Forum Franco-Allemand in Metz

The partners of the ICM will present the project XIRCON and Mini-eVee:

XIRCON: eXtended Intelligence for Rapid Cognitive Reconfiguration

The ability to quickly adapt manufacturing systems without errors and productivity losses is a critical success factor in modern industry. Reconfiguration processes involve mechanical, electrical, and software changes, which are currently often carried out manually and without methodological support, making them time-consuming and error-prone.

Our Solution

A human-centered support system for rapid and efficient reconfiguration in manufacturing:

• Use of Digital Twins (DTs) to reduce reconfiguration time
• Integration of eXtended Reality (XR) for intuitive visualization and interaction
• Utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for personalized reconfigurations and error prevention

Benefits

• Minimization of downtime and errors during system adjustments
• Fast and precise reconfiguration without productivity losses
• Improvement of manufacturing quality through optimized processes

Mini-eVee

As part of ICM, vehicle subsystems and components are being developed. The demonstration vehicle "eVee" was created to test various cutting-edge subsystems, including novel electric motors without rare earth elements, newly designed 3D-printed fuel cells, and repairable batteries. The vision: a small, efficient lightweight vehicle for autonomous carsharing fleets that addresses the first- and last-mile problem, promoting sustainable mobility.

The "Mini-eVee" is the third vehicle in the ICM fleet. At a 1:4 scale, it mirrors the larger models and enables concept studies, spatial investigations, and the visualization and testing of new ideas in early development phases, along with extensive use of 3D-printed parts.

The body of the "Mini-eVee" showcases a new manufacturing process with carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFK, Towpreg). Complex geometries can be realized quickly and efficiently using this technology.

Key Features of the Vehicle:

• All-wheel drive (4WD) with in-wheel motors for torque vectoring
• Individual all-wheel steering for better agility and tighter turning circles
• Integrated push-rod mechanism for space optimization and stabilization
• Future E/E architecture for remote control via web interface and car-to-X (C2X) communication