Industrial Domains

Manufacturing

The Industrial Domain Manufacturing is applying AI to optimize operations, enhance automation, and improve resource utilization. Key uses include predictive maintenance, AI-powered robotics, production planning, and real-time supply chain monitoring, all while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and ethical regulations. Challenges include AI integration with existing systems, data privacy, and addressing ethical concerns like job displacement and algorithmic bias. Adaptive AI systems help boost agility and resilience in manufacturing processes. 

Sub-Domains
Use Cases
Projects

Project: Self X-Smart MAintenance for industrial Robot manipulator Technologies (X-SMART)

Third parties involved: Simone Arena – University of Cagliari

The X-SMART project (self X-Smart MAintenance for industrial Robot manipulator Technologies) aims to improve knowledge of predictive maintenance (PdM) strategies for industrial robot manipulators by integrating Self-X capabilities (Self-Configuration, Self-Healing, Self-Optimization, Self- Protection). Key activities include developing a Cyber-Physical System tomonitor performance and applying adaptive AI for real-time fault detection. Expected results include downtime reduction, improved system adaptability to unforeseen events, and the development of adaptable, autonomous PdM software. The research will contribute to companies’ assets availability, competitiveness, and sustainability, by advancing trusted and adaptive AI practices.


Project: Improving low data volume defect detection via neural architecture search

Third parties involved: Igor Jovančević, Nikola Milović, Nikola Pižurica – Fain Tech doo

This project applies neural architecture search (NAS) to tackle challenges posed by low-volume datasets, while pairing the results with explainable AI (XAI) to ensure interpretability. Building on our recent breakthroughs, we will begin by establishing solid baselines, then progressively advance toward the core NAS and XAI objectives. Drawing on prior experience, we anticipate strong performance gains from NAS. The work aligns with European AI priorities, pushing the state of the art in AI-driven manufacturing and promoting reliable, trustworthy AI systems through robust explainability methods.


Project: LEarning Defect Detection from Samples with REduced size and SYnthetiC Labelled data (LeddsResycl)

Third parties involved: Olaf Kähler, Werner Bailer, Georg Thallinger – Joanneum Research

LeddsResycl proposes to address the detection of components of interest and their classification into defect-free or defected in two separate steps. Building on the following strands of deep learning work: One is few-shot detection/classification using pairwise fine-grained training, able to perform incremental training from limited sample sets. The other is the model soup paradigm for training instance segmentation networks on synthetic data, and improving generalisation to real data. We further will include our expertise in explainable AI for classification in order to provide semantically meaningful feedback to users of the AI system. The proposed methods will be evaluated against approaches from literature.



Project: AI-Driven Predictive Maintenance and Risk Management Approach for Machine Tools

Third parties involved: Hakob Grigoryan – NVISION

This study proposes a novel approach to predictive maintenance and health monitoring in machine tools by integrating Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) with advanced Deep Learning algorithms. Predicting and assessing machine breakdowns is crucial for optimizing maintenance schedules, reducing downtime, enhancing operational efficiency, and minimizing financial losses associated with failures. While traditional rule-based and systematic methods like FMEA offer valuable insights into potential failure modes, they often lack real-time predictive capabilities. In contrast, AI algorithms can analyze large datasets to identify patterns indicative of impending failures. By combining FMEA with AI, this research aims to develop a comprehensive framework for proactive maintenance that accurately identifies and predicts potential machine breakdowns.




Project: Self X-Smart MAintenance for industrial Robot manipulator Technologies (X-SMART)

Third parties involved:

The X-SMART project (self X-Smart MAintenance for industrial Robot manipulator Technologies) aims to improve knowledge of predictive maintenance (PdM) strategies for industrial robot manipulators by integrating Self-X capabilities (Self-Configuration, Self-Healing, Self-Optimization, Self- Protection). Key activities include developing a Cyber-Physical System tomonitor performance and applying adaptive AI for real-time fault detection. Expected results include downtime reduction, improved system adaptability to unforeseen events, and the development of adaptable, autonomous PdM software. The research will contribute to companies’ assets availability, competitiveness, and sustainability, by advancing trusted and adaptive AI practices.


Project: Improving low data volume defect detection via neural architecture search

Third parties involved: Igor Jovančević, Nikola Milović, Nikola Pižurica – Fain Tech doo
This project applies neural architecture search (NAS) to tackle challenges posed by low-volume datasets, while pairing the results with explainable AI (XAI) to ensure interpretability. Building on our recent breakthroughs, we will begin by establishing solid baselines, then progressively advance toward the core NAS and XAI objectives. Drawing on prior experience, we anticipate strong performance gains from NAS. The work aligns with European AI priorities, pushing the state of the art in AI-driven manufacturing and promoting reliable, trustworthy AI systems through robust explainability methods.


Project: LEarning Defect Detection from Samples with REduced size and SYnthetiC Labelled data (LeddsResycl)

Third parties involved: Olaf Kähler, Werner Bailer, Georg Thallinger – Joanneum Research 

LeddsResycl proposes to address the detection of components of interest and their classification into defect-free or defected in two separate steps. Building on the following strands of deep learning work: One is few-shot detection/classification using pairwise fine-grained training, able to perform incremental training from limited sample sets. The other is the model soup paradigm for training instance segmentation networks on synthetic data, and improving generalisation to real data. We further will include our expertise in explainable AI for classification in order to provide semantically meaningful feedback to users of the AI system. The proposed methods will be evaluated against approaches from literature.  






Project: Self X-Smart MAintenance for industrial Robot manipulator Technologies (X-SMART)

Third parties involved:

The X-SMART project (self X-Smart MAintenance for industrial Robot manipulator Technologies) aims to improve knowledge of predictive maintenance (PdM) strategies for industrial robot manipulators by integrating Self-X capabilities (Self-Configuration, Self-Healing, Self-Optimization, Self- Protection). Key activities include developing a Cyber-Physical System tomonitor performance and applying adaptive AI for real-time fault detection. Expected results include downtime reduction, improved system adaptability to unforeseen events, and the development of adaptable, autonomous PdM software. The research will contribute to companies’ assets availability, competitiveness, and sustainability, by advancing trusted and adaptive AI practices.