Home of Innovation, Mei 2018

‘Everything here is XL’: The new SAM|XL field lab automates the production of large lightweight structures

‘Everything here is XL’ The new SAM|XL field lab automates the production of large lightweight structures Text: Jurjen Slump Image: SAM | XL There is very little automation going on in the production of lightweight structures, such as aircraft wings and wind turbines, even though it would offer major advantages. The new SAM|XL (Smart Advanced Manufacturing XL) field lab on the TU Delft Campus is set to change that. Aircraft builders and other manufacturers of lightweight structures will soon be able to develop smart production methods here. “There is a huge demand worldwide for pursuing automation now”, say CEO Kjelt van Rijswijk and business developer Jos van den Boom. “We have just been working on a polishing project”, explains Van Rijswijk. “The front of a wing on a business jet needs to have an attractive shine, else it will not sell easily. At the moment, this polishing is still done manually, which is dirty work and specialists are in short supply. You could also teach robots to do this work.” There are major advantages to using lightweight materials: an aircraft made from composite components consumes less fuel and has a longer range and lower CO2 emissions. In shipbuilding, the use of composite allows for a lighter structure above the waterline, resulting in a more stable vessel. In the construction of wind turbines – the large blades are all made from composite – the use of this material increases performance. Manual work At the same time, it is important that lightweight structures do not become so light that they might break. This calls for extensive quality controls during the production process, especially in the aviation industry. At the moment, much of this is still manual work, explains Van Rijswijk. “The layers of the composite component are each made individually.” Each layer is checked separately – do the fibres have the right orientation? – before the next layer is applied.In order to meet the increasing demand, automating the production process is the obvious solution. “Automation results in a shorter production time, lower costs and much better quality control even during the production process”, Van den Boom summarises.“As yet, no one is able to achieve this on a large scale”, says Van den Boom. It is the very reason why SAM|XL was established. In this field lab – or collaborative research centre, as Van Rijswijk and Van den Boom themselves call it – manufacturers can join forces with scientists and other partners to develop intelligent systems for the production of large composite components. Region Delft is the ideal location for SAM|XL. “The region of Zuid-Holland has many composite companies”, explains Van Rijswijk. “Some of these supply composites to Airbus and Boeing, but there are also numerous shipbuilding industry and wind turbine production suppliers.” The new field lab will bring together all the expertise required to optimise the production of large lightweight composite components. “Knowledge of lightweight structures, specialist material knowledge and expertise in the field of automation: robots, software and sensors.” The expertise available in the region means that SAM|XL is attractive to many parties. The distinguishing factor in all of this is the wide-ranging knowledge at TU Delft. A world leader for many years in the field of aerospace engineering, materials science, composites and robotics, the university has a great deal to offer. For example, SAM|XL works in close collaboration with the TU Delft Robotics Institute . It is an initiative of TU Delft, Fokker-GKN and regional governments (see box). Companies can make use of the combined expertise of TU Delft, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research ( TNO ) and SAM|XL itself. “We are in the process of building a team of robotics and software engineers, specifically for applications in this sector”, says Van Rijswijk. “When, for example, additional material knowledge is needed, or specific knowledge in the field of data and artificial intelligence (AI), researchers from TU Delft or elsewhere will be brought in on a project basis.” RoboHouse SAM|XL is clearly positioning itself as a hi-tech field lab specialising in lightweight structures, and in doing so is strengthening the robotics ecosystem around TU Delft. “Other field labs, such as RoboHouse , focus on wider robotics applications across various sectors, including production, logistics, agri and health”, says Van Rijswijk. He believes that the two field labs complement each other well. Production, inspection and assembly So what exactly does SAM|XL have to offer to companies? First of all, manufacturing – robots building lightweight components from different layers of fibres. In addition, they can offer automated quality inspection during or after the production process, and finally control the assembly process itself. The various components need to be welded together or have holes drilled into them. The robots doing this work will be large and advanced. Large, because they are dealing with large-sized panels (aircraft wings, turbine blades, boats, bridges). “That is where the XL in our name comes from”, says Van Rijswijk. “You need to have equipment with enough reach to work with large surfaces.” Advanced, because the robots need to be intelligent and precise. Although the end product may be a rigid panel, it does not start out like that. Initially, the product is still very ‘floppy’, explains Van den Boom. Robots need to be able to deal with that. “So, if you want to deploy