At the Hannover Messe event, Microsoft announced a series of cooperations on Internet of Things (IoT) services.
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Miele & Cie. announcd a proof-of-concept study based on Microsoft Azure Internet of Things (IoT) services that will help usher in the next generation of smart appliances and home cooking.
The concept will allow home users to program their ovens to ensure their meals will come out perfectly cooked, providing an exceptional customer experience.
The new technology comes from a collaboration between Miele and Microsoft to identify new Internet-enabled customer experiences. Based on the partnership, Miele developed this concept, which allows users to browse recipes on Miele's website and choose from various meals.
With the selection of a recipe, the necessary food preparation stages are downloaded to the user's smartphone or tablet and the matching program is loaded onto the oven through Azure.
The oven is programed to cook the specific meal using the proper operating mode, temperature, cooking time, humidity and other factors, taking out guesswork and promising great results.
Microsoft and KUKA, a manufacturer of industrial robots and automation solutions, are presenting a mutual application that shows KUKA's Intelligent Industrial Work Assistant (KUKA LBR iiwa), built with Microsoft Azure Internet of Things (IoT) services.
Using precise movements and perceptive technology, this lightweight robot is able to sense its way around a complex task and perform precise automation movements safely and securely. This special feature enables KUKA LBR iiwa for human-robot collaboration.
The combination with Microsoft Azure IoT services, Kinect hardware, and the OPC-UA communication standard leads to one of the world's first showcases blending IT with robotic technologies into a smart manufacturing solution with new capabilities.
Fujitsu and Microsoft announced their collaboration to bring innovative operational excellence to manufacturing with the help of Fujitsu devices powered by Windows 8.1 Pro, the Internet of Things (IoT) services of FUJITSU Cloud A5 for Microsoft Azure, and the Fujitsu IoT/M2M (machine-to-machine) platform.
Having recognized a solution was needed to optimize processing by both machines and humans, Fujitsu brought together its Eco-Management Dashboard, the IoT/M2M platform, Microsoft cloud services and Windows tablets in a way that could enable managers, engineers and scientists to improve product quality, streamline systems and enhance functionality while reducing costs.
This solution is based on the work Fujitsu performed in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan. Fujitsu converted its semiconductor manufacturing operations into its Akisai Plant Factory, a large-scale facility that integrates cutting-edge agricultural techniques with state-of-the-art manufacturing and information and communication technologies, such as the Fujitsu Akisai agricultural cloud.
At this facility, Fujitsu is using a portion of its clean room areas to produce lettuce that is both delicious and low in potassium so it can be consumed by dialysis patients and people with chronic kidney disease. As a next step, Fujitsu is deploying its Eco-Management Dashboard and applying its IoT and M2M capabilities to realize even higher-quality products, enhanced functionality and greater productivity.
As part of this comprehensive solution, scattered data is input into the Microsoft Azure database and evaluated through advanced analytics and natural user interfaces. The Eco-Management Dashboard is used to help simultaneously manage product quality, process efficiency and equipment performance to improve operations and reduce energy costs.
This solution can be replicated by other manufacturers and will be an enormous step in helping companies manage and consume data in the right ways, increasing productivity while saving time and money. ■