A session on “Productive teaming – Human-machine collaboration in the production environment” was held as part of the 60th Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium. The role of highly complex cyber-technical systems in overcoming future challenges in human-centered production was discussed. The researchers in the CHIM network emphasized the relevance of cross-university collaboration to drive innovation in this promising field of research.
As part of the 60th Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium “Engineering for a Changing World” (ISC) and in cooperation with the Chemnitz-Ilmenau-Magdeburg Research and Innovation Network (CHIM), TU Ilmenau hosted its own session on “Productive teaming” on September 7, 2023. The aim of this special topic highlight in collaboration with the CHIM research and innovation network was to find out what contribution highly complex, intelligent, adaptable and autonomous cyber-technical systems can make to overcoming future challenges in human-centered production. Challenges relating to trust and safety in teamwork between humans and machines were also discussed.
Contributions in the form of presentations, elevator pitches and a poster session on the four main topics of “Joint cognition”, “Measurement and information collection”, “Information processing” and “Operation and evaluation” were discussed in front of a broad international audience that extended far beyond the members of the CHIM network. “This showed above all that reliability and safety and the associated trust in human-machine interaction and productive teaming are of central importance,” says Prof. Husung from TU Ilmenau. In addition, the importance of cognitive algorithms and modeling, trustworthy and explainable AI, multimodal immersion solutions and suitable sensor integration and signal processing became clear. The use cases presented in the contributions ranged from “teaming in design” to innovative production solutions.
The colloquium offered the Productive Teaming research initiative a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with other international experts, learn about the latest trends and developments and explore new opportunities for cooperation. Prof. Ragni from Chemnitz University of Technology: “The initiative has already established itself as a central player in the research of human-system teamwork and aims to find out how effective, efficient and at the same time human-centered hybrid teams must be designed”.
About Productive Teaming
Productive Teaming” is a joint research initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology and OVGU Magdeburg. The three universities complement each other perfectly in the network, which is dedicated in particular to human-technology interaction and is also expanding into other research areas in the future. Each of the three universities contributes its special expertise – Chemnitz University of Technology in the field of “Human-Machine Interaction and Cognitive Systems”, Ilmenau University of Technology in the field of “Intelligent Sensors and Complex Systems” and OVGU Magdeburg in the research field of “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Engineering”.
Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg – united in the CHIM research and innovation network – are completely rethinking industrial production. Whereas in the 19th century, humans were the ones who made the machines work and always solved all problems, “Productive Teaming” brings the machine into the team. Human-machine interaction, which has been at the heart of manufacturing since Industry 4.0, is of paramount importance here: people and machines are adjusted to each other in the production process with the help of artificial intelligence and their actions are coordinated so that tasks and problems are solved more efficiently than ever before. Intelligent machines not only learn to learn, but also to intervene empathetically in the production process. Just as a human foreman recognizes that a worker is overworked or mentally overwhelmed and provides support or removes them from the production process altogether, so too will machines do in the future – according to the vision of Productive Teaming. With Productive Teaming, it will not only be mechanical cogwheels that mesh in the production process in future, but also artificial intelligence, software and sensor technology – and people.
About the Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium
From September 4 to 8, 2023, the Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium (ISC) took place under the motto “Engineering for a Changing World”. This year, international representatives from science and practice met for the 60th time at the TU Ilmenau to spend five days exchanging the latest scientific findings and presenting innovations for a rapidly changing world – a total of around 400 participants. The spectrum of engineering topics covered this year ranges from precision engineering and metrology, digitalization and Industry 4.0 to mechanics, mechatronics, biomechatronics, compliant systems, the development of technical systems and innovative metallic materials. In view of rising global energy consumption, issues of resource efficiency and the circular economy played a particularly important role.
Further information on the ISC: https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/universitaet/fakultaeten/fakultaet-maschinenbau/veranstaltungen/ilmenau-scientific-colloquium-engineering-for-a-changing-world
More information about Productive Teaming: https://forschungsnetzwerk-chim.de/productive-teaming/
(Authors: TU Ilmenau/Marlies Facius; Photos: TU Ilmenau/Michael Reichel and TU Chemnitz/Marlies Facius)
