Pro²Future builds on top of the consortium's expertise in mechatronic systems, networked embedded systems, cyber-physical systems, smart/pervasive/ubiquitous systems, systems of systems, big data analytics and data-driven predictive models, semantic and intelligent systems, and adresses innovative ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) for production systems and future products. The main focus is on cognitive systems. Pro²Future aims at a next generation of industrial ICT: Cognitive products and industrial systems that help equip products and production systems with human-like cognitive capabilities such as perception, understanding, interpretation, memorization and learning, reasoning, and corresponding cognition-driven autonomous action. The Pro²Future research programme consolidates research results in two core areas, namely Area 4.1 Cognitive Products and Area 4.2 Cognitive Production Systems. They are supported by the three basic areas Area 1 Machine Perception and Consciousness, Area 2 Cognitive Robotics and Shop Floors and Area 3 Cognitive Decision Support Systems.

The core of Pro²Future is a highly ambitious research programme jointly defined by business and science. Over an initial four-year funding period from 2017 to 2021, Pro²Future carried out projects in the area of industrial research and the experimental development of cognitive products and cognitive production systems. Basic research, training measures and technical feasibility studies round off the funded activities. In the so-called non-COMET area, Pro²Future conducts research and development that is either funded outside the COMET funding framework, both nationally and internationally, or is commissioned directly by companies and organisations from business and society.

FFG Success Stories Pro²Future, opens an external URL in a new window:

• Modelling and control of plastics extrusion machines, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Empowering engineers in large development processes to precisely focus on the task, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Sinter production improvement, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Improved energy efficiency in extrusion, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Adaptive loading station, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• AI <> HI :: artificial intelligence meets human intelligence, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Scalable condition monitoring system for test environments, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Creating awareness in automation systems, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Cognitive elements as enablers for flexible and adaptive production systems, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Privacy-respecting monitoring of manual assembly lines, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Development of cognitive products, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)
• Industry 4.0 at production plants - first results of CoExCo, opens an external URL in a new window (en, pdf)

Since the beginning, the Institute of Pervasive Computing has accompanied the COMET K1 Centre. We already played a leading role in development and submission, and Prof. Ferscha is active today as scientific director of Pro2Future GmbH and key researcher.

The institute works closely with Pro²Future, especially in the Area 1 (machine perception and consciousness). Here, innovative interaction concepts are developed to enable direct, collaborative and safe cooperation between humans and machines by equipping technical systems with cognitive capabilities (e.g. perception, interpretation, learning, decision making, etc.).

In our projects, cognitive systems are realized in the form of industrial, sensor-based assistance systems for the optimal support of workers directly in the concrete production process (human-in-the-loop). Intuitive support and assistance functions integrated into the workflow are intended to provide optimal support for workers in the product process. The overriding goal is to provide the right, relevant information at the right time on a suitable sensory channel and thus to support the workflow in the best possible way.

The main focus of the research is on (i) the technical realization of perception and interpretation of the context, such as the modeling of the status in the production process, and (ii) the acquisition of human (e.g. vital data, skill and experience, cognitive load) as well as machine parameters (material, process specifications, environment), (ii) in the exploration of innovative interaction modalities that allow a simplified and more efficient execution of work processes, such as in technical support in maintenance and documentation scenarios, and (iii) in the development of optimal sensor-actuator systems that meet industrial and human requirements and that can adapt and adjust (learn) to human differences as well as to technical conditions.

The Institute of Pervasive Computing is currently engaged in the following projects:

• UnderstandHIT - AI2Human (10/2021-03/2025)
• KAL-GISS: Klassifizierung der Spritzgießverfahren (10/2021-03/2024)
• GuideIT - APECGR: Artificial Personality for Cognitive Guidance and Recommendation Systems (04/2021-03/2024)
• GuideIT - RTEL: Cognitive Rail Track Error Learning (04/2021-03/2024)
• ReifyAI (10/2021-03/2023)
• GuideIT - GAP: Cognitive Guidance for Assembly Processes (04/2021-03/2022)
• UnderstandHIT - Fischer4You2 (04/2021-03/2022)

Poster collection of joint projects in FP2:

The Institute of Pervasive Computing is engaged in the following projects (FP1):

• SeeIT: Augmented Work Processes (01/2018-03/2021)
• WorkIT: Workflow and Tool Process Modelling (01/2018-03/2021)
• GUIDE: Guidance and Assistance (04/2018-03/2021)
• Fischer4You: Cognitive Skiing Products (01/2019-03/2021)
• RTEAS: Cognitive Rail Track Error Analysis Support (11/2019-03/2021)
• Opportunistic Awareness in Assistive Environments (04/2020-03/2021)
• HumanAI: Human Focused AI for occupational safety and accident prevention (11/2020-03/2021)

Poster collection of joint projects in FP1: