Intelligent Products and Systems. Technology theme: Final report

"Intelligent Products and Systems" has been one of the four strategic technology theme programs of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland during 2001-2006. This theme program consisted of three topic areas with their respective research projects. The topic area "Active and Communicative Package Systems" has significantly increased knowledge on designing functional inks and sensor systems combined with relevant printing methods, printed codes and printed electronically readable indicators. Also a series of projects focused on the development of printable conductive wiring and electric thin-film indicators. The projects could demonstrate a wireless humidity sensor and the fabrication and measurement of thin-films for room-temperature oxygen sensors. In the topic area "Distributed Energy", the basic idea of a distributed simulation environment has been presented and elaborated in a new context, in which building energy simulators and district heating network simulator are hydraulically and thermally linked from the power plant via the district heating network to the internal room conditions in buildings. In addition, new concepts were defined for the plug-and-play interconnection and management of distributed electric power systems. The topic area "Embedded Structural Intelligence" was aimed to produce know-how, verified technologies as well as integrated technological solutions for machines and vehicles industry products to improve their competitiveness. The activities have covered several aspects in facilitating intelligent and adaptive structural concepts: novel material technology, information technology solution in form of control systems as well as virtual design environments for intelligent products.