Machine-Material-Interaction

Process Monitoring in Road Construction

Copyright: © ISAC

Digitization of processes is becoming increasingly important for value creation in modern industrialized countries. In this context, the term Industry 4.0 refers to activities whose core idea is the self-optimization and automation of process flows. What is meant here is the dovetailing of processes with state-of-the-art technologies for information, communication, data processing, control and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. The machine, the product, the operator and, strictly speaking, the entire process chain must merge into a single unit. To this end, the machines and materials must be equipped with special sensory, actuator and - especially the machines - increasingly also cognitive functions.

To optimize machine-material interaction, the creation of a so-called digital twin of that very process is of great importance. A digital twin is a reflection of a physical interaction system into a virtual data-driven or algorithmic model, in this case the interaction between the construction machines and the building materials. The generation of such a digital twin or even a real-time capable and automated process control in the sense of the Industry 4.0 approach (cyber-physical system) is not yet possible on the basis of the current state of knowledge and must therefore be further researched in the future.