Hannover Messe 2023

Meet the audio experts from Fraunhofer IDMT in Oldenburg at the Hannover Messe. At the world's leading trade fair for industry from 17 - 21 April, we will present solutions for voice-based machine control as well as for the reliable detection of plug-in connections through acoustic monitoring.

The practice of using voice-controlled machines in manufacturing was previously considered prone to errors, and as a result, it was hardly ever adopted. Now, Fraunhofer IDMT in Oldenburg has developed a solution that allows machines to be reliably controlled using voice commands.

The technology also has advantages for employees, as contactless machine operation is safe and hygienic for people. When employees are controlling multiple machines, it reduces how far they need to walk – they can use a mobile device to issue voice commands to the equipment from a distance.

Our voice control system can be configured to meet the customers individual needs and quickly put into operation. The speech recognition software can be integrated in the cloud or the company server, depending on the company’s requirements. It is also possible to incorporate a mini PC or even integrate the system into a machine’s programmable logic controller (PLC) without any issues.

The Hannover Messe visitors will be able to experience the technology and explore its possibilities live at the Fraunhofer booth in Hall 16, booth A12. Demonstrations will take place using a voice-controlled milling machine.

Automobiles usually have several hundred connectors. If any one of these connections doesn't engage properly during production and it's not noticed until after the car has been delivered to the customer, then the car has to be returned for repair. That's frustrating for the owner, and the car manufacturers end up wasting time and money. Given the low margins in mass production, this turns into a serious problem. The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg has therefore developed a solution. An audio-based technology analyzes the clicking noise that is generated when a connection is plugged in. Should a connection fail to click into place, employees or the »colleague robot« will be alerted via an error message.

Not only does audio-based technology fit into the trend of using sensors to monitor manufacturing steps in production, making them safer and more reliable, but it also makes a noticeable difference in increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

The system is now able to reliably differentiate and examine acoustic signals that are very similar to each other. It also can be integrated in various ways. On one hand, it can be a component of the sensor system in the automated factory, for example, on the arm of a robot. On the other hand, it could be installed at the respective workstation or also be integrated into a worker's work glove.

Visitors can then experience the technology live at the Hannover Messe (Hall 16, booth A12) thanks to a demonstrator.