Connected Systems Institute: UWM’s Mary Bunzel speaks about digital factory testbed Feb. 12

MILWAUKEE _ The Connected Systems Institute (CSI) has launched its first industry testbed and production line, putting a manufacturing facility in the center of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus. 

The testbed and a companion Digital Twin Laboratory allow researchers and students to virtually simulate common manufacturing challenges and execute possible solutions physically. It makes products that include a variety of ingredients.

CSI Executive Director Mary Bunzel will speak about the testbed at the manufacturing portion of the Milwaukee Engineering Research Conference on Feb. 12. The conference is hosted by the UWM College of Engineering & Applied Science.

Connected systems refers to a factory that’s filled with sensors recording continuous data and streaming that data to the industrial internet of things. Tracking and manipulating the data gives manufacturers new insights that can increase efficiency and create other opportunities to improve processes.

“While our testbed is comprised of sophisticated tools from today’s leading industrial suppliers, they are integrated to create a unique opportunity for learning and research,” said Bunzel. “Data generated from the testbed will be sent to the Microsoft Azure Cloud, a playground of data available for analysis, illustrative modeling and experimentation.” 

The CSI brings university researchers, manufacturers and students together to solve industry-specific problems while also jumpstarting the workforce training necessary for the transition to next-gen automation. Read more here.