robots, you need to keep checking where the material is located and what shape the curved panels have at that time. This calls for robots with advanced vision and AI that are capable of ‘feeling and seeing’ the product. In addition, only low volumes are involved at this stage, and these cannot be automated without smart robots that are capable of performing multiple tasks. This makes it extremely challenging and calls for innovative solutions. The robots doing this work will be large and advanced. Large, because they are dealing with large-sized panels (aircraft wings, turbine blades, boats, bridges). That is where the XL in our name comes from. Kjelt Van Rijswijk. , CEO The SAM|XL community There is a lot of interest from the manufacturing industry to become involved with SAM|XL, but why would a company need this new field lab? There are various potential reasons. “If you wish to automate an existing production line, the last thing you want to do is disrupt current production”, explains Van Rijswijk. At SAM|XL, it is possible to replicate the production line (or part of it). If the company eventually decides to start working with the system developed in SAM|XL, it can then purchase its own machines.” The power of SAM|XL lies in the fact that the technological challenges faced by participating companies drive the field lab’s activities. Participants therefore also have a say in the type of equipment to be purchased. Technology Partners In SAM|XL, there are various robotic systems that can be used for testing. The field lab is not exclusively partnered with particular suppliers, which increases the potential for customer solutions. “We offer you the opportunity to compare different systems, making it more likely that you will implement the right technology”, says Van Rijswijk. Suppliers of smaller machines, sensors or software can become Technology Partners, thus gaining the opportunity to demonstrate their technology and develop it further. Suppliers of lightweight materials are also welcome in SAM|XL. They are increasingly being asked by their customers whether their products are suitable for automated processing. In SAM|XL, they can work with their customers in setting up a project team to study this. ROS Industrial The range of hardware that SAM|XL has at its disposal often comes with proprietary operating software, which may be incompatible with the software from other suppliers. This is why Van Rijswijk and Van den Boom also see the ROS Industrial open source software for robots as one of the solutions they will be recommending. “If you have robots from brand A and all the additional components on the robots are from brands B and C, then ROS industrial is a perfect program for ensuring they can all communicate with each other.” Thanks to this program, technological solutions can also be interchangeable, which reduces programming time. Protection of intellectual property The SAM|XL community has called for clear rules in terms of confidentiality and the protection of intellectual property (IE). For this reason, it is being professionally organised. “We are dealing with serious companies that want to know in advance what will happen to the knowledge developed here. That is why we have also developed a mature model to deal with this”, says Van Rijswijk. It is made up of a so-called participation model that defines how to deal with intellectual property developed in collaboration with other partners in SAM|XL. Designated building SAM|XL is currently still located in the ‘Aeroplane Hall’ in the faculty of Aerospace Engineering. At the end of this year, Van Rijswijk and Van den Boom will be given the keys to their own building on Rotterdamseweg, which is also part of the TU Delft Campus. The building comprises 2,000 m² of production space and a further 200 m² of office accommodation. Van Rijswijk ultimately expects SAM|XL to develop into a vibrant community. It will become a place that sparks enthusiasm among students for a career in the manufacturing industry, with a large network of companies and researchers around it. He predicts that it will bring about a fundamental development of the campus, in which SAM|XL becomes an important link in transferring knowledge from the university to the business community. But first of all, he aims to put SAM|XL firmly on the map. “Our first projects are now up-and-running and we are working enthusiastically on them with our partners. We first need to generate some successes, and the rest will follow automatically.” Smart materials There is plenty of work to be done. The production process is subject to constant changes. Currently, everything revolves around robots, but smart materials are also set to play a major role in the future, predicts Van den Boom. “This involves materials with integrated sensors for inspection and maintenance. It could prove to be a very interesting field for us.” This primarily concerns the advantages offered during the maintenance process. In the future, the business jet will automatically generate an alert when it’s time for another polish. SAM|XL is an initiative of TU Delft, Fokker-GKN and regional governments. Its other founding partners are TNO, Airbus Defence & Space Nederland, KVE, GTM, Airborne and Suzlon. The centre is being co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Province of Zuid-Holland and the Municipality of The Hague. The TU Delft Innovation & Impact Centre and InnovationQuarter played an important role in the application for the ERFD grant. The project will cost around € 4.2 million. SAM|XL is also part of the SMITZH regional network of field labs. Follow us on social media twitter linkedin

