of indoors, that climbs stairs
and traverses tough terrain with ease. “Spot” was renamed SpOTTO at
Plant Hams Hall – paying tribute to the heritage of the British engine
plant. Gustav Otto was one of many founders of BMW and son of Nicolaus
Otto, inventor of the four-stroke inside combustion engine. In 2023,
greater than 400,000 engines had been produced at Plant Hams Hall, which,
alongside SpOTTO, additionally employs about 1,600 folks. Before SpOTTO’s
introduction on the plant, a devoted crew examined which actions
the robotic canine can be appropriate for in a one-year improvement course of.
Other potential makes use of are at present being trialled within the plant’s
Technical Basement: These embody studying analogue working controls
or performing complicated sequences of actions that make the four-legged
robotic even higher at accessing hard-to-reach areas of manufacturing. In
addition to Hams Hall, different BMW Group vegetation are additionally at present
testing using robotic dogs.
Working with trusted companions
Marco da Silva, Head of Spot Product Development at Boston Dynamics
explains: “The working atmosphere at Plant Hams Hall is properly suited
for industrial inspections utilizing a quadruped robotic like SpOTTO. The
robotic can simply take over the completion of quite a few, repeatable
monitoring duties so the plant’s upkeep crew can give attention to
upkeep. We are pleased with the way in which the robotic has been built-in
into the plant.”
