Fachartikel Archive - Page 2 of 2

Rapid prototyping - accelerate development with fast prototypes

Written by Ivo Frank on April 1, 2022. Posted in Fachartikel.

Rapid prototyping allows ideas to be implemented quickly. Especially in research and development, there seem to be no limits. But what exactly is rapid prototyping? And why is the process particularly advantageous in product development?

In 2004, surgeons in Dallas, Texas, successfully separated two-year-old Egyptian twins who had grown together at the head. The 34-hour operation was a complete success. The complicated procedure was only possible because surgeons were able to plan the complex operation using accurate anatomical models of the twins' skulls and vascular structures of their brains. A large number of these models are made using rapid prototyping. In this process, the boys' skulls were replicated using a 3D printing process with transparent acrylic. This gave the surgeons an unprecedented insight.

The technology, which was considered a sensation at the time, is now, 18 years later, an indispensable part of everyday life in many research and development departments and continues to produce fascinating results.

What exactly is rapid prototyping?

Rapid prototyping refers to a group of manufacturing processes. The processes produce a scalable model of a workpiece or product in a short time using three-dimensional CAD data. In addition to rapid prototyping, the manufacturing processes are also referred to as 3D printing or additive manufacturing processes. Here, a workpiece or product is created by applying materials layer by layer. This is usually done by means of physical or chemical effects in the form of heat or electromagnetic waves.

3D Printing via Fused Deposition Modeling (FMD)

Probably the best-known process in the field of rapid prototyping is 3D printing using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Here, filamentary plastic, which is also known as filament, is melted by heat in a nozzle and applied layer by layer to the so-called print bed. This form of 3D printing is particularly convincing due to its low cost and speed of implementation. It is therefore well suited for use in the early stages of development.

Rapid prototyping enables developers and designers in particular to quickly make their ideas tangible. Initial designs and ideas thus not only appear in sketches and simulations, but can also be examined haptically.

Advantages of Rapid Prototyping

Saving money and time: With 3D printing, there are no manufacturing costs for tools. The devices can get started immediately after a very short setup time. In addition, a wide variety of geometries can be produced with one and the same device.
Better feedback through physical modelsThe fast prototypes can be examined in much more detail and from all sides haptically. They can also be used for presentation purposes.
Optimize the product at an early stage: Prototypes are produced at a very early stage of DevelopmentThis means that feedback can be taken into account right from the start of development. The use of the prototypes in tests also provides information about the function.
Waste reduction: Compared to subtractive manufacturing processes, such as milling or turning, in which material is removed from a raw material, rapid prototyping significantly avoids or reduces scrap material.

Rapid prototyping in product development

Especially in the area of product development, the fast and uncomplicated production of a prototype can be of great advantage. This is because 3D printing significantly reduces the time between a 3D design file and a production-ready product. Developers and product designers gain a comprehensive understanding of the product at an early stage of the project and can optimize the product virtually by gaining real-life experience of using it. Thanks to the quickly available prototypes, several development steps can also be initiated, which also has a very positive effect on the development period. Customers and project partners also gain an early impression of the product and can introduce change requests before high costs arise.

Source: Siamese twins successfully separated thanks to 3D printed model

LoRa® and LoRaWAN® simply explained

Written by Ivo Frank on March 8, 2022. Posted in Fachartikel, IoT. 6 Comments on LoRa® und LoRaWAN® einfach erklärt

When dealing with digitalization, smart cities or the Internet of Things (IoT), the importance of energy-efficient wireless technologies is obvious. In this context, we are increasingly hearing about the LoRa or LoRaWAN radio standard. But what is it actually and how does it differ from other radio technologies?

First of all, we need to look at the big picture. LoRaWAN stands for "Long Range Wide Area Network", which means network with a long range. The network was developed specifically for the IoT (Internet of Things), i.e. the networking of objects and machines. As a rule, it consists of three components:

Sensors and LoRa transmitters (Colloquially also called "end node"): Capture data and send it to a gateway via LoRa.
LoRa Gateway: Receives data from the sensors and forwards it to a server.
Server/Cloud: Receives, processes and visualizes data.

LoRaWAN thus describes the entire structure of the network and the communication between the individual components.

LoRa Lora, on the other hand, stands for "Long Range" and refers to the radio technology that enables the communication link over long distances. The radio technology is used exclusively in the communication between the sensors and the gateways.

What about the security of wireless technology?

