DE102010042201A1 - Mechatronic material - Google Patents

Abstract

Mechatronic material, suitable for use in a material cycle of technically used materials, the material comprising an essentially non-detachable Auto-ID identifier (e.g. RFID identifier), the Auto-ID identifier being usable for the unique identification of the material and the Auto-ID allows access to mechatronic information regarding the material and the material can be mapped in a defined balance area of a material cycle (recycling cycle). The invention can be used particularly advantageously when recycling after product use (waste recycling), e.g. B. when returning a material from industrial and consumer waste to a new manufacturing process.

Description

The invention relates to a component suitable for use in a technical process, wherein an auto-ID identifier is inextricably linked to the component. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for identifying components for technical processes and a method for producing a material-specific auto-ID identifier, in particular an RFID chip, suitable for non-detachable attachment to a component for use in a technical process.

A central feature of technical processes is the handling and transformation of materials of all kinds. The term material here encompasses every collection of matter (component) that is used in a technical process and that can be delimited technically and meaningfully via the properties mass and / or quantity. This can be z. As a chemical substance, a machine component, a mixture or a complex machine made of composite materials.

While traditionally a "linear" view of the use of material dominated (raw material extraction, processing, processing, use, disposal), today a "cycle" view is gaining in importance and importance, mainly driven by environmental protection (life cycle assessment, recycling, etc.) and economy.

The problem with this is that although the material used in each case along the cycle repeatedly knowledge z. B. in the form of descriptive information, but this is not or insufficiently archived, passed on, re-used or flows in transformations of the material does not flow into a description of the transformed material accordingly.

The consequences of this deficit are considerable, since new investigations, estimates, trials, etc. are always required at all points in the material cycles.

The object of the present invention is to provide a component or a material, in particular for use in a technical process, which is easily deliverable and easily usable in a material cycle.

The object is achieved by a material (mechatronic material) suitable for use in a material cycle of technically used materials, the material comprising an essentially insoluble auto-ID identifier, the auto-ID identifier being usable for unambiguous identification of the material and the auto ID tag provides access to mechatronic information regarding the material. A material is understood mechatronically and can be accounted for the use in a material cycle, in particular in a material cycle technically used materials represent. The term material here encompasses every accumulation of matter (eg countable set of atoms), which is used in a technical process and which can be delimited technically by the properties mass and / or quantity. This can be z. As a chemical substance, a machine component, a mixture or a complex machine made of composite materials.

• – die eindeutige Identifikation der Komponente und/oder
• – die Werkstoffe der Komponente und/oder
• – den mechanischen Aufbau der Komponente und/oder
• – die elektrische Versorgung der Komponente und/oder
• – Automatisierungsinformation zur Komponente und/oder
• – zugehörige Software und/oder
• – Dokumentation und/oder
• – die Historie der Komponente.

A first advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the mechatronic information comprises in particular:

• - The unique identification of the component and / or
• - the materials of the component and / or
• - The mechanical structure of the component and / or
• - The electrical supply of the component and / or
• - Automation information about the component and / or
• - associated software and / or
• - Documentation and / or
• - the history of the component.

The term "mechatronic information" is based on a similar approach from the field of plant and mechanical engineering, in which z. B. machine parts are not exclusively described from the perspective of each trade, but the respective view is understood as a facet of a complex object that includes all relevant aspects (mechanical design, electrical supply, related software, documentation, automation, etc.). "Mechatronic information" thus includes a holistic approach to the properties of a material.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the material can be imaged in a defined balance space of a material cycle. A Quantum Material can be recorded at any point in the material cycle or in the balance area, described according to the system and from this time on in the material cycle or in the balance area as an inventory. This formalization and balancing opens up numerous new possibilities for the analysis, optimization and development of material cycles. For example, it can be used to clarify the question of where and in what quantity in an economy or in a company which raw materials are located.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the auto-ID identifier is a text code, a number code, an alphanumeric Code, an RFID chip, a barcode, a DMC 2D barcode, a QR code, a steganography or a DNA tincture. This allows materials to be clearly identified and identified. With an artificial DNA tincture even liquid materials can be identified and identified. The artificial DNA tincture generally consists of the same four organic bases adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine as the human genome. Linking the four building blocks results in a tremendous variety that makes the material DNA-protective. This provides the DNA tincture with distinctive features that are unique and can only be assigned to you. After application to an object and drying of the DNA tincture it becomes transparent. At first glance, the labeling does not stand out. The use of microplates increases the durability of the DNA tincture on an article. With UV light, the labeling can be made visible. The code of a DNA tincture and the respective user are stored in a database. Thus, there is a clear assignability and retrievability of the information.

