MODELLING IN VIRTUAL PRODUCTION

In this course, you will learn how data analysis in virtual production can improve your organization's results! Data analytics in virtual production uses advanced techniques to collect, analyze and present data to improve production. This system is designed to help companies optimize their production and increase efficiency. By learning how to model, do scenario analysis and evaluate using industrial software, identify bottlenecks, and use AI methods and applications, you will get all the tools necessary to succeed with a full production analysis. The course is given with flexible start and study pace, but we recommend a study pace of 20 %, which means that the course takes about 8 calendar weeks.

Learn about digital twins and how they can be used in smart production! A digital twin is used to create a virtual model of a real production system. Among other things, it can be used to simulate how the product will be manufactured, how materials flow and how machines move. The course gives you knowledge of industrial digital twins and their application within the framework of smart production. You will gain an insight into the possibilities digital twins offer for improving production systems and processes. You will gain an understanding of when the use of digital twins can be a beneficial solution in the development of production systems. This is a course with flexible start: The course is given with flexible start and study pace, but we recommend a study pace of 20%, which means that the course takes about 8 calendar weeks. You can join the course until the end of October.

Virtual commissioning (VC) is a technique used in the field of automation and control engineering to simulate and test a system's control software and hardware in a virtual environment before it is physically implemented. The aim is to identify and correct any issues or errors in the system before deployment, reducing the risk of downtime, safety hazards, and costly rework. The virtual commissioning process typically involves creating a digital twin of the system being developed, which is a virtual representation of the system that mirrors its physical behaviour. The digital twin includes all the necessary models of the system's components, such as sensors, actuators, controllers, and interfaces, as well as the control software that will be running on the real system. Once the digital twin is created, it can be tested and optimized in a virtual environment to ensure that it behaves correctly under various conditions. The benefits of using VC include reduced project costs, shortened development time, improved system quality and reliability, and increased safety for both operators and equipment. By detecting and resolving potential issues in the virtual environment, engineers can avoid costly and time-consuming physical testing and debugging, which can significantly reduce project costs and time to market. The course includes different modules, each with its own specific role in the process. Together, the modules create a comprehensive virtual commissioning process that makes it possible to test and validate control systems and production processes in a simulated environment before implementing them in the real world. Modeling and simulation: This module involves creating a virtual model of the system using simulation software. The model includes all the equipment, control systems, and processes involved in the production process. Control system integration: This module involves integrating the digital twin with the control system, allowing engineers to test and validate the system's performance. Virtual sensors and actuators: This module involves creating virtual sensors and actuators that mimic the behavior of the physical equipment. This allows engineers to test the control system's response to different scenarios and optimize its performance. Scenario testing: This module involves simulating different scenarios, such as equipment failures, power outages, or changes in production requirements, to test the system's response. Data analysis and optimization: This module involves analyzing data from the virtual commissioning process to identify any issues or inefficiencies in the system. Engineers can then optimize the system's performance and ensure that it is safe and reliable. Expected outcomes Describe the use of digital twins for virtual commissioning process. Develop a simulation model of a production system using a systems perspective and make a plan for data collection and analysis. Plan different scenarios for the improvement of a production process. Analyze data from the virtual commissioning process to identify any issues or inefficiencies in the system and then optimize the system's performance. Needs in the industry Example battery production: Battery behaviors are changing over time. To innovate at speed and scale, testing and improving real-world battery phenomena throughout its lifecycle is necessary. Virtual commissioning / modeling-based approaches like digital twin can provide us with accurate real-life battery behaviors and properties, improving energy density, charging speed, lifetime performance and battery safety. Faster innovation (NPI) Lower physical prototypes Shorter manufacturing cycle time Rapid testing of new battery chemistry and materials to reduce physical experiments Thermal performance and safety It’s not just about modelling and simulating the product, but also validating processes from start to finish in a single environment for digital continuity. Suggested target groups Industry personnel Early career engineers involved in commissioning and simulation projects Design engineers (to simulate their designs at an early stage in a virtual environment to reduce errors) New product introduction engineers Data engineers Production engineers Process engineers (mediators between design and commissioning) Simulation engineers Controls engineer System Integration  

