Self-learning and autonomously adapting manufacturing equipment for the circular factory

Abstract The integration of both linear and circular processes in one production system poses significant challenges. In particular, the reprocessing of end-of-life products is associated with uncertainties at all levels of the production system, from the initial planning and control through to the executing production hardware and intralogistics. To address these challenges, this article presents approaches for self-learning and autonomously adapting production equipment for the Circular Factory. Initially, hardware and software solutions are developed to cover the necessary processes. Reprocessing is covered by modular and reconfigurable manufacturing cells, which also include new process chains such as the combination of additive-subtractive processes. The provided capabilities must be applied to ever new products, for example by transferring human procedures for unknown products to the production equipment. Lastly, an overall robust and dynamic production planning and control system is developed that maintains continuous operation even in unforeseen situations. The resulting highly dynamic overall system is connected by an autonomous intralogistics system.