The object is further achieved by a system for characterizing and / or detecting materials suitable for use in a material cycle of technically usable materials, comprising at least one material according to one of claims 1 to 4, as well as a reading device, which is used for reading on the car. ID identifier stored data is formed. The read data from the reader can z. B. be further used or further processed in an engineering system. Advantageously, data can be entered into the auto-ID identifier and output with the reader.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the system has a system architecture that semantically describes the material on a semantic representation level and provides mappings to map the material to a level of logical representation and physical representation. Mechatronic materials are mapped and represented by means of computer science (IT) in a layer model (semantic representation, logical representation and physical representation (implementation)). The description of the mechatronic material is on the semantic level, the mapping on a logical and physical level can be done in different ways, eg. B. distributed as long as the basis for the semantic consistency is maintained. The correctness of a physical representation with regard to a corresponding logical or semantic representation can be ensured or proven by means of theoretical computer science (validation).

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the system comprises a tool for model-based plant engineering, which uses the data read by the reader from the auto-ID identifier to map the material to an ontology based on defined transformation rules. Ontologies serve u. a. the structuring of information in order to For example, to assemble and structure existing knowledge resources and their relationships. The transformation rules can z. B. be predetermined by physical or chemical processes or laws.

The object is further achieved by a method for producing a material-specific auto-ID identifier, in particular an RFID chip, suitable for non-detachable attachment to a component for use in a technical process, wherein the auto-ID identifier mechatronic information regarding the respective Component, wherein the mechatronic information can be applied by a suitable writing device to the auto-ID identifier. The auto ID identifier may be z. B. a commercial RFID chip. The RFID chips according to the invention can, for. B. based on commercial (commercial) RFID chips, are produced by appropriate programming. In principle, active or passive transponders can be used.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained below.

Showing:

1 Examples of some descriptive elements for a mechatronic material,

2 an exemplary description for a material cycle,

3 an exemplary system for identifying components for technical processes, and

4 an exemplary layer architecture for describing the mechatronic material.

A central feature of technical processes is the handling and transformation of materials of all kinds. The term material here encompasses every collection of matter that is used in a technical process and that can be delimited technically and meaningfully via the properties mass and / or quantity. This can be z. As a chemical substance, a machine component, a mixture or a complex machine made of composite materials.

While traditionally a "linear" view of the use of material dominated (raw material extraction, processing, processing, use, disposal), today a "cycle" view is increasingly gaining importance, mainly driven by environmental protection (life cycle assessment, recycling, ...) and economics. Typical of such a transition is that the challenges of the new approach are still solved with "old" means. This means that for linear sections of the material cycles established description models, analysis methods, processing methods, etc. are available, which are used for solving the challenges of the circuits, but are only of limited use.

• – Rohstoffen z. B. über Sorten beschrieben (z. B. Brent-, WTI-Rohöl),
• – reinen Stoffen z. B. in wissenschaftlichen Zustandskatalogen beschrieben (Azeton, CAS-Nr. 67-64-1),
• – (Zwischen-)produkten z. B. über Normen oder Produktkataloge beschrieben („Baustahl ST37”),
• – Hausmüll z. B. über Sorten beschrieben („gelber Sack”),
• – Müllverbrennungs-Produkten z. B. über „Sorten”/Gefahrenklassen beschrieben.

For example, the properties of

• - Raw materials z. B. on varieties described (eg, Brent, WTI crude oil),
• - pure substances z. As described in scientific condition catalogs (acetone, CAS No. 67-64-1),
• - (intermediate) products z. Eg via standards or product catalogs ("mild steel ST37"),
• - household waste z. B. on varieties described ("yellow bag"),
• - Waste incineration products z. B. described on "varieties" / hazard classes.

The problem with this is that although the material used in each case (for example, a technical component) along the cycle again and again knowledge z. B. in the form of descriptive information, but this is not or insufficiently archived, passed on, re-used or flows in transformations of the material does not flow into a description of the transformed material accordingly. Furthermore, there is no possibility to inventory the material consistently and up-to-date; Life cycle assessments today are mostly retrospective considerations based on statistical material.

A practical example is the need for elaborate pollutant analysis on chemicals whose originating materials and manufacturing process are no longer fully known, another for the difficulty of predicting the chemical composition of a (complete) end-of-life vehicle for a recycling plant. Another example is the use of electronic scrap as a raw material for precious metal extraction. In all cases, the necessary information on the nature and nature of the materials was available "somewhere" at an earlier date, e.g. T. even with high precision.