AMS Institute

AMS Institute Text: Jurjen Slump AMS Institute is an internationally leading institute where engineers, designers and researchers jointly develop integrated metropolitan solutions. What makes AMS Institute unique is that its research is validated and implemented in practice using the city of Amsterdam as a living lab. The world is urbanising at a tremendous rate. Cities increasingly face challenges of sustainability and quality of life, challenges that put our resources, food security, mobility and logistics, water and waste management, health and wellbeing at risk. Cities need metropolitan solutions, made possible by revolutions in new technologies, research and design methods. But no stakeholder can do this alone: finding metropolitan solutions requires cooperation between knowledge institutes, companies, cities and citizens. For this reason, AMS Institute was founded in 2014 by Delft University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in close collaboration with a group of private, public and societal partners, with of course the city of Amsterdam as key partner. The institute wants to develop a deep understanding of the city (‘sense the city’) to design solutions for its challenges, and integrate these into the city of Amsterdam, during and after which consequences are being measured and investigated again to enable iterations of these solutions. Its research evolves around applied technology in themes related to city metabolism, such as water, energy, waste, food, data and mobility, and the integration of these themes for a prosperous society. Using the city as a living lab is unique as it provides a valuable context for experiments that helps develop and test advanced solutions for challenges in urbanised metropolitan areas around the globe. The living lab approach is important, as it forms an important step to achieve more impact faster, and above all better society-wide implementation. More on the AMS Institute can be found on ams-institute.org by Arjan van Timmeren, Scientific Director AMS A view on AMS Institute by Arjan van Timmeren, Scientific Director AMS Innovation for the city “The AMS Institute is a public-private partnership with a turnover target of 250 million Euros over 10 years. In June this year, we will complete four years of operations. By then, we will have built up a research portfolio of 81 projects, as well as running a Master’s programme on Metropolitan Analysis Design & Engineering (MADE) and teaching about 30,000 students worldwide via MOOCs. The research projects are centred on three themes: Circular City (sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, water, materials & buildings and nutrient extraction), Connected City (mobility and data) and Vital City (resilience, climate adaptation and urban food systems). Most projects are a cross-over between traditional Delft engineering and contemporary innovative Delft IT engineering, i.e. a lot of robotics, algorithms and smart concepts, but always linked to real problems in the living environment and focused on solutions.” Urban metabolism “We focus a lot of attention on what I call ‘urban metabolism’: everything that flows into and out of the city. We’re looking for solutions for the city as a whole, because small-scale solutions will not be enough to address imobility and climate issues. We test the possible solutions within a defined area, after which we make the leap to the city and society as a whole. Roboat, a research project set up in collaboration with MIT Boston for the development of autonomous vessels, is being tested on the Amsterdam canals. Various use and business cases are developed as part of the research, for example, for using these autonomous vessels for sensing, as self-driving taxi boats or for food distribution and waste collection. At present in Amsterdam only, but later this will be extended to cities and deltas worldwide.” Living labs “Working with living labs is an essential part of our working method: it is this particular institutional innovation that gives the AMS Institute an edge worldwide. Our experimental living labs revolve around our end users because we want to get them involved right from the start. After all, better than anyone else they know where exactly current solutions fall short. Their continuous feedback ensures that the innovations tested here will work better in cities characterised by a dual complexity of, on the one hand, urban (technical) systems and, on the other hand, of people and the actual day-to-day life in these urban environments, which do not always follow the rules of logic.” Faster-to-market “TU Delft benefits greatly from the collaboration within the AMS Institute.Most importantly, this collaboration ensures that scientific research reaches the market much faster than it normally would. We combine speed with fundamental expertise, which allows us to carry out implementations and tests very quickly. Once again, the living labs are crucial for this. For the AMS Institute, they form an important link between fundamental research and scale-ups, on the one hand, and a faster and broader acceptance in society, on the other. Which is absolutely essential in view of the major challenges we will be facing.” More about Prof.dr.ir. A. van Timmeren

