SHOP4CF stands for Smart Human Oriented Platform for Connected Factories and is an EU-funded project within the eighth framework program Horizon 2020. The project aims to set up a new era of human-centered robotics to significantly impact the industrial Europe of tomorrow. To bring this vision to life, the consortium aims at a platform (c.f. Figure 1) that offers user friendly, plug and play solutions for end-users from the manufacturing industry.
In the last decade, the robotic market already pushed the boundaries of technology beyond all expectations. We nowadays live in an era where many tasks can either be done autonomously by a robot or in collaboration with humans. In this context, we increasingly hear the terms “connected factories”, “intelligent factories”, or “cloud robotics”. But what are exactly the new aspects that SHOP4CF will bring to the market? The goal in SHOP4CF is to find the right balance between cost-effective automation of repetitive tasks and the significant involvement of human workers in areas, in which the human worker can play out its strengths like adaptability, creativity, and agility. Moreover, the project pursues the vision of highly connected factories to reap the benefits of data that is generated on the shopfloor.
In SHOP4CF, 30 different components are developed by top research and technology organizations from all over Europe. Components are tested in pilots and are an important aspect of the project as they serve as a first test of the developed components and will hence pave the way for the final real-world adoption, for instance, in a production line. For this purpose, SHOP4CF will collaboratively work with four European industrial leaders providing large-scale pilots. Moreover, adoption is fostered by 30 FSTP Pilots that are selected through five competitive open calls, where new partners join the consortium and will receive technical, business support. In this context, the marketplace is intended to work as a all-purpose, one-stop shop for SMEs (e.g., independent developers of new components and end users) to access essential services supporting their digital transformation processes like business modeling, technical support as well as access to the community and finance.
In SHOP4CF, we strongly believe that the community will measure the success of the project. Hence, building a vibrant, active and growing community around the platform is necessary to achieve the critical mass for adoption. Another important task within the project, is the pre-standardization activities in the areas of collaborative robotics, AGVs and the use of IoT devices on the shopfloor. Additionally, SHOP4CF will continue its operations with a self-sustainable non-profit association with members all over Europe that could be integrated in further entities like the DIH2 that supports SMEs on the transformation to smart factories by generating innovations that maximizes the productivity while optimizing the agility in manufacturing. Finally, we strongly believe that SHOP4CF will demonstrate that public funded research can help SMEs & Mid-Caps to achieve digital excellence and global competitiveness through adopting advanced robotics solutions in human-centric digitalization.