Hankook develops IoT-based condition monitoring system
10/08/2020
Hankook Tire has developed a facility abnormality prediction system called Hankook Condition Monitoring System Plus (CMS+), based on artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, accelerating its advancement of smart factories.Facility abnormalities can cause entire production lines to shut down, as well as incur extra expenses and time to bring things back to normality. Some symptoms of these abnormalities include a change in the outputs, abnormal temperature rise, noise and vibration. Therefore, identifying minor symptoms in real time and performing maintenance in advance play a key role in preventing major facility failures.
Facility abnormality prediction systems typically use a vibration sensor attached to key components of the equipment. This requires experts to analyse the information collected by the sensor and determine if there are any symptoms. However, to improve accuracy in anomaly detection and reduce response time compared to the existing system, Hankook leveraged AI and IoT technology to develop a new facility abnormality prediction system called CMS+.
CMS+ uses a three-step AI algorithm, which proceeds through ‘next-generation wireless-based IoT module’, ‘gateway’ and ‘server’. This enables data analysis with precise prediction that is said to be three to four times greater than the existing system.
During the first step that utilises the IoT module, CMS+ collects and analyses data every second, whereas the conventional method collected data only at regular intervals. It was impossible to store vast amounts of data transmitted in real time due to server limitations; however, the AI algorithm equipped in the next-generation wireless-based IoT module and gateway makes it possible to automatically sort and selectively store the data associated with suspected abnormalities. Hankook developed this original algorithm in cooperation with KAIST, a renowned science and technology university in Korea.
At the gateway and server level, CMS+ conducts an in-depth analysis of the data collected based on deep learning technology. It analyses different types of data together, including sensor data, temperature and operational information, to predict abnormal conditions of the facility in advance. It is also equipped with a real-time alarm system based on wireless communication technology. In the event of anomalies, the system immediately notifies the manager to take appropriate action much faster.
Hankook adopted the newly developed system in its factories in Korea and is in the process of applying CMS+ to all factories around the globe. The company is working on further system improvements, including incorporating augmented reality (AR) to make it easy to identify data flow that is difficult to distinguish in the field. In the meantime, Hankook is expanding the adaptation of AI step by step through joint research and development with KAIST to focus on establishing the smart factory.
To secure innovative research and development and digital technology capabilities and to realise digital transformation, Hankook signed an agreement with KAIST for industry-academic joint research on future technologies. As a result, Hankook has made tangible achievements, such as developing the Virtual Compound Design (VCD) system, a predictive model for tyre compound properties using AI, as well as the Automatic Inspection Process based on AI and digital sensors. As such, it is taking a leading role in implementing smart factories that fuel digital innovation in the the tyre industry.