RoboHouse

RoboHouse Smart Industry Fieldlab for Advanced Cognitive Robotics Applications Text: Jurjen Slump RoboHouse is RoboValley’s fieldlab where manufacturing companies and innovative organisations can discover the possibilities cognitive robotics offer, develop their own applications and test them in an industrial setting. The rapid developments in robotics will have a major impact on many sectors. A few organisations already make use of advanced robots, which apply artificial intelligence, are self-learning and can work autonomously. Machines that interact with their surroundings and can collaborate with people. These cognitive robotics enable many new applications. Think of robots that can identify and process a variety of unknown objects and that can be deployed for order picking tasks in warehouses. Another example are inspection robots for remote and dangerous areas or production processes where humans and robots work together to solve complex tasks. Most manufacturing companies are aware of the existence of these intelligent technologies and would like to gain practical experience with them. RoboHouse is the place where they can, in a practical way, learn to understand the potential – and limitations – of these robotics systems. A test facility to work on their own applications and a place to train their employees to collaborate with robots. RoboHouse is an initiative of RoboValley , Festo , ABB , Exact , InnovationQuarter , TNO , The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Delft University of Technology. It will open its doors in 2018. Based on the campus of Delft University of Technology, RoboHouse offers direct access to the research of TU Delft Robotics Institute and hardware of industrial partners, such as ABB and Festo. More on RoboHouse can be found on robovalley.com/robohouse by Arjan van Timmeren, Scientific Director AMS A view on RoboHouse by Egbert-Jan Sol, TNO & Partner RoboHouse Smart Industry Implementation Agenda “All the field labs in the Netherlands - by now more than 30 in total - are part of a national Smart Industry programme. I work in the programme office, on behalf of TNO. In essence, field labs like RoboHouse bring about radical digital innovations in the industry and ensure that the workforce is trained to handle these innovations. ” Skills training “The basic principle of Smart Industry, or ‘Industrie 4.0’ as the Germans call it, is that the pace of digitisation in the industry is accelerating. How do you ensure that the working population is trained to deal effectively with more advanced robotics or blockchain technology? If we don’t get to grips with this right now, it may become a real social problem. The industrial environment of the field lab is actually the perfect place to train employees in these skills.” SMITZH “It’s important for the various field labs to collaborate efficiently, at both regional and national levels. In South Holland, we’ve set up the SMITZH programme (Smart Manufacturing: Industrial Application in South Holland) for this purpose. Entrepreneurs with questions about automation and digitisation can approach a SMITZH counter in the province. In addition, these regional smart industry hubs are also connected at the national level via a national expertise centre.” RoboHouse “At RoboHouse, TNO mainly provides expertise in the field of technology, for example, about sensors that help automate horticulture. At the same time, we are also involved in flexible manufacturing: making production processes more flexible with the use of robots. I think it would be a good idea to work on developing a fully autonomous greenhouse at RoboHouse. This means that in a few years we will no longer be an exporter of tomatoes and cucumbers only, but also of high-tech systems emerging from this same greenhouse!” by Arjan van Timmeren, Scientific Director AMS A view on RoboHouse by Jan Koudijzer, Festo & partner RoboHouse Collaboration “We feel it’s important to work together with parties that are able to take automation to ever-higher levels. As a supplier of all kinds of motion components and control technology, Festo is a robot enabler. Rather than build ready-made robots, we deliver the components and composite functional modules. We want to demonstrate our competence and technology.” Experience centre “We’ve also set up our own experience centre at Festo: not just as a means to showcase our capabilities to our clients but also for our own employees, so that they can gain experience with the new solutions they devise. At RoboHouse, our primary aim is to demonstrate our experimental set-ups. On the other hand, we also want the RoboHouse demonstrators to be seen at Festo.” Society “As a Delft establishment, we feel responsible for our immediate environment. We’ve already been contributing to this for a while now, together with the municipality of Delft and TU Delft. It’s important to get young people excited about technology, which is what an initiative such as RoboHouse can do. In addition, we must continue developing our organisation further. Apart from the new generation, our current employees should also receive continuous training, preferably in a way that is enjoyable for them. The RoboHouse and other field labs also provide opportunities for doing this.” Success “We’ll consider RoboHouse a success once it starts doing well within a few years. With visitors following courses or working on projects in RoboHouse and where, hopefully, Festo technology will also be optimally showcased. It should not be a short-term project. RoboHouse must prove that it can exist independently in the long term: that the research is adequately funded, the developed technology is actually implemented at companies, and that it is able to become cost-efficient. by Arjan van Timmeren, Scientific Director AMS A view on RoboHouse by Jaimy Siebel, manager RoboHouse Mission “It’s essential for the Netherlands to take advantage of the opportunities offered by new robotics technologies in a sustainable manner. RoboHouse is a veritable Mecca for advanced robotics in the Netherlands, enabling companies, knowledge institutions and other organisations to gain insight into the opportunities and limitations of robots in a practical manner. As a part of RoboValley, we have strong ties with start-ups and researchers in the field of robotics.” Experience “RoboHouse offers visitors a unique experience. The moment you come in, you will be confronted by the range of possibilities offered by intelligent systems. For example, a projection of red dots follows the visitor through the entrance and predicts where he or she is going. We try to incorporate as many interactive, playful elements as possible: for example, you can only ring the bell to enter if you smile.” Network “We collaborate closely with other regional field labs within the SMITZH programme. There are currently eight such labs, each with a different area of competence. Thanks to SMITZH, we now have a one-stop shop for companies that want to find out what ‘smart industry’ signifies for their own processes. At a national level, we also collaborate with other field labs involved with robotics, to ensure that learning and training opportunities in the field are properly aligned.” For everyone “Anyone can become a member of RoboHouse: students, employees of knowledge institutions, start-ups or individuals. For 199 Euros per month, you’re welcome to build and program your own robots at our facility. Non-members may also follow workshops and courses organised by us without any obligation. In this way, we make advanced technology accessible to everyone.”

