INTELLIGENT ROBOT SYSTEMS FOR INDUSTRIE 4.0

Professor Dr. Martin Ruskowski took over the position as Head of the renamed Institute of Machine Tools and System Controls (WSKL) on June 1, 2017. His major research focus is on industrial robots as machine tools, artificial intelligence in automation technology, and the development of innovative control concepts for automation.

All equipment and machinery in the factories of tomorrow will be networked: Machines will have the ability to communicate and exchange data among themselves. Robots will continue to play an ever greater role in the world of Industrie 4.0. In the future, they may even replace traditional machine tools is some application situations, for example, in the milling of special components. "A priority of my work at TU Kaiserslautern and DFKI will be to improve the fitness of robots for demanding mechanical processing tasks. The new technologies that result from our research will provide more flexibility to companies and, ultimately, serve as a jobs motor in Germany," said Ruskowski in describing his new responsibilities.

Ruskowski is an expert in the fields of robotics and Industrie 4.0. At DFKI and RPTU, his aim will be to develop solutions for the digitalization of production plants while also working on new control systems and robot mechanics to increase the efficiency of future generations of industrial robots. He will also study the question of how to make self-optimizing machines. A major focus is on Human-Machine Interaction in automated production plants. "In the context of the digitalization of production, we need new engineering techniques that will allow humans to more closely integrate the production processes," he added. "We can achieve this in cooperation with Technologie-Initiative SmartFactory KL e.V." This unique research lab located at DFKI provides ideal conditions for the practical evaluation of ambitious research projects.In addition, Ruskowski will hold a series of lectures at the department of Mechanical and Process Engineering on the subjects of machine tools and industrial robotics.

He studied electrical engineering at Leibniz University Hannover and also received his doctorate in mechanical engineering there. His doctoral thesis was a study of the dynamics of machine tools and the use active magnet guides for damping vibrations. Prior to his relocation to Kaiserslautern, Ruskowski held several management positions at industrial firms, most recently since 2015 as Vice President for Global Research and Development at KUKA Industries.