Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg have developed a speech recognition solution for industrial manufacturing. This new system is reliable even in noisy environments and can be customized to fit the user’s specific needs. By using voice commands on the factory floor, employees can keep both hands free and work more efficiently. A hands-on demonstration of this technology was provided at the Hannover Messe Preview on February 15, 2023.
Previously, using voice-controlled machines in manufacturing was considered error-prone, and as a result, it was not widely adopted. However, Fraunhofer IDMT has developed a solution that allows machines to be reliably controlled using voice commands, even in a noisy factory environment. The speech recognition system functions reliably when employees speak into a wireless headset or a stationary microphone. Loud ambient noise is significantly reduced through a combination of directional microphones and an effective noise-canceling system.
Marvin Norda, the project manager for Voice Controlled Production at Fraunhofer IDMT, explains that this technology allows people to control machines in manufacturing using voice commands in a reliable and intuitive way. For manufacturing companies, this means increased efficiency and lower costs. Furthermore, contactless machine operation is safe and hygienic for employees, and it reduces how far they need to walk when they are controlling multiple machines. They can use a mobile device to issue voice commands to the equipment from a distance while having both hands free.
Controlling a machine through voice commands is more efficient than using a control panel or touch panel, as direct voice commands involve simple instructions. The speech recognition technology can handle hundreds of individual commands depending on the application and is not limited to a particular voice. New or modified commands can be quickly added and trained into the system. This technology platform was developed and set up in cooperation with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer.
The researchers at Fraunhofer IDMT draw on many years of experience and expertise in researching and developing audio technologies and speech recognition software. This expertise also benefits the more than 50 member companies of AiP (Audiotechnologie für die intelligente Produktion, audio technology for intelligent production), an industrial working group founded by Fraunhofer IDMT in Oldenburg. The voice control system can be configured to meet individual needs and can be quickly put into operation. The speech recognition software can be integrated in the cloud or the company server, depending on the company’s requirements. It is also possible to incorporate a mini PC or even integrate the system into a machine’s programmable logic controller (PLC) without any issues.
This solution, sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation, is already being tested by some industry customers and is ready for the market. Fraunhofer IDMT will provide a first look at the project to a specialist audience at the Hannover Messe Preview on February 15, 2023. Visitors to the Hannover Messe from April 17-21, 2023, will be able to experience the technology and explore its possibilities live at the Fraunhofer booth in Hall 16, booth A12, where demonstrations will take place using a voice-controlled milling machine.
Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) established the Branch for Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology (HSA) in Oldenburg in 2008, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier and Dr. Jens-E. Appell. The institute’s primary focus is on market-oriented research and development in three key areas: speech and event recognition, sound quality and speech intelligibility, and mobile neurotechnology and systems for networked healthcare.
With a team of over 100 highly skilled employees, the HSA branch possesses in-house expertise in the development of hardware and software systems for audio system technology and signal enhancement. Its primary objective is to transform scientific knowledge into practical solutions that cater to the needs of customers.
The institute maintains close ties with the Carl von Ossietzky University, Jade University of Applied Sciences, and the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer. As a partner in the “Hearing4all” cluster of excellence, Fraunhofer IDMT engages in scientific collaboration with other institutions. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation fund the Oldenburg Branch for Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology HSA under the “Vorab” program to support its continued growth and development.