Medical Delta Living Labs

Medical Delta Living Labs Text: Jurjen Slump Medical Delta is a dynamic network of organisations active in the life sciences, health and technology sector. Together, they develop innovations to meet current and future challenges in the health care sector. One important tool for achieving this is the concept of ‘Living Labs’. These offer companies and care providers the opportunity of developing, testing and implementing their solutions in real-life settings, whether physical or digital, with actual clinicians, patients, nursing staff and people who provide care at home. In this way, it is ensured that effective, relevant care innovations get to market faster and are optimally aligned with the wishes and needs of the end-users and the requirements of the clinicians and/or carers. For companies, this means that their product launches will be more successful, while for the care sector it means that they will be able to implement the innovative products or services in an efficient and effective way. Living Lab infrastructure Medical Delta is currently setting up a Living Lab infrastructure in the province of ‘Zuid-Holland’ in the Netherlands. This infrastructure offers an attractive environment for companies in life sciences, health and technology, with high quality Living Lab services raising the chance of conquering the market and reaching the general public with relevant new products, services or social initiatives. The Labs Seven Medical Delta Living Labs “In 2017, Medical Delta started setting up the infrastructure for the first Medical Delta Living Lab. Currently, seven Living Labs are active in the areas of patient safety, rehabilitation, living a safe and healthy life at home, vitality and prevention. There are nine projects currently underway at these labs. In addition, we work together with various partners: hospitals, care institutions, knowledge institutions (universities and universities of applied sciences), government bodies and the business community. Naturally, everything revolves around the end user.” Patient safety “The Medical Delta Living Lab Research Operating Theatre develops systems to improve patient safety during operations. One of the systems being tested is a real-life operating theatre equipped with all kinds of measuring equipment and sensors.” Rehabilitation “Another lab - the Medical Delta Living Lab Rehabilitation Technology - deals with innovations that improve the quality and intensity of rehabilitation. One of the companies involved in this project is Sense Glove from Delft. With the help of robotics and virtual reality, this start-up has developed a smart glove that makes it seem as though the user is holding a real object. Thus, people can be ‘re-trained’ to perform everyday tasks in a more challenging way.” Greater chance of success “The objective of our Living Labs is to ensure that innovative products have a greater chance of success, namely by involving the end user very early on in the innovation process. By first testing innovations and implementing them on a small scale within a lifelike environment (hospital, rehabilitation centre, at home), we can launch them more successfully.” Network of Medical Delta Living Labs “In the coming years, the existing Medical Delta Living Labs infrastructure will be expanded further. The ultimate goal is to create a central point of contact in the province of South Holland which interested parties, from either the Netherlands or abroad, can approach for Living Lab services in the field of medical technology.” Caroline Duterloo Programme Manager Medical Delta Living Labs +31 6 3925 1250 Hospital Safety Medical Delta Living Lab ResearchOR Living Lab Medical Delta Instruments Healthy Lifestyle & Prevention Medical Delta Living Lab for Vitality National eHealth Living Lab Rian Rijnsburger Programme Manager Medical Delta Living Labs +31 6 3458 4898 Fast & Effective Rehabilitation Medical Delta Living Lab Rehabilitation Technology Healthy at Home Medical Delta Living Lab Care Robotics Medical Delta Living Lab Domestic Hospital Care

