Research projects

In cooperation with science and industry  

Whether it is done jointly with customers, research institutes or companies: Festo conducts research in various projects looking for answers to the question about the factory of the future and which requirements will be placed on the automation of tomorrow.

Behaviour models of components for virtual commissioning
Behaviour models of components for virtual commissioning

ENTOC research project

The engineering process for production plants is time-consuming and complex. The automotive industry would like to reduce the required time for this process. A prerequisite for this is a consistent engineering toolchain with standardised description formats and interfaces. These simplify the planning, design, programming and the real start-up stages, thus saving time and costs. Festo is researching this topic area together with Daimler and other partners in the ENTOC research project.

The aim of the project is a flexible and adaptive production assistant in safe human–machine cooperation.
Human–machine cooperation in Industry 4.0

ARIZ research project

The role of humans in the production of tomorrow is often discussed. Which new tasks will emerge? Which ones can robots take on, and how will humans and robots work together? Answers to these questions and other practical solutions are being researched by Festo together with partners from science and industry in the project ‘Work in the industry of the future’ (ARIZ). One of the main focus points here is on safe human–robot cooperation.

ParsiFAl 4.0
Intelligent foils for Industry 4.0

ParsiFAl 4.0 research project

Microelectronic sensor systems in thin foils offer a new approach when it comes to networking intelligent production plants for Industry 4.0. Local monitoring and controls in a production environment are made possible by so-called smart sensor system labels.

DIMAP
Robot joints from a 3D printer

DIMAP research project

Dental fillings, spare parts and prostheses – the range of products that are made with 3D printers is growing. These parts are usually made from just one material. In order to open up more application areas for ‘printed’ products, 3D printers are being developed that combine different materials. In the DIMAP research project, which is funded by the EU with around six million euros, the aim is to design and print robot joints made of different materials.

MetamoFAB
Metamorphosis to intelligent factory

MetamoFAB research project

Intelligent and resource-efficient production – that is part of the vision of Industry 4.0. The change to cyber-physical production systems is not possible in a single step, however.

DIELASTAR
Research into dielectric elastomer actuators

DIELASTAR research project

The plastic, polyurethane, is used in the DIELASTAR research project (dielectric elastomers for control actuators) combined with graphite to make a new drive element (actuator). An actuator turns electrical signals into mechanical movements, for example to open and close a valve. In classic valves the actuator is an electromagnet. Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) can be used, for example, in valves instead of solenoids.