Page 23 - trends in automation

One more question
trends in automation: What
significance does microsystems
engineering have in current research
and why is cooperation in networks
so important?
Dr. Volker Nestle: The days of major
research funding programmes for
microsystems engineering are over,
but current trends in automation such
as “Smart & Intuitive” or “Systems of
Systems” have no chance of success
without the consistent use of micro
systems engineering. We will
therefore be focussing even more
strongly on efficient small scale
microsystems production in future.
This cannot be achieved without an
excellent network, which is why we
are intensively involved in technology
clusters and networks.
Dr. Volker Nestle,
Head of Research
Microsystems
at Festo
Display at Festo. “These functions
are also known as lab-on-a-chip
applications. The entire fluidic system,
including reservoir, pumps and sensors,
must fit on a credit card sized carrier,”
explains the microsystems engineering
expert, citing medical technology as an
example. The miniaturised final product
requires similar assembly processes,
including pick & place, plastics welding
and feeding devices in the nanolitre
range.
Success in the smallest of spaces
Festo identified the trend towards
miniaturisation at an early stage
and was a driving force in making
components including valve terminals
even smaller. Miniature valve terminals
allow even the smallest of drives to be
activated in the smallest of spaces and
even installed on moving components.
Compact piezo valves play an important
role here as their volumetric capacity
is more than three times that of
conventional valves of the same
design.
However, Festo doesn’t want to merely
settle for innovative dosing valve
technology, and is thinking beyond the
limits of what is currently feasible. The
company is therefore involved in the
KonKaMis project of leading edge cluster
MicroTEC Südwest. The objective of
KonKaMis is the development of a
configurable camera for microsystems,
which can monitor the highly dynamic
filling processes of very small volumes
in various laboratory automation
applications. For the follow up project
INSERO3D, for which an application has
already been submitted, KonKaMis is
supplying the basics for the configuration
of a miniaturised 3D camera, which
will allow service robots to move in
three dimensions for the first time,
thus opening up new opportunities
for interaction between humans and
technology.
Mini is the next big thing
As far as Dr. Volker Nestle, Head of
Research Microsystems at Festo, is
concerned, the future clearly belongs
to microsystems engineering and
to micropneumatics in many areas
of automation. He believes that
micropneumatics and microsystems
engineering, because of their
innovation potential, will also make a
significant contribution to enhancing
Germany’s future competitiveness as a
technology centre.
Photo: Volvo Car Corporation
is infoservice 23-01
Partner for automation –
small parts assembly
Issue 23 trends in automation
Compass 20 – 21