Field lab in the North Sea

Field lab in the North Sea Text: Jurjen Slump Photography: Klaas Wiersma A field lab (‘Proeftuin op de Noordzee’) is being constructed off the coast of Scheveningen. This field lab (covering an area of 10x10 nautical miles) will be equipped with an extensive data infrastructure. Here, the maritime sector will be able to test its new products and applications in practice. Think of, for example, a tracking system for kite surfers or a system for providing real-time information during sailing competitions. This field lab is an initiative of TU Delft, KPN, TNO, the Sailing Innovation Centre, the Royal Netherlands Watersports Association (Watersportverbond), Svašek Hydraulics and the Municipality of The Hague. These parties will receive a 1.7 million Euro grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and also contribute their own funds to the lab. This creates a total funding of 4.3 million Euros. The field lab consists of a network of smart buoys fitted with a whole range of measuring equipment, and a network to send the collected data to the shore. Companies (start-ups, SMEs as well as the manufacturing industry) that want to test any application are welcome to use this infrastructure. The various partners contribute to the project based on their specific expertise. For example, KPN will install the data network and TU Delft will focus on the scientific data science research to be carried out at sea. Svašek Hydraulics is an engineering firm that develops flow models. They will use the field lab to expand and optimise their flow models. The project also focuses on the development of the port of the future, where big data will play an ever greater role and the port office will increasingly take on the function of a control room. To encourage the involvement of SMEs, a separate SME scheme has been set up for entrepreneurs. Under this scheme, SMEs are eligible to receive a 25 thousand Euro grant for concrete projects. The Sailing Innovation Centre will act as a ‘counter’ for the entire programme, where demand and supply meet. A view on: 'Proeftuin op de Noordzee' by Anoek van Vlaardingen, Project Manager Smart buoys “Many companies are already carrying out tests on inland waterways - for example, for autonomous sailing or the use of drones for inspection and maintenance activities - but they are not yet ready to make the transition to the open seas. The Proeftuin op de Noordzee field lab offers them the opportunity to do this. Smart buoys packed with sensors will be placed within the test area. The data will be sent ashore via a 4G network to be analysed there. This will include information about currents, wind levels or wave heights, but it’s also possible to collect personal data such as the heartbeat of sailors during sailing races.” Sail Coach Cockpit “One of the projects involves a smart coach boat. At present, coaches often lack access to adequate information. By fitting sailboats and sailors with various sensors, the coach can gain access to such details. Based on this, they can decide to change course, if required. Today captains often make such decisions based purely on instinct, but soon they will have access to all the relevant data via smart buoys to help them make more informed choices.” Offshore industry and fishing “The same information can also be relevant for the offshore industry or the fishing sector. For example, this information can be used to map out the most energy-efficient route for maintenance vessels of offshore wind farms or fishing vessels. The smart buoys can also be used for safety purposes: tracking kite surfers or locating drowning people with the help of drones.” Digitisation on the high seas “Digitisation at sea is progressing at a slow pace. We expect it to take at least another decade before internet connectivity at sea is just as readily available as it is on land. This project is intended to speed up the process. This will also have consequences for the harbour master’s job. The port office will increasingly become a control room, with lots of data pouring in. TNO intends to conduct a study to determine what the port office of the future should look like.” TU Delft “TU Delft will mainly focus on sailing as a sport. We want to find out how information can be provided in the most optimal manner. How can you make all the data coming in from the smart buoys about wind conditions, currents and the sailor's behaviour available to the coach in a clear and easily understandable manner? We also want to try to make sailing competitions more attractive to onshore visitors. Using 3D techniques, virtual and augmented reality, we will try to give them a better view of the competition.” Volvo Ocean Race “This project offers TU Delft a unique opportunity to bring their research to the market more quickly. The technology transfer component is built into the project right from the start. Thanks to the SME scheme, we also hope to attract many companies that want to test their applications. Scheveningen is increasingly becoming the Mecca for Dutch sailing. This year, the Volvo Ocean Race will finish in Scheveningen. During this event, we will be at the innovation pavilion to demonstrate to the general public the first prototypes to be tested at 'Proeftuin op de Noordzee'.” Anoek van Vlaardingen Project Manager +31 15 27 89 139 TU Delft | Technology Transfer Centre Building 26-C Van der Burghweg 1 2628 CS Delft Deel deze pagina: Facebook Linkedin Twitter Email WhatsApp Deel deze pagina

The Green Village

The Green Village Accelerating innovation for a sustainable future Text: Jurjen Slump The Green Village is a living lab for sustainable innovations in home, work and living environments. Located at the centre of the TU Delft campus, this test site offers opportunities for entrepreneurs and researchers to develop, test and demonstrate their experimental projects in close collaboration with government bodies and the public. The Green Village was set up because TU Delft needed a more effective manner of testing and validating ideas, projects and research originating from faculty research labs. A special feature of this spatial platform is that it is a ‘rule-free’ zone. This means that various types of rules as well as the Buildings Decree (Bouwbesluit) are, so to speak,‘switched off’ here, thus creating more opportunities for testing innovations. This practical approach will enable parties to validate their innovation and work, scaling them up from idea to practice. The special thing about The Green Village is that it is truly a ‘living lab’ because there are people who actually work and live here. The Green Village currently has five official residents who, along with the people working there, take part in various experiments. Collaboration and co-creation Besides the physical and data platform, The Green Village also offers a platform as a collaboration network. Various parties are involved in the collaborative efforts around The Green Village, including the central government, Province of South Holland, Delfland Water Authority, Municipality of Delft, NEN and other market parties. Through the Green Deal The Green Village, these parties help to identify bottlenecks that stand in the way of more structural solutions. Here, integrated efforts are being made to develop innovations based on four perspectives, i.e. Technology & Systems, Business Model, Societal Embracement and Legislation & Regulation. This is how things work in practice! It may be unplanned, but it provides valuable information for testing, demonstrating and validating ROBERT VAN LEEUWEN, Project Manager, Energy Even coincidences, such as a lorry happening to be driving past, proved to be a good test for one of the WaterStraat projects SERGE SANTOO, Manager, Marketing & Co-creation Projects At The Green Village, you will find a clustering of projects. These projects focus on circularity, water, energy, buildings, intelligent outdoor spaces, and smart mobility. The Green Village team assists parties, providing support during the preparation, implementation and testing phases of their innovation projects in the field. These innovation parties are very diverse, ranging from researchers from different knowledge institutions such as TU Delft, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and The Hague University of Applied Sciences , to start-ups and corporates. A number of projects carried out at The Green Village are also highlighted within Home of Innovation, such as the Researchlab Automated Driving Delft and 'De WaterStraat ' . More on the Green Village can be found on thegreenvillage.org Projects Direct Current Office The DC Office project is aimed at creating a brand new energy grid. The current Alternate Current (AC) network is inefficient. Because of the use of rectifiers and inverters (converting DC/AC and AC/DC) energy is lost. Besides that a lot of material (copper) is needed for every conversion. The use of Direct Current (DC) in buildings creates the possibility to increase the energy efficiency of distribution systems and applications while also reducing the amount of materials needed. By first combining AC and DC hybridly loss of energy will be reduced. The ultimate goal will be full direct current. The companies Rexel and Engie started the “DC Office” research at The Green Village to test the concept of the AC/DC mix and thus prevent energy loss. By including solar panels in this test, even greater savings could be realised. This could mean the creation of a brand new energy grid. ‘This is how things work in practice! It may be unplanned, but it provides valuable information for testing, demonstrating and validating’ Prêt-à-Loger A particularly striking project is Prêt-à-Loger, where a common terraced house has been made energy-neutral and is currently occupied by one of the students. Its unique design - created by students - forms a ‘second skin’ around the house, consisting of improved insulation, a green roof and a smart extension for solar panels. What makes this concept unique is its focus on the existing housing stock rather than on new construction. This existing stock is one of the biggest challenges in terms of energy savings. The concept can subsequently be applied to the 1.4 million terraced houses in the Netherlands and therefore offers a potential solution to an ever-growing problem. Circular Garage The Circular Garage Box is a study of ‘circular’ construction: by recycling materials from an old garage on the TU Delft campus that is being demolished to make room for new buildings. The objective of the project is to find out how feasible this is. For example, can all the materials - including the foundation - be reused and how does this play out in practice? And how sustainable is circular construction compared to other alternatives? As part of this project, all the materials will be identified and labelled, and the entire process will be monitored. This will clearly show the advantages of breaking down and rebuilding buildings and the lessons to be learned from this.