The main goal of the course is to look into Virtual and Augmented Reality and investigate how this technology, together with the recent developments in AI and Robotics, support sustainability and green transition. The course starts with a brief overview of the concept of reality and virtuality and looks into some fundamentals of human perception and action. It explores, for example, how we build mental representations and why we perceive some artificially created experiences as real even when we know that they are fictional. We will also apply the concept of artificial sensory stimulation to other living organisms and look into experiments on virtual reality for other animals and even ants. The course then proceeds to look into the fundamental research in reality-virtuality continuum and an overview of relevant technologies. We will see how modern graphics and rendering technology allows to “hijack” human sensory input and how tracking technologies allow to collect data from human actions. This vital concept and technology part will serve as a foundation to discuss further questions related to application of Virtual and Augmented Reality. Those include ethics of extended reality applications, for example related to neuroplasticity effects of virtual reality or user profiling, or cybersecurity aspect of possible user identification. However, the main focus of the course is on sustainability and green transition. The course looks beyond the potential ability of virtual and augmented reality technologies to reduce the need for physical travel (e.g. through telepresence), and discusses such topics related to Industry 5.0. For example, design and simulation, where modern technology allows to reduce the needs for physical prototyping and helps to optimize product development processes, or industrial process optimization through digital tweens, or immersive training and education, allowing adaptive learning pace for each student. The course includes an invited lecture with industry professionals. Recommended prerequisites: At least 180 credits including 15 credits programming as well as qualifications corresponding to the course "English 5"/"English A" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School. Online meetings (estimated dates): -January 15 -Februry 5 -March 19 Study hours: 80 This course is given by Örebro University.

Access to critical minerals and materials crucial to our wealth and well-being must be produced in a sustainable way. This means that the research must deal with metals and minerals that are innovation-critical, necessary for green/smart transition, rare, of insufficient supply or which should not be traded from conflict zones. Various component of the course makes it useful for professionals and hands-on with lectures, assignments, homeworks, fieldcourse and field reports as well as rock physics lab. Topics Sustainable exploration, mining and extraction of critical raw materials Course element: Critical and strategic raw materials Sustainability, SDGs, ESG and social aspects (the value chain) Exploration methods Geological and ore forming context Physical properties Geophysical methods Drilling technologies Extraction and mineral processing methods Rock quality and mining methods Nano-tech solutions Ground water contamination and accessibility Environmental assessments Mine tailing and beneficiation Site visits and hands-on (Epiroc, Blötberget, labs) Course structure The course is a combination of in-person, hybrid and hands-on including field trips. You will learn By the end of the course, you will be able to: analyse what exploration methods are used for what commodities, have good knowledge of the state-of-the-art solutions and incorporate your learning in todays industry practices. Who is the course for? This course is designed for those who are geologists, engineers or work with sustainability to learn how critical raw materials are explored, mined and turn to metals. It is open to both university students but also industry participants from relevant sectors. How much time do I need for the course? The course will run from 25 August - 5 December 2025 and will in sum require 100 hrs of commitments. Check the SERC center for more updates: www.smartexploration.se

Fiber-optic sensing technologies are fast evolving and have entered in a large domain of our industry. Today all geothermal fields, water dams, railroads and to some lesser extent mines are equipped with fiber-optic cables to allow not only digital data transmission but also to interrogate fiber cables for information such as temperature changes or values (leakage issues or fractured rocks) but also strain measurements that can be indicators of soil failure or movements. When conducted in a controlled manner, artificial signals can be generated to help image the subsurface for mineral exploration, mine tailing characterization and for geothermal field development work by mapping faults and thermal fluids. There are other applications such as traffic monitoring that can also be done using this technology. Given its vast applications in the green transition, fiber-optic sensing is one of the most advanced technologies to be implemented in a wide range of fossil-free energy systems, hence, of a great importance to learn about their pros and cons and possibilities. Course content The course will have the following content: Introduction to DAS DAS Interrogators for temperature and strain measurements Fiber optic cables and their health conditions (hands-on with fiber-cable microscopes and fusion splicers) Design of a fiber-optic survey (surface and borehole) Parameter testing such as gauge length, laser pulse and width Field trials at a mine tailing test site or a mineral exploration borehole Work with the data and reporting Course design Hybrid and blended including hands-on practices.  This course takes about 30 hours of study to complete. You will learn By taking the course the participants are intended to learn about: Fiber-optic cables and their specifications including how to check their health and splice them DAS interrogators and their interior designs for fiber-optic sensing applications Design surface and borehole experiments Read and work with the data (hands-on) Who is the course for? The course will be given to a broad range of participants from engineering to geoscience backgrounds including university students but also participants from the industry. Participants can be from construction industry, road administration, energy sector (e.g., water dams), mining and defence workers. The course will be run within the newly established Smart Exploration Research Center involving tech companies such as BitSimNow Part of Prevas who are also expert in PFGA and fiber-related technologies. A prerequisite to the course is prior knowledge on different problems in the energy sector but some knowledge with Matlab and/or Python programming. The course can continue as an industry offer through the SERC-center as a multidisciplinary course at Uppsala University and for industry participants.