Streamlined digital system for enhancing sustainability through efficient worker management.
The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) Karlsruhe is embarking on a research project titled "ηNet – Cyber-Physical and Data Managed System" to reduce energy and resource consumption in university labs. The project, funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, is one of the 29 projects for climate-friendly labs at universities that have won the "BWGreenLabs" ideas competition.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Schenkel, rector of DHBW Karlsruhe, expressed his delight about the funding, stating that digitalization and resource-efficient management are key pillars of the university. He further added that the project could help the university take a significant step towards sustainable lab structures.
The project, led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcus Strand, head of the computer science program and director of the Robot-and-Human-Motion-Lab at DHBW Karlsruhe, aims to make modern university labs not only innovation hubs but also role models for sustainable practices. The pilot application of ηNet will take place in the plastics lab at DHBW Karlsruhe, which has a high resource demand and an internal analysis shows untapped savings potential of a high five-figure euro amount per year.
ηNet is a cyber-physical lab management system designed to network, intelligently control, and optimize energy, material, and equipment usage in an eco-friendly way. Initially, the project will digitally record machines, materials, and infrastructure in the plastics lab to avoid duplicate purchases and plan usage efficiently.
Key measures for the implementation of ηNet include the creation of digital twins, a smart energy monitoring system, AI-driven planning tools, and a modular resource management system. In the medium term, intelligent controls are expected to reduce the energy demand of individual devices and optimize material usage in the plastics lab.
An interdisciplinary team from computer science, robotics, automation, materials science, and mechatronics is working on the implementation of ηNet at DHBW Karlsruhe. The project is funded with around 35,000 euros and runs until July 2026.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Strand emphasized that the goal of ηNet is to make modern university labs not only innovation hubs but also role models for sustainable practices. With the successful implementation of ηNet, DHBW Karlsruhe can pave the way for a more sustainable future in lab management.
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