Performing under (water) pressure

Performing under (water) pressure May 2018 - By: Inge Snijder Amidst dense fog, an inland navigation vessel crashed into the weir on the River Meuse at Grave. As a result, the water level in the river dropped to a critically low level. Shipping traffic became impossible and the houseboats on the river turned over on their sides. Dirk Bon and Bart Burggraaf from the start-up Mobiele Dijken came to the rescue by quickly installing a temporary dyke. Emergencies such as the one in Grave underline the importance of smart solutions for protection against water-related calamities. VPdelta develops field labs, where start-ups such as Mobiele Dijken can test their solutions. The temporary dyke in the Meuse was 7 metres wide, 3.5 metres high and 78 metres long, enough to close off the harbour in Gennep. Mobiele Dijken, together with contractor Liebregts, constructed the dyke at the request of the Netherlands Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat). After the installation of the dyke, the water level returned to its original level. As a result, the boats came afloat and could be towed to a safer location. Eventually, the houseboats returned to an upright position after three days. Gradual increase Bon explains that it is important to allow the water level to increase gradually: “This prevents the spit of land, which closes off the harbour from the Meuse, from breaking up under the pressure of the water. Since the water level increases gradually, the boats can come afloat in a controlled manner. The first task was to make the temporary dyke high and strong enough to withstand the gradually rising water level. Within four hours, the temporary dyke was ready and Rijkswaterstaat could start pumping extra water into the harbour.” Animated explanation of the emergency measure after collision of the weir at Grave in the Meuse (in Dutch!). Stable solution The mobile dykes are filled with water. Bon explains: “This means that we use water to stem the flow of water. It is possible to set up the temporary dyke with two to four people and we do not need any heavy machinery for water levels up to 150 cm. Curves, height differences and different subsoils exert additional pressure on the dykes. The specially designed net around the water-filled compartments absorbs all that pressure and distributes it evenly.” Flood Proof Holland Mobiele Dijken proved that it was possible to quickly create a stable dyke with a good safety margin. The testing of their dyke at the Flood Proof Holland field lab was essential to ensure that they were capable of completing this task properly. Bon: “At Flood Proof Holland, we can simulate a flood in order to test whether the flow of water has been stemmed properly. It’s brilliant that this emergency at the Gennep harbour gave us a chance to prove that our experiences in the VPdelta field lab with our smaller dykes could also be applied to this large dyke.” More and more parties are realising that experimental living labs such as Flood Proof Holland are relatively safe environments where they can prepare themselves for 'the real job’. This makes experimental living labs an essential part of the innovation chain for making that leap from idea to market introduction. Project Leader Hans Brinkhof, Rijkswaterstaat Safe test environments The Netherlands has many examples of remarkably innovative solutions that contribute to liveable delta areas. Project Leader Hans Brinkhof of Rijkswaterstaat encourages the use of these innovations created by start-ups and small SMEs: “Companies such as Mobiele Dijken should be able to find a broader platform within our organisation.” More and more parties are realising that experimental living labs such as Flood Proof Holland are relatively safe environments where they can prepare themselves for 'the real job’. This makes experimental living labs an essential part of the innovation chain for making that leap from idea to market introduction. WaterStraat experimental lab In addition to dykes for protecting the Dutch harbours and coastline against high water, there are many other innovative products that focus on rainwater flooding in cities caused by more extreme weather. For example, water buffers built under houses, smart rainwater containers placed against façades or water storage facilities on roofs. A new experimental living lab - De WaterStraat - has been set up to test these solutions. Government bodies, entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions are working together in this lab to develop practically applicable solutions to make the city future-proof, thereby limiting flooding and damage and optimising quality of life. We are already seeing the positive effects of collaborating with other entrepreneurs to find solutions for a future-proof city. Henk Pannekoek, Ecologisch Waterbeheer (EWB) A sea shell buffer One of these entrepreneurs is Henk Pannekoek of Ecologisch Waterbeheer (EWB). He has designed an underground system made up of sea shells, which buffers and purifies rainwater from heavy showers: “At WaterStraat, we want to show that our water purification installation can be easily integrated into the existing infrastructure. This can help avoid complicated and costly renovations.” Pannekoek is happy with the new experimental living lab. He continues: “Thanks to WaterStraat, our system has gained the necessary visibility helping us to market our sea shell buffer faster. In addition, it offers us the opportunity to get the operation of our system validated and documented by TU Delft, and to answer any outstanding research questions.” Collaboration Apart from research, collaboration is also an important aspect. Pannekoek: “We are already seeing the positive effects of collaborating with other entrepreneurs to find solutions for a future-proof city. On the one hand, this has helped create a market and, on the other hand, it has also helped establish a very tangible link between solutions and innovations in practice, thereby enhancing each other’s added value.” Businesswoman Dorian Hill (Hill Innovation BV) agrees: “The unique thing about WaterStraat is that we address the larger research questions together with other entrepreneurs. Instead of working on our own, we are looking for suitable combinations for linking together multiple innovations. The fact that the research is carried out by specialised scientists makes it objective and interesting.” WaterStraat WaterStraat is a new field lab for the development of innovative products to make roads and neighbourhoods more resistant to extreme weather, such as heavy precipitation or drought. This experimental living lab officially opened on 16 May 2018. We are facing increasingly extreme weather conditions. Longer periods of dry weather alternate with large amounts of rain within a short period of time. During long dry periods, the atmosphere in the city will become stuffy. And during heavy downpours, in combination with the many pavements, asphalting and tiles, the sewer system can no longer handle the vast amounts of water. This makes the city vulnerable and affects us all: residents, businesses and government bodies. That is why government bodies, entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions are jointly searching for new, practically applicable solutions to make the city future-proof, thereby limiting flooding and damage by water and optimising quality of life. Inhabitants can also make a contribution to changing the design of their living environment. The Delfland Water Authority, VPdelta and The Green Village have set up WaterStraat for this purpose. This field lab offers the possibility of testing, further developing and demonstrating concepts and products. For example, water buffers built under houses, smart rainwater containers placed against façades or water storage facilities on roofs. Entrepreneurs, researchers and area managers are working together to prepare the city for the future. WaterStraat is located in The Green Village, a Delft University of Technology site. Bufferblock Bufferblock is Hill Innovations’ solution for water storage in urban areas. “In many cities, groundwater levels are very high. The concrete Bufferblock can be placed just below the road surface but can still store high volumes of water. Rainwater enters the hollow spaces of the Bufferblocks via water-permeable road paving or storm drains, after which the water infiltrates further into the soil or is drained off. In addition, the block has been made so strong that lorries can still drive over the road with no problems. The combination of capacity, strength and relatively low costs can offer an integral solution for a large urban area.” By now we have set up experimental living labs in Europe, Asia and Africa for local testing and innovation, adapted to the specific country and its water challenges. Marjan Kreijns, Programme Director of VPdelta More effective water management In addition to promoting more effective water management in our own delta and cities, field labs are also a showcase for other water managers in the Netherlands and beyond. “By now we have set up experimental living labs in Europe, Asia and Africa for local testing and innovation, adapted to the specific country and its water challenges,” says Marjan Kreijns, Programme Director of VPdelta. That’s good news, because it means Bon does not have to limit himself to Dutch disasters. Marjan Kreijns VP Delta Programme Director +31 (0)6 18635619 m.s.kreijns@tudelft.nl Valorisation Centre TU Delft/Delft University of Technology Van der Burghweg 1 2628 CS Delft The Netherlands Ruben Geradts VP Delta Programme Manager +31 (0)6 48261845 r.p.geradts@tudelft.nl Valorisation Centre TU Delft/Delft University of Technology Van der Burghweg 1 2628 CS Delft The Netherlands

