With the software tool eM-PLC from Siemens Automation and Drives, complete manufacturing cells can be put into virtual operation today. An application example is car body welding. Based upon all mechanical data, eM-PLC can generate a program for the SIMATIC-S7 control system of the welding robot, the conveyor belt and the parts supplier. The program controls the virtual three-dimensional welding cell and allows the engineers to simulate the interaction of the mechanics and electronics, something that was only possible in the real plant up until now. One advantage is that it is immediately apparent how small changes influence the total system. Constructional flaws and faulty planning are recognized much earlier.
So that errors in large and complex plants can be also quickly identified and redressed, Siemens researchers have developed the speech controlled system, SEAR (Speech Enabled Augmented Reality). The system leads the service engineer to the problem source. Once there, the engineer can "talk" to the faulty component about the breakdown. Through speech recognition, the system component can react to the inquiries and generates a 3D voice for its answers.
Flexibility is also in demand in the chemical industry. New products have to be developed faster and have to be brought to the market equally quickly. With huge manufacturing plants, this is not possible. Siemens' microreaction engineering offers a solution. Siemens is participating in a research project in which reaction containers on the microliter scale are being tested for their suitability in industry.
