Funded Projects

Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing”    (November 1, 2023 – October 31, 2026) 

ID: 101140156

The Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing project represents an innovative approach in modern industry, bringing together technological progress and digital innovation. It focuses on the development and implementation of virtual counterparts, which are a key element in the transformation of industrial processes.

The virtualization of Industrial Systems will be the most used way to project, test and maintain machineries, according to Industry 4.0 indications. This will make available a new thinking way that will substitute the actual industrial working flow, in these main points:

• Reduce the machine on board commissioning time: most of the machine work can be simulated in a very realistic way before the machine construction
• Solve design issues before the machine construction: check of production times and work cycles, test of the hardware and software of the electronics parts
• Reduce construction waste: the virtual commissioning allows to reduce errors and less machine parts will be modified or replaced during the installation
• Reduce technicians commissioning travels, with a real improvement of their life quality and decreasing pollutions
• Improve production processes thanks to the collection, analysis and elaboration of data obtained thanks to the digital twin environment
• Improve local and remote assistance thanks to the virtual maintenance of machines and production lines

Considering this, the industry will need a new technician profile that will:

• Integrate the traditional skills of the industrial automation with new competencies about the virtualization systems and digital twin
• Support the deployment of digital transformation in a company to generate a new service model based on big data.

Main Outputs:

• Online modular MOOC course including ready-to-use projects: drawings, diagrams, component lists, software and proposals, design works, guidelines
• National and International Skills Competitions.

Areas of study and learning outcomes:

• Introduction/prerequisites: use of programmable logic controllers, management of 3D drawings.
• Digital doubles: knowledge of starting virtualization in the industry, analysis and comparison of different virtualization tools, use of Scada systems with virtual and real data sources.
• Virtual commissioning: simulation of production machines/lines, integration of simulated processes into physically automated processes.
• Virtual maintenance: simulation and virtualization technologies, data evaluation as a key element in a virtual environment, main use of machine learning tools based on “virtual data”.
• Business intelligence: integration of simulated data into the company’s management system, assessment of the impact and usefulness of business management systems.
• Virtual environment: assessing the impact and utility of artificial intelligence/machine learning.
• Industrial Cybersecurity: assessing the impact and utility of cyber security focused on the virtual environment.
• Other technologies: knowledge of other enabling technologies (using reverse engineering, cloud computing, collaborative robotics, etc.).

After the presentation of the expected results of the project, including the development of training materials and the holding of competitions, it is now time to turn our attention to our partner organizations. Their input is critical to the success of the project. They not only provide valuable resources and expertise, but also help to expand the scope and impact of the project in the industrial sector.

Partners:

• APRO Formazione SCARL (link)
• ATS Team3D SRL (link)
• B&B Automation SRL (link)
• LEARNINGDIGITAL SRL (link)
• GAIA – Asociación de Industrias de Conocimiento y Tecnología (link)
• GBM Automation of Processes (link)
• Göteborgs Tekniska College (link)
• Hellenic Mediterranean University – HMU (link)
• Politeknika Ikastegia Txorierri (link)
• Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (link)

Regional project “MEDIA – Museo Emozionale DIgitale multimediale Avanzato”    (2022 – ongoing, Regione Valle d’Aosta) 

The project aims at fostering cultural activities enhancing the visitor’s experience through the usage of the most innovative digital technologies. 3D scanning, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are used to strenghten the visitor’s engagement, which is analyzed using affective computing methodologies. The project involves Politecnico di Torino, Università della Valle d’Aosta and Core Informatica (NetCom Group) in collaboration with Museo dell’Artigianato Valdostano (MAV).

European project “Practical application of 3D technology in medicine and health care”    (2021, Central Europe Initiative Know How Exchange Programme – KEP) 

The project is based on the potential use of 3D technologies for health applications. The main goal is to transfer additive technologies (3D printing and scanning) and in general the use of three-dimensional data in the medical and healthcare fields. Within this project context, the Politecnico di Torino hold two workshops on 3D modelling and printing for surgery and on maxillofacial prediction techniques.

European project “FARMER4.0 – Farmer teaching and training laboratories” (2018-2020, Erasmus+)

The project aims at developing a training path for agricultural entrepreneurs so that they can approach 3D modeling software and 3D printing. The educational path is thought in such a way that the user firstly undergoes some teaching modules for learning how 3D modeling works, then he/she is job-shadowed in a FabLab with a coworking scenario. The final idea is that the entrepreneur in this field could learn how to make agricultural objects and tools on his/her own, learn regulations about importing/exporting inventions, manage the farm with the help of technological advances, and collaborate with other “farmers”.