“Living labs important for solving social issues”

“Living labs important for solving social issues” May 2018 - By: Jurjen Slump Every university - including TU Delft – or a big city invariably has a few of these labs. But what are they exactly? And is the hype justified? Home of Innovation spoke with researcher Jasper Deuten of the Rathenau Instituut, who has studied the phenomenon in depth. In Toronto, Google’s parent company Alphabet is building a futuristic residential neighbourhood where everything is connected via cameras, sensors and the internet. -eQuayside project promises a revolution in the area of urban development. Selfdriving cars, robots that collect household waste, toilets that keep track of water consumption, heated bicycle paths to keep out snow, and many other innovations in the areas of sustainability, mobility, housing and public facilities are expected to dramatically change the streetscape. Here, everything is measured. A city as a platform, which uses its residents’ data to tweak their living environment further. The city as one big experiment, for learning how to best organise the society of the future. “Living labs are a new way of developing and applying knowledge “ Jasper Deuten, Coördinator Rathenau Instituut Something similar is taking place in Amsterdam. The former industrial area of Buiksloterham is being transformed into a sustainable residential area. Various parties, including residents and research institutes, are involved in developing this area into a ‘circular neighbourhood’, where all products and raw materials will be recycled to the maximum extent. At Delft too, we are witnessing a shift from controlled, lab-based experiments to experimenting ‘in the wild’. In The Green Village , which is a part of the campus that has been declared ‘rule-free’, new building techniques and other innovations are tested in a lifelike environment. For example, student accommodation is rented out with the purpose of testing new materials and energy-saving measures. The students make sure that the houses are thoroughly tested, providing valuable information to researchers. Big data and algorithms The three examples described above have a common denominator: all of them are so-called living labs. The concept of living labs has become increasingly popular in recent years. Leaving the traditional research laboratory behind, researchers are venturing out into the wider world. In the process, gas burners and test tubes have given way to big data and algorithms. Living labs are a new way of developing and applying knowledge. It is not just about technical progress, but also about social innovation. Today’s guinea pigs are ordinary citizens and their data - that’s what it’s all about. Living labs are ‘hot’, but what exactly are they? Why are they emerging now? In what way do they differ from field labs, which are also on the rise, and how are government and industries involved? What role do living labs play with respect to technology transfer? Do the labs really add value or is it simply a hype promoted by cities and companies eager to clean up their image? Jasper Deuten from the Rathenau Institute has studied the phenomenon and he is quite optimistic. According to him, living labs can “genuinely contribute to finding a solution to the major social challenges of today”. Four variants The Rathenau Instituut has made an inventory of all the initiatives claiming to be living labs. Four basic types have been launched so far, only one of which actually qualifies as a living lab. The other three are commercial urban testing facilities, field labs set up by the manufacturing industry, and open scientific research facilities. The four types differ in terms of collaborating parties and the ‘lifelikeness’ of the setting in which the experiment takes place, explains Deuten. Real living labs take both aspects to the limit. “There is a whole range of partners involved,” he says. “Not just knowledge institutions, companies and government bodies, but also end users, citizens or social organisations.” Living labs involve all the different parties required for identifying solutions to social issues. Moreover, these labs are often found in urban environments. “In cities, we often see multiple problems come together, and living labs are a particularly suitable tool for addressing these types of complex problems.” In short, living labs carry a high social component. Internet of Things Deuten attributes the emergence of living labs to a number of recent developments. Firstly, there is the ambition to tackle truly complex social issues, where technological innovations can only provide a small part of the solution. “Some of the living labs we studied deal with poverty in neighbourhoods or low literacy levels. In such cases, sheer technological solutions just won’t do.” Nevertheless, technology plays an important facilitating role. Smart algorithms, increasingly smaller sensors, more powerful computers and mobile internet are turning the city into a so-called robot network, where people and devices are connected seamlessly. The Internet of Things enables real-time measurements, so that the city can also be used as a laboratory. In cities, we often see multiple problems come together, and living labs are a particularly suitable tool for addressing these types of complex problems Jasper Deuten Regional innovation policy Living labs have also emerged because urban and regional authorities are pursuing an increasingly active innovation policy. In part, this is prompted by local economic policy and the development of regional ecosystems, which are good for employment. But it is also partly motivated by the ambition to solve social issues, says Deuten. Complex social issues can be best tackled at a local or regional level. The national government can play a significant role in scaling up solutions from local experiments. It is quite clear that both government bodies and knowledge institutions could benefit from living labs. Commercial benefits But what's the catch for companies? The commercial benefits of living labs are somewhat less prominent than those of urban test facilities or field labs, where the testing of prototypes and the training of personnel are of central importance. Participation in living labs often involves a certain degree of corporate social responsibility, adds Deuten. "But here too you see that, for companies, a good business model is often important for scaling up solutions from a living-lab level. Companies want solutions that can also be sold elsewhere." For companies, a good business model is often important for scaling up solutions from a living-lab level Jasper Deuten Technology transfer When it comes to the valorisation of knowledge, each type of lab contributes in a different way to making new knowledge available for social innovations. Open scientific research facilities are 'classic' valorisation tools, according to Deuten. "You've performed research on something and you also want the world to benefit from this in some way. You can easily facilitate this by opening up the lab to the business community and giving companies access to the knowledge and research facilities." In field labs, the emphasis is shifting from scientific research that needs to be translated into innovative products, to companies that want to use new digital technologies in their production process. Field labs such as RoboHouse are intended to help manufacturing companies implement new production technology. In contrast to this, living labs focus on the joint development of solutions for social problems. Every partner - university, government, industry, citizen, social organisation - is part of a co-creative process for finding solutions. Knowledge valorisation through collaborative knowledge-building, as Deuten describes it. Ethical issues So although living labs can undoubtedly contribute to solving social issues, Deuten still has a few recommendations to make in this area. An important challenge is to ensure that living labs do not remain limited to isolated bouts of enthusiasm or one-off initiatives. For this, it is useful if the data from different living labs are collected in a systematic way and made accessible to other living labs. In addition, it helps if living labs are set up as part of a coherent group of experiments. "Researching something in Amsterdam, Groningen and Twente at the same time will yield much more robust knowledge than if you limit yourself to Amsterdam alone." Other aspects which, according to Deuten, need further attention are the ethical and social aspects and the establishment of good practices for living labs. "Citizens should not become part of a living lab without them being aware of this and unwittingly be monitored all the time." When you work with test subjects, there are certain ethical aspects involved. "It's much the same as working with lab animals: you can't simply use them any way you want." To ensure that living labs are accepted by society, it is essential to set out clear rules for such labs. The reverse is also true: living labs may lead to a feeling of exclusion. "Why is there no living lab in my neighbourhood? I also want a living lab!" Hype There is a big hype around living labs. Various cities and regions profile themselves as living labs. Is that actually justified? This raises questions in Deuten's mind as to what really con-stitutes a living lab. The key question here - to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak - is whether any real experiments are being carried out. "If it is not set up as an experiment, then the word 'lab' does not make sense." The Green Village, however, can justifiably be called a living lab, according to the researcher. There are several parties involved, it is a lifelike experimental environment and the residents, i.e. the students, are taken seriously as co-developers of knowledge. "To me, this seems like a good example of a living lab." Dr. ir. Jasper Deuten Coördinator Rathenau Instituut Contact & visiting address: Rathenau Instituut Anna van Saksenlaan 51 2593 HW Den Haag Tel: 070 34 21 5 42 E-mail: info@rathenau.nl Deel deze pagina: Facebook Linkedin Twitter Email WhatsApp Deel deze pagina