• – unterschiedliche branchen- und technologiespezifische Fachsprachen, Gliederungsmittel, Methoden und Denkmodelle;
• – komplexe physische Transformationen eines Materials, die zu erheblichen Veränderungen der Struktur der zugehörigen beschreibenden Information führen und eine eindeutige Identifikation der Einsatzmaterialien im Endprodukt unmöglich machen;
• – das Fehlen eines „Kreislauf-Verantwortlichen”, der übergreifende Interessen vertritt, hier den Informationshaushalt.

Causes for this are:

• - different industry and technology-specific languages, structure, methods and thinking models;
• - Complex physical transformations of a material, which lead to significant changes in the structure of the descriptive information associated with it and make it impossible to clearly identify the input materials in the final product;
• - the lack of a 'cycle person responsible' who represents overarching interests, here the information budget.

The consequences of this deficit are considerable, since new investigations, estimates, trials, etc. are always required at all points in the material cycles. Since this means high costs in many places is z. For example, when working with unnecessarily high safety margins, optimizations can not be made, synergies can not be found, or suitable materials are discarded due to ignorance.

The problems addressed are solved by a large number of on-demand examinations, safety margins and "tolerant" process design. A typical example is incoming goods inspections, where an "as built" product is tested for suitability for use. A more recent example is the labeling of packages with a material specification that allows a simplified sorting from a waste collection (eg "yellow bag").

The problems addressed are solved according to the invention by each material (the term material here includes any accumulation of matter that is used in a technical process and that can be delimited technically and meaningfully via the properties mass and / or quantity be a chemical component, a machine component, a mixture or a complex machine made of composite materials (eg an industrial robot)) is interpreted as "mechatronic material". The attribute "mechatronic" results from a similar approach in the field of plant and mechanical engineering, in which z. B. machine parts are not exclusively described from the perspective of each trade, but the respective view is understood as a facet of a complex object that includes all relevant aspects (mechanical design, electrical supply, related software, documentation, automation, etc.).

For this purpose, a quantum of material is recorded at any point in the material cycle, described according to the systematics and, from this point in time, kept in the balance area of the "Mechatronic Inventory", the balance area would correspond to the space within the system boundary). With this formalization and Balancing opens up numerous new possibilities for the analysis, optimization and development of material cycles.

1 shows examples of some descriptive elements for a mechatronic material MM1.

• – eine Beschreibung der Erscheinungsform, deren physischer Eigenschaften und deren Bedeutung in verschiedenen formalen Kontexten (z. B. Zugehörigkeit zu einer Handels-Sorte, einer Norm, einer Stoffgruppe, einer Abfallart);
• – eine Historie, die bisherige Lebenszyklusschritte beschreibt und zu entsprechenden Daten verlinkt;
• – eine Beschreibung potentiell relevanter Wechselwirkungen mit anderen Materialien, Systemen, Methoden, Verfahren, usw. Darin enthalten sind Transformationsregeln, die die Überführung einer Erscheinungsform in eine andere beschreiben, sowie die damit verbundenen Transformationen der Beschreibung, ihrer Struktur und der Wechselwirkung mit ihrer physischen Abbildung;
• – eine Beschreibung der administrativen Eigenschaften, die z. B. Rechte und Zugriff auf die Informationen steuert. Z. B. könnte der Zugriff auf bestimmte herstellungsbezogene Informationen für den Verarbeiter und Anwender verdeckt sein und erst dem Recycler (Verwerter) wieder zur Verfügung stehen.

Essential elements for a description of the mechatronic material MM1 are:

• - a description of the manifestation, its physical characteristics and their significance in various formal contexts (eg membership of a trade variety, a standard, a group of substances, a type of waste);
• A history that describes previous lifecycle steps and links to corresponding data;
• - a description of potentially relevant interactions with other materials, systems, methods, procedures, etc. This includes transformation rules that describe the transfer of one manifestation into another, as well as the associated transformations of the description, its structure, and its interaction with its physical mapping ;
• - a description of the administrative characteristics, such as: B. controls rights and access to the information. For example, the access to certain production-related information for the processor and user could be hidden and first available to the recycler.

As an auto-ID identifier (ID; 3 ) on the mechatronic material MM1 can also be used: a text code, a number code, an alphanumeric code, an RFID chip, a barcode, a DMC 2D barcode, a QR code or a steganography. The auto-ID identifier must be inextricably linked to the technical component (mechatronic material) so that the assignment of mechatronic information to the mechatronic material MM1 can be called up locally on the physical material. An insoluble compound can, for. B. by embossing, engraving or gluing done. The auto-ID identifier could also be embedded or fused in the mechatronic component. Removing the Auto-ID tag on the material would result in destruction of the Auto-ID tag.

