The Intelligence of Autonomous Systems
Cargo robots, transporting shipments independently, anticipate the vision of a fully automated process. The port of Hamburg, with its smooth logistics, is inconceivable without intelligent solutions governing the flow of goods. The port’s truck traffic is coordinated by Smart Port Logistics and GPS navigation in impressively precise ways.
Self-driving vehicles are another example of extremely advanced cyber-physical systems. They analyze their own situation in traffic and constantly obtain data via the internet. Ideally, they drive to their destinations in safe and independent ways.
Starting in 2018, new vehicles registered in the EU must be equipped with a SIM card via the eCall emergency call system. In principle, the system required for emergency cases can be used for all conceivable new services in connected cars. At the same time, this raises issues about data protection, data sovereignty, and IT security.
Overall, the target is to accelerate the speed of response, up to the point of reaching real-time supply chains and even anticipatory logistics. To be regulated by an inbuilt intelligent evaluation of comprehensive and up-to-date information.
Mass customization: individualizing production and services
What sits at the core of the Internet of Things? Smart objects that can communicate with each other and even act autonomously.
This makes it possible to build items in smaller quantities, which allows for greater
individualization of products, at lower prices. 3D printing can produce minimal series in decentralized ways, including individual items. Already, additive manufacturing processes are used in the consumer goods sector, by jewelry and watch designers, shoe manufacturers, and sports equipment producers.
This technology is perfectly suited for the structures of tomorrow, which are customer-oriented and extremely flexible modes of production. Connecting the processes of ordering, producing and delivering is the next step of a development that leads to individual mass production in a lot size of 1.