Due to the high energy efficiency of radio technology, it is possible to operate devices for very long periods of time despite radio. It is therefore important that the technology's security mechanisms are future-proof. LoRaWAN therefore uses standardized end-to-end encryption algorithms. The data to be transmitted is therefore encrypted on the sender side and only decrypted again at the receiver. The key required for this is exclusively in the possession of the receiver. (Source: LoRa Alliance)

Operation in private or in community network?

The open source principle of LoRaWAN enables operation both in one's own network and the use of so-called community networks. If you only want to operate in a limited area, it can make sense to operate your own gateways and servers. If, however, one is dependent on an extensive network, one can, for example, fall back on the community network "The Things Network (TTN)".

The Things Network (TTN)

The Things Network is a global, open and decentralized network funded by a community. The goal of the TTN is to establish a global IoT radio network based on LoRa. So anyone who is part of the TTN and operates their own gateway also supplies their surroundings and contributes to a nationwide radio network. In this way, private individuals can also contribute to coverage.

Comparison with other wireless technologies

Wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and WLAN achieve maximum ranges of up to 100 meters under optimum conditions. In most cases, this is not sufficient for industrial applications, since company premises or construction sites often extend over larger areas. In addition, transmitting with WLAN requires about three times as much energy as transmitting with LoRa, making it rather unsuitable for battery-powered sensors.

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) radio technology is also one of the trend setters in the IoT. It is equally convincing in terms of energy efficiency and a long range. Nevertheless, the technologies differ in many respects. The biggest difference is in the structure of the network. While the network structure of LoRaWAN in most cases consists of sensors, gateways and servers, NB-IoT relies on an existing mobile network. Thus, all that is needed is a compatible sensor. The network for data exchange is provided by telecommunications providers. However, this means that costs are incurred in the form of data tariffs (SIM card) for using the network.

	LoRa	WiFi	NB-IoT	Bluetooth
Frequency	868 MHz	2,4 GHz 5 GHz	800 MHz 900 MHz 1800 MHz	2,45 GHz
Building penetration	+	–	+	–
Energy demand	+	–	+	+
Operating costs	+	+	–	+

The benefits

High range of up to 10 km
Good penetration of buildings. Reaching basement rooms or goods in freight containers is possible without any problems.
Very low power requirements ensure maximum battery life for the sensors.
LoRaWAN is open source. So there are no license fees or charges for data transmission.

Possible applications

With its long range and low power consumption, LoRa is particularly suitable for sensors or applications in which small amounts of data are sent at long intervals. This includes, for example, control commands, status messages or updated sensor data.

In the smart city sector, for example, this can be used to monitor parking space control with parking space sensors. In addition, waste containers can be equipped with fill level sensors so that waste disposal companies can optimize their routes.

In the field of logistics, LoRa sensors can be used for tracking goods or transport monitoring.

LoRa sensors are also ideal for fleet management or asset tracking, i.e. monitoring goods or equipment.

Examples of application in practice:

Construction industry

Monitoring of equipment and goods.

Reusable container logistics

Monitoring of reusable packaging.

Forestry industry

Monitoring of wood and equipment.

Five reasons for the digitization of the construction industry

Written by Sven Kruse on February 28, 2022. Posted in Fachartikel. No Comments on Fünf Gründe für die Digitalisierung der Baubranche

Digital processes are changing all areas of our lives at an incredible speed. However, one area in which digitization is still making slow progress is the construction industry. In this article, we will show you why you should not miss out on digitization in the construction industry and what potential it holds.

The signs are pointing to change in all sectors, but in the construction industry, the shift toward automated processes and real-time reporting is off to a slow start. This is the finding of the PwC 2021 study "Digitalization, Sustainability and Corona in the Construction Industry" . According to the study, the gap between potential and capabilities has narrowed for only two out of seven digital solutions. For example, the potential for real-time reporting or IoT solutions on the construction site has also increased - but the capabilities in the construction industry have not.

What is the reason for the reluctance in the construction industry?

In other industries, digitization has long been part of everyday life. But what is holding back the digital transformation in the construction industry? The survey of construction companies revealed that the lack of technical expertise was the top concern. There are also fears that there is a lack of internal acceptance for the use of new technologies. Closely followed, in third place among the challenges, is security on the Internet. (Source: PwC 2021 study "Digitalization, Sustainability and Corona in the Construction Industry")

Integration and security

At first glance, the use of new technologies seems very complex. In addition, the large number of suppliers does not exactly provide a better overview; they often only offer components of one system. But they have been around for a long time, the providers of simple sensor systems that can be easily integrated into the existing infrastructure. No specialist knowledge is required for the integration or the evaluation of the data. In addition, the communication of the digital solutions is always encrypted and offers no attack surface for the security of the companies.