In addition to a description system, the mechatronic material MM1 is characterized by a physical architecture which permits a clear identification of material objects that is as inseparable from the object as possible, possibly supplemented by the provision of accompanying information. This can include: RFID tags, labeling rules, enrichment with substances or design information for identification (steganography, 2D barcodes, DNA tincture, etc.). The physical architecture also includes the measurement tools (eg, RFID reader) for acquiring the physical quantities, the means for marking the mechatronic materials, the means for communicating between the MM-specific components, and for storing, evaluating, and administering the entire data , DNA tincture is artificial DNA. DNA tincture is a transparent liquid for the unique marking of objects and persons based on a unique DNA sequence. The origin of a DNA tincture can be clearly traced.

A mechatronic material MM1 further comprises a logical architecture, which ensures the consistency of the data about different sources and storage locations, which describes units and their conversion, which balances different forms of presentation (local data on the physical mechatronic material MM1 with its digital representation (s)), Ensuring the tracking of a mechatronic material MM1 via various forms of manifestation, transferring logical breaks into defined states (lost mechatronic material MM1, unexpected growth, etc.) and ensuring the implementation of access rights.

2 shows an exemplary description for a material cycle SKL, as he z. B. by Max Marwede at the 5th Life Cycle Assessment Workshop in Freising on October 6, 2009 was presented. The mechatronic material according to the invention can also be used in other material cycles z. B. for recycling purposes. A quantum material MM1 is detected at any point in the circuit SKL, described in accordance with the systematics and, from this point on, it is managed in the balance room BR of a "Mechatronic Inventory". The balance area BR corresponds to 2 the space inside the dashed line. This formalization and balancing opens up numerous new possibilities for the analysis, optimization and development of material cycles SKL. The material cycle SKL can also be coupled with other material cycles, ie mechatronic materials can be transferred from one material cycle SKL in another material cycle or transferred.

3 shows an exemplary system for marking and / or detection of components (mechatronic materials) MM2 for technical processes. The mechatronic material MM2 is in 3 For example, an industrial robot, the ID ID as an auto ID ID. B. has a glued or cast RFID transponder. Preferably, the RFID transponder is a passive transponder without its own power supply. The transponder comprises a microchip with a rewritable and readable data memory. The Mechatronic information on the RFID chip can be read out by an RFID reader R and forwarded to a computing unit C (eg PC or workstation) for further processing. Forwarding can be wired or wireless. The programming of the microchip and the reading of the mechatronic data on the chip can take place via a conven- tional microcontroller development environment. The arithmetic unit C may comprise a tool for model-based plant engineering, which uses the chip-read mechatronic data directly in engineering.

The present invention is to impart an approach of designing high-quality technical items to current problems of historically grown domains (raw material production, waste disposal, processing industry, etc.) using modern technologies. This results in opportunities for optimizing existing material and energy flows, such. B. improved possibilities of targeted recycling, sorted waste incineration, better coordination of requirements of processors to suppliers and also the possibility of balancing material flows in real time. Furthermore, there are improved possibilities for using model-based engineering and planning methods, since now the materials are present in a comprehensive and homogeneous manner. In particular, a mechatronic material is suitable for tracking dangerous (nuclear nuclear fuel) or valuable goods (rare alloying elements).

Below is a list of possible embodiments of the invention:

• further uses:

• - use for customs, ECC purposes, hazardous substance tracking, tracing (pollutant findings with disappeared MM in connection)
• - Use for Proof of Ownership of Data and Goods ("Material Land Register")

• Administrative rules:

• - The access rights to data can be regulated via certification levels of participants in an MM system.
• - Rules for the transformation, splitting, aggregation, etc. of the physical material
• - Rules for fading, energy flows, transfer to diffuse states (".. tilting into the sea")

• The physical properties of the material description may be: B. include:

• - macroscopic appearance: monolithic, granular, disperse, crystalline; characterizes z. B. on particle size distribution, rheological properties ("angle of repose").
• - Acquisition via count quantities, z. B. molar consideration, quantities of granular materials.
• - Acquisition of quantity-related quantities: volume, mass.
• - specific properties, eg. B. conductivity, elastic modulus, yield strength, enthalpy / entropy.
• - current operational / environmental conditions (temperature, atmosphere, ..)
• - boundary layer states, z. Eg scale species, Al2O3 on Al, grain boundary corrosion
• - description of anisotropic properties; Orientation distribution functions, e.g. As for textures, fiber composites, polarization.
• Internal structure (defects, porosity, inner surface, crystal structure, phase composition)

• Function-related properties

• - Fracture Mechanical Properties (Weibull Statistics).
• - Reaction behavior with certain partners.
• - aging behavior.
• - "Memory" of the process route (traces of the manufacturing process).
• - Fatigue resistance, regenerability (hot glue).
• - description of composite properties, eg. B. for fiber composites (mixture rules), ODS alloys (admixture of ceramic particles in metal).
• - Classification for application contexts (p-doped, nanomaterial, electronic component, waste paper, building material, ..)

