Autor: Michael Freitag

The digital twin is well on the way to becoming an elementary part of the corporate world. Corporate leaders hope that these intelligent images of an increasingly dynamic corporate reality will significantly reduce complexity. Ideally, model-based analyses and (partially) automated decisions using methods of simulation technology and artificial intelligence based on optimized IoT data management can make their contribution to corporate agility. In addition to the definition of terms/concepts, the paper will discuss current challenges and present various examples of their application. Based on these ideas, a process model for the introduction of digital twins in terms of technology migration will be presented.

In manual assembly, assistance systems are applied for the informational and physical support of employees. So far, assistance mainly focuses on some process-related aspects of assembly processes, while system acceptance, motivational perspectives are not considered. This article presents the gamification approach as a possibility to support the motivation of the workers. To facilitate a successful implementation of gamification, this paper presents a structured and method-based selection approach for game design elements.

The use of autonomous systems is not efficient in all applications due to variable system environments or small quantities. Semi-autonomous systems are able to bridge this gap. This article presents a digital twin-based approach for human-machine interaction using adaptive automation. A case study shows how a modular digital twin can support the operator of a CPS in specific tasks. This method allows for a distinction between short-term signal changes and long-term behavior modification. Thus, semi-autonomous systems can support operators in scenarios in which autonomous systems are not viable.

The progressive digitization of the working environment requires an infrastructure in production and logistics companies. In addition to establishing communication networks, a digitized infrastructure can itself be used as the subject of intelligent behaviour. Using the example of intelligent lighting control in port logistics, this article provides an overview of the potentials and hurdles that exist. First, it be examines how infrastructures in ports are structured and which technical solutions exist to implement intelligent control methods. Thereafter, it shows the potential arising from such intelligent lighting control, example given up to 35 % saving of energy costs allocated to electricity, and what hurdles must be overcome beforehand.

The future energy concept from the German federal government declares that by 2050, the primary energy requirement should be reduced to 80 %. Achieving this goal requires many local implementations. At teaching and research facilities, a large number of rooms and other spaces are used temporarily. That use usually happens over a predetermined period. The observance of the specific usage period of teaching rooms, in particular of internal teaching rooms, was used to design and implement a future-oriented energy concept for a lecture room. The concept was created to show how technical building services could be used. This work describes our concept’s principle, methodology, and implementation. This concept can also be used for energy optimization in other teaching rooms.

The food distribution of (deep) refrigerated goods is a steadily growing market segment that deals with sustainability in particular. Due to the high efficiency of the CEP service providers, a shipment as such is not necessarily worse than a shopping trip by car over several kilometers in town. A concrete approach to improve ecological sustainability in food delivery is the substitution of existing PE plastic bags filled with dry ice. The bags help to keep the dry ice together and protect the customer from burns. The following article analyzes ecological aspects of food shipment and conveys an understanding of current development concerning biodegradable plastic films. Due to special material properties of bio-based plastic films, the manufacturability of dry ice bags was investigated in a series of experiments. Dry ice bags were manufactured by means of the very precisely adjustable joining technology ultrasonic welding. Subsequent, load capacity of the dry ice bags was examined.

The digitalisation of the working world leads to the need and at the same time to the possibility of qualifying employees in a context-oriented, individual and process-oriented way. The challenge in this context is the target-oriented and coordinated use of different learning forms and systems. The present contribution provides an approach for combining content-related and structural gamification in e-learning and the increase of motivation for e-learning as well as knowledge consolidation through mobile learning by means of a game application tailored to the sector of application. To this end, the need to adapt education to digital change is described at the beginning, the pillars of the envisaged concept (gamification, e-learning and mobile learning) are classified, an implementation of the application case of the maintenance of wind turbines is delivered and, finally, the results of the evaluation as well as the added value of this contribution are discussed.

The yard assignment in automobile terminals plays an essential role for the entire planning process. Due to short planning cycles and volatile planning information, the yard assignment determines the planning performance. This article analyses the effects and interdependencies of yard assignment planning. On this basis, this paper presents an approach for deriving and evaluating autonomous control methods for a dynamic the yard assignment planning to improve the terminal’s overall performance.

German sea and inland ports are of outstanding importance for Germany as a base for manufacturing and logistics. In the last decades, the port sector underwent several structural changes. Currently, the expected autonomation and digitalization of the entire supply chain create entirely new challenges for the port industry. In this context, the present article describes a planning approach for the development of an automated straddle carrier in northern German seaports. To evaluate both the reliability and the profitability of such an automated system, a planning approach, consisting of two fundamental steps, was chosen: (1) At first, in order to perform prototypical experiments, a pilot installation will be established in the area of the container terminal in Wilhelmshaven (CTW). (2) Based on this, the system’s suitability for the operative conditions in a mega container terminal is evaluated using a simulation and emulationbased planning approach.

The increase in transport volumes, the consolidation of the unloading ports and the influence of ship size developments pose particular challenges for the logistics processes and technologies to the landside connection of sea ports. In addition, skills shortages are a driving force in the search for automated containerized transportation systems (ACTS) that relief ports and their surrounding infrastructure and extend storage capacity. The technology-specific assessment of the impact of an ACTS on the infrastructures to be crossed is the subject of this article.