NEWS of Research Group Intelligent Systems and Business Informatics

Project SAELING – SAving Energy by Learning and ImproviNG

The project name SAELING stands for SAving Energy by Learning and ImproviNG logic-based optimization models. SAELING was launched in early May 2024 and is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) to the tune of around 1.2 million euros. The total project costs amount to around 1.8 million euros.

The metal processing industry requires a considerable amount of energy, especially for sawing, grinding and milling. Using artificial intelligence methods, researchers are now hoping to increase efficiency by 20 to 30 per cent. The SAELING project is realised jointly by the University of Klagenfurt, the KU Leuven and the industrial partners Voestalpine and Siemens and is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG at a cost of around 1.2 million euros.

Voestalpine uses around 2,500 sawing, grinding and milling machines in its industrial plants. These consume approximately 21 GWh per year, corresponding to the electricity consumption of around 4,750 average Austrian households.

“Metal processing machines on the factory floor fulfil a variety of tasks. At present, the question of which machine should be used for which task and when has yet to be definitively resolved,” states Gerhard Friedrich, head of the SAELING project at the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity at the University of Klagenfurt. “We need to take many factors into account in order to develop strategies for sawing, grinding and milling in these kinds of workshops in a way that saves energy and resources wherever possible. Considering and simulating these factors along with their full impact is beyond the capabilities of human reasoning. In particular, the behaviour of these machines cannot be described with sufficient precision, but rather it has to be learned for the purpose of optimisation.”

Artificial intelligence methods are now set to significantly reduce energy consumption thanks to more efficient use, as Gerhard Friedrich goes on to explain: “Approaches such as reasoning, optimisation and machine learning will be put to use.”

The results from SAELING should facilitate analogue savings in other production areas. In addition to CO2 emissions, it should also be possible to reduce lubricant consumption, for example. It is intended that the tools developed in the project will be adaptable and can be extended to other areas of application, e.g. at SAELING’s partner Siemens.

For further information visit our HP SAELING and the Magazine Hi!Tech. of Siemens, one of our cooperation-partners.

Joboffer – Project researcher predoctoral

The Department of Artificial Intelligence  & Cybersecurity (AICS) is pleased to announce the following open position at the research group “Intelligent Systems and Business Informatics.” Expected starting date: September 1, 2024

Internship @Infineon

Master Thesis at Infineon, Villach – Job Offer

All details to be found here: Infineon-Internship-Planning.

Decoration of Honour of the Province of Carinthia for Univ.-Prof. Gerhard Friedrich

For his special services as a professor and in particular as the longstanding Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University of Klagenfurt, Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Gerhard Friedrich was awarded the Decoration of Honour of the Province of Carinthia by Governor Dr. Peter Kaiser on 18 July 2022 in the Mirror Hall of the Carinthian Provincial Government.

Mr Friedrich has worked persistently and highly successfully for a focus of Carinthia as an educational, scientific and business location in the field of technical sciences and digitalisation. Particularly noteworthy in this context is his great commitment in the field of artificial intelligence applications. In addition, he was able to successfully promote and expand networking between the Austrian economy and the University of Klagenfurt. Thanks to his initiative and tireless efforts, a significant expansion of the technical sciences in terms of personnel and content has been achieved, especially in the area of cybersecurity and modular robot systems.

During his tenure, among other things, the computer science workshop, the establishment of a drone hall, the establishment of the Silicon Austria Lab (SAL) and successful and promising cooperations with the research institution Joanneum Research, newly settled in Carinthia, were created. He has consistently pursued the orientation of the Faculty of Technical Sciences towards international visibility and scientific excellence, thus enabling highly gratifying results in the university rankings.

We warmly congratulate Univ.-Prof. Gerhard Friedrich!

 

Governor Peter Kaiser presents the Decoration of Honour of the Province of Carinthia to Gerhard Friedrich | Photo: LPD Kärnten/Eggenberger