• Information technology properties

• - Graphic representation in engineering systems (eg for CAD, see [CAD])
• - interpretation of physical states as context-independent "information" (magnetization = "bit", orientation = direction, ..)
• - Interpretation of physical states as context-dependent information (red-hot = "hot").

4 shows an exemplary layer architecture for describing the mechatronic material. The representation of the description of mechatronic materials (MM1; 1 ) with IT resources can z. In a layered model (semantic representation, logical representation and physical representation (implementation)). The description of the mechatronic material (MM1; 1 ) on the semantic level, the mapping on logical and physical level can be done in various ways, eg. B. distributed as long as the basis for the semantic consistency is maintained. The correctness of a physical representation with regard to an associated logical or semantic representation can be ensured or proved by means of theoretical computer science.

For example, in the case of the housing of an electric motor, the information about its production could be located in a central database, the identity of the housing would be clearly recorded via an attached RFID tag (as an auto-ID identifier), the relevant information would be to the housing during recycling (Alloy, color composition, constituents with particularly valuable material (magnets),) due to the RFID tag retrieved, taken into account for the melt planning (metal parts, slag former, exhaust gas composition, ..), the housing data classified as "historical" and the relevant data of the housing (along with many others) used for the creation of new mechatronic materials MM1 "melt", "slag" and "exhaust".

Material, in particular mechatronic material, suitable for use in a material cycle of technically used materials, wherein the material comprises an essentially insoluble auto-ID identifier (eg RFID identifier), the auto-ID identifier for unique identification the material is usable and the auto-ID identifier allows access to mechatronic information regarding the material and wherein the material in a defined balance area of a material cycle (recycling cycle) is mapped. The invention is particularly advantageously used in recycling after use of the product (recycled materials), z. As in the return of a material from industrial and consumer waste in a new manufacturing process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• MM1,

  MM2 Mechatronic material

  ID

  Auto-ID tag

  R

  reader

  M

  monitor

  C

  computer

  SKL

  Material cycle

  BR

  balance space

Claims (8)

Mechatronic material (MM1, MM2) suitable for use in a material cycle (SKL) of technically used materials, wherein the material (MM1, MM2) comprises a substantially insoluble Auto-ID-ID (ID), characterized in that the Auto ID identifier (ID) can be used to uniquely identify the material (MM1, MM2) and the auto-ID identifier (ID) allows access to mechatronic information regarding the material (MM1, MM2). Mechatronic material (MM1, MM2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechatronic information includes: - The unique identification of the component and / or - the materials of the component and / or - The mechanical structure of the component and / or - The electrical supply of the component and / or - Automation information about the component and / or - associated software and / or - Documentation and / or - the history of the component. Mechatronic material (MM1, MM2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material (MM1, MM2) in a defined balance space (BR) of a material cycle (SKL) is mapped. Mechatronic material (MM1, MM2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the auto-ID identifier (ID) is a text code, a number code, an alphanumeric code, an RFID chip, a barcode, a DMC 2D barcode, a QR Code, a steganography or a DNA tincture. System for marking and / or recording materials (MM1, MM2) suitable for use in a material cycle (SKL) of technically usable materials (MM1, MM2), comprising at least one material (MM1, MM2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, and a reader which is adapted to read data stored on the auto-ID (ID). A system according to claim 5, characterized in that the system comprises a system architecture semantically describing the material (MM1, MM2) at a semantic representation level and providing mappings to map the material to a level of logical representation and physical representation. A system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the system comprises a tool for model-based plant engineering, the from the reader (R) from the auto-ID identifier (ID) The data read is used to map the material (MM1, MM2) to an ontology based on defined transformation rules. Method for producing a material-specific auto-ID identifier (ID), in particular an RFID chip, suitable for non-detachable attachment to a component for use in a technical process, wherein the auto-ID identifier (ID) mechatronic information relating to the respective component wherein the mechatronic information can be applied by a suitable writing device to the auto-ID identifier (ID).

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