Five reasons to digitize your construction company

The extensive inventories and, above all, the parallel processing of many projects quickly lead to a loss of overview. It is also clear that sources of error can never be completely ruled out in the construction industry, even if work is carried out with great precision. However, the use of digital solutions can help to significantly reduce sources of error and inefficient use of resources. The following five points speak in favor of digitization:

Reduction of error sources: The use of IoT solutions relieves employees and replaces analog processes. For example, delivery bills or invoices can be automated. This saves time and costs.

General overview: An overall view of internal and external processes becomes possible. For example, the inventory can be displayed in real time and updates of devices between different projects can be displayed transparently.

Steigerung der Effizienz: Digitization ensures transparency and the efficient use of equipment.

Time and cost savings: The increased efficiency ensures faster service delivery and thus creates a more economical handling of projects. In addition, historical data can be used to optimize the inventory as needed.

Competitiveness: Digitization can change relationships with customers. Customers who already work digitally will look for partners who are also digitized. So in order to continue to exist and grow in the market, technologies for digitization are indispensable.

Conclusion

Whether in planning, administration or construction - analog processes still exist in abundance. But all these analog procedures offer potential for partial or complete digitization. Obtaining information with just a few clicks, automated processes in the background, and fast communication - these are all things that make everyday work in the construction industry much more effective and efficient. Digitalization is by no means a short-lived trend, but a long-term task. Right now is the right time to join the digital transformation and get started in your company.

What is IoT (Internet of Things)?

Written by Ivo Frank on February 11, 2022. Posted in Fachartikel, IoT. 3 Comments on Was ist IoT (Internet of Things)?

Digitization is in full swing. One buzzword that is heard again and again is IoT, but what is IoT and what does it do?

Networking is already part of everyday life in many areas. But especially in our lives. For example, it is completely normal for us to share pictures and posts on social networks, or for our smartwatch to provide us with daily information about our fitness status. The Internet of Things now aims to transfer precisely this degree of networking to all other physical objects. However, it is not possible to give a universally valid definition for the Internet of Things, because it has an astonishing diversity. However, the basic structure is identical in most cases and consists of the following components:

Objects
The starting point of the Internet of Things is objects to be monitored or connected.
Sensors
The sensors attached to the objects, record data.
Communication
There are various models for transferring data. Well-known wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and WLAN are often used. Technologies such as LoRa® and NB-IoT are also being used more and more frequently.
Infrastructure
Cloud platforms collect and store the data. It is here that the actual added value of the Internet of Things develops. This is where the evaluation and conversion of data into information takes place.

Which industries can benefit from the IoT?

There are virtually no limits to the areas of application for IoT solutions. Almost in every industry, added value can be created through its use. There are basically two possibilities for this:

Networking productss
In this approach, sensors are integrated directly into a new product. This serves to open up new business areas or improve the user experience.
Networking processes
There are numerous possibilities for networking processes and workflows. In addition to automating processes, maintenance cycles can be predicted, locations can be determined, and environments can be monitored.

Examples of IoT applications:

Construction industry: A sensor system consisting of trackers, a gateway and a cloud application provides data on the location and condition of devices and goods. The use of the data can, for example, automate prescription processes, reduce search times and adapt the equipment fleet to meet demand.

Smart-City: Sensors in waste garbage cans record the fill level and inform the responsible waste disposal companies as soon as they need to be emptied.

Food transportation: Sensors monitor the temperature of food to check whether quality requirements have been met.

Facilities Management: A sensor system monitors temperature, humidity, gas concentration, brightness and volume and detects deviations from optimal working conditions. This can have a positive effect on the ability to learn and concentrate. In addition, the collection of data can also optimize cleaning processes in buildings, for example.

What advantages does this bring?

Roughly speaking, all kinds of processes can be automated by networking objects, items or devices. Due to the versatility of the Internet of Things, numerous advantages result from the collected data. For example, maintenance can be better planned, errors or even failures can be predicted before they occur, or devices can be tracked via GPS. Ultimately, the benefits of networking result in savings and maximized transparency of internal processes.