Infogeco – “Integration of Fuzzy Logic and Genetic Algorithms into the Automatic Production of Concrete Elements”

European Research Project (1997 - 1999)

The precast concrete industry operates in a difficult environment and is under a great deal of pressure with regard to costs. In this situation, automation is a means of achieving rationalisation and increasing efficiency. Its use is an important means of securing competitive advantages.

Within the European research project, involving partners from three countries, new, innovative technologies within the precast concrete industry were tried out:

• Optimisation of the positioning control of the grippers used for the production of the formwork of the precast elements.
• Improvement in quality and speed during the production of the wire netting used for reinforcement.
• Achievement of a distribution of the concrete in the mould that is as homogeneous as possible.
• Use of new optimisation tools within the main production control unit.

The potential for optimisation was analysed through simulation and tested in practical experiments.

Further information is available on the database of European research projects.