University project “3D SURGEERED – Progettazione di un protocollo per la pianificazione preoperatoria tramite la modellazione 3D” (2018-2020, interdisciplinary project)

The project idea is based on the application of the principles of three-dimensional modelling typical of the engineering field in the surgical scenario. Firstly, the 3D models of patients’ faces and skulls are extracted from CTs performed before and after the operation, to study the deviations between pre- and post-operative. These deviations are then used to design, for each type of intervention, a semi-automatic system for simulating facial movements downstream of surgical operations. The design of this protocol will be based on data taken from interventions already performed in the surgery department and in collaboration with the maxillofacial surgery team of the “Molinette” hospital in Turin, in compliance with the rules protecting the personal data of the patients involved.

Regional project “HyEHyPwt – High Efficiency Hybrid Powertrain”    (2016 – 2019, Regione Valle d’Aosta) 

The research unit activities are focused on the development of innovative engine components and architectures to support the efficiency improvement of hybrid vehicles in term of fuel consumption and emissions reduction at competitive costs. The research framework will include the development of three projects related to the three main hybrid architecture subsystems: 1) systems for energy storage; 2) systems for energy management; 3) systems for energy recovery.  Specifically, DIGEP working group’s activities will be focused on energy management. In particular a costumer profiling methodology, based on a user centered approach, will be developed for identifying the hybrid vehicle user driving habits, starting from the engine parameters analysis, in order to support the design of a “smart” energy management strategy.

European project “EVA – A European Entrepreneurship VET Model and Assessment Framework for Ethnic Minorities” (2016-2018, Erasmus+).

The  goal of the project is the integration of migrants in the EU working systems through the development and transfer of culture of entrepreneurship. The project wants to work on new educational models and instruments to enable the transfer of knowledge and strengthening of entrepreneurial skills through an appropriate intercultural dialogue EU-rest of the world. The activity of the Politecnico di Torino working group is focused on collaborative technologies and methodologies for supporting the ”learning by doing” approach through the development of a simulation environment that exploit a virtual reality low cost strategy.

University project “SYN DIAG ― Development of a system for 3D face comparison aimed at medically diagnosing rare diseases and syndromes involving face dysmorphisms” of the Alta Scuola Politecnica (ASP) — IX ASP cycle.

The project goal is the development of a method for prenatal diagnosis of rare diseases (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), …). Through the analysis of morphometric parameters obtained from the ultrasound devices, the team developed a geometric formalization of fetus growth deficiency and possible facial disfigurements, in order to support a more reliable and effective diagnosis.

Proof of Concept (PoC) project “SYN DIAG — Quantitative ultrasound scans” (2018, funding of the Politecnico di Torino and Compagnia di San Paolo).

This project idea was born as a sequel of the homonym previous ASP project; it has in common some methodologies but with a different clinical purpose. This project aims at adopting 3D techniques to early diagnose cervical cancer, in particular in terms of quantifying with US the dimensions of the tumor mass.

Regional project “Mechatronic devices for mountain safety (DIMESMONT)” (2013 – 2015, Regione Valle d’Aosta)

The research unit activities are focused on improving the safety of mountain users achieved by developing innovative personal protective equipment. This is obtained through the introduction of innovative solutions used by the mountain-goers, both to enhance security and to realize the devices that can monitor the effectiveness of the equipment. Specifically, DIGEP working group’s activities were focused on supporting the equipment development, adopting appropriate strategies for the identification of product specifications, operational requirements up to the definition of concepts.

Domestic project “MARK VISION – Innovative systems for the automatic identification of semifinished products” (2011-2013, Smart Technologies Call – ToWireless).

The project concerns the study and the development of computer vision solutions for identify manufactured components in the leather industry. The system operates on a large number of configurations and with no significant differentiations. The activity of the Politecnico di Torino working group was the study and implementation of a Pattern Recognition algorithm able to compare the manufacturing components with a previously imported reference models taking also into account the component position and rotation on the handling carpet.

European project “Open-Alps” (2011-2014, Alpine Space Call).

The project concerns the study and development of new strategies to support the competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies located in the Alpine space (SMEs). The activity of the Politecnico di Torino working group was focused on product development and in particular on innovation support methods through collaborative development methodologies. The study of open innovation solutions (Open Innovation) aims to support the conceptualization and design phases of the product, which usually are the most “time consuming”, through the enhancement of the company’s know-how and its more effective sharing.