Novel ICT-enabled collaborative design processes and tools for developing non-road mobile machinery

The improvement of the energy efficiency is an important topic for non-road mobile machinery developers and manufacturers. These machines normally use fluid power transmission in drivelines and working actuators. New energy efficient technologies, e.g. a hybrid power transmission with an energy recovery feature, have been introduced. Currently most of the manufacturers are still using conventional technologies in their product development process. Human operators have an effect on the overall efficiency of the machines. Taking into account the human effects is difficult and expensive using the conventional design processes and tools. The objective of this study is to provide international machine manufacturers instrumental, yet novel, community and simulation-based (ICT-enabled) tools/methods for the strategic and cost effective development of their product practices and design processes. The development of models and methods will allow for rapid real-time virtual prototyping of complex machines and machine fleets that operate within a number of worksites or geographical conditions. The introduction of this state-of-the art (and going beyond) advancement in real-time virtual technology, simulation, internet based design technologies and software, cyber-physical and big data processing systems, will present a holistic approach to improve the entire product life. Targeted user groups are manufacturers of non-road mobile machinery (i.e. excavators, wheel loaders, etc.). These machines and production systems share the following key features: 1) They are complex mechatronic systems with several interconnections between hydraulic drives; mechanics, electronics, software and 2) they include autonomous, semiautonomous and human driven operated systems. Methods developed will enable machine manufacturers' access to technologies that will lead to a more cost effective consumer ordinated, life cycle optimization process. This paper will introduce the method of developing customized products in a fast, agile and networked way that will lead to significantly reduced life-cycle costs.