This article explores a vital power-saving technique in digital design, covering core concepts, implementations, and the differences between fine-grained, coarse-grained, and software-controlled methods. Learn why clock gating is crucial for energy efficiency, its applications in diverse systems.

Clock Gating: Powering Down Idle Circuits

In the ever-evolving world of <a href="https://www.3d-scantech.com/3d-scanners/" target="_blank">3D scanning</a>, Digitize Designs, in collaboration with Scantech, undertook the impressive task of digitizing a retired Cobra helicopter. This case study exemplifies how real-world objects can be meticulously transformed into digital models, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of the NimbleTrack 3D scanning system, a completely wireless and portable solution.<h2>Challenges of 3D Scanning a Helicopter&nbsp;</h2>3D scanning a retired Cobra helicopter presents several unique challenges due to its size, shape, structure, and materials. Here are some key considerations:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930364771-1.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Complex Geometry:&nbsp;The helicopter’s intricate design, including its rotors, tail boom, and mechanical parts, demands high-precision scanning to capture fine details accurately.Accessibility: Some parts of the helicopter may be difficult to access, requiring specialized techniques to ensure comprehensive coverage.Varied Textures: Different materials (e.g., metal, glass) used in the helicopter’s construction can pose challenges in achieving uniform scan quality.<h2 id="isPasted">Introduction to Scantech NimbleTrack</h2>The Scantech <a href="https://www.3d-scantech.com/product/nimbletrack-wireless-3d-scanning-system/" target="_blank">NimbleTrack is an advanced wireless 3D scanning system</a> designed to capture high-precision 3D data of physical objects. Its portability and ease of use make it ideal for various applications, from industrial inspections to heritage preservation. It is capable of capturing 3D data of different parts, intricate surfaces, and complex structures with ease. The system's wireless functionality allows for unprecedented flexibility, enabling users to scan objects from any angle, even from challenging positions.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930535425-2.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">3D&nbsp;Scanning&nbsp;a Helicopter&nbsp;</h2>The digitization process began with setting up the NimbleTrack system outdoors at the site where the Cobra helicopter was stationed. NimbleTrack’s wireless and portable 3D scanning simplified the scanning process, even at elevated positions, including atop a six-foot ladder.As the scanning commenced, the NimbleTrack showcased its ability to handle the helicopter's intricate free-form shapes and complex structures, such as pipes and tubes. The scanner's high resolution and accuracy ensured that every detail, no matter how small, was captured. This level of precision is crucial for applications requiring detailed replicas or models for further analysis.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930556505-3.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">Advantages of NimbleTrack Optical 3D Measurement System&nbsp;</h2>Wireless Freedom:&nbsp;The NimbleTrack system is fully wireless, eliminating the need for cables to power the instrument or transfer data. This feature allows for on-site measurements even in the absence of a power supply.Compact and Portable:&nbsp;With a length of 57 cm and a total weight of 2.2 kg for the tracker, and 1.3 kg for the scanner, NimbleTrack is lightweight and easy to carry and operate. Therefore, the engineer can capture data from hard-to-reach areas.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930572044-4.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">High Frame Rate:&nbsp;The system operates at a high frame rate of 120 FPS, ensuring fast and smooth scanning experiences.Target-Free Scanning:&nbsp;NimbleTrack does not require targets for scanning, streamlining the measurement process.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930584478-5.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Industrial-Grade Precision:&nbsp;The system achieves an accuracy of up to 0.025 mm and a maximum volumetric accuracy of 0.064 mm. It is capable of capturing intricate details of different parts with ease.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930594065-6.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Robust Performance:&nbsp;Equipped with powerful algorithm, NimbleTrack delivers efficient and reliable measurement experiences. It excels at capturing data from different surfaces.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930604879-7.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">Scan-to-CAD Model&nbsp;</h2>Following the scanning process, the data was processed using 3D software designed for converting scan data into 3D CAD models. The data processing workflow included:Importing Scan Data:&nbsp;-The scanned data&nbsp;was imported into 3D software.Cleaning and Refining:&nbsp;-Noise and unnecessary data points are removed from the point cloud.-This step ensures a cleaner and more accurate representation of the scanned object.Mesh Generation:&nbsp;-The refined point cloud was converted into a mesh model.-Meshes are essential for creating detailed digital models.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930623564-8.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Solid Model Creation:-Using the mesh model, a solid CAD model is generated.-The solid model represents the object as a complete, editable 3D structure.-It serves as a foundation for further design, analysis, or manufacturing processes.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1739930634736-9.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">Applications of 3D Scanning&nbsp;</h2>3D scanning can contribute to various aspects from product development to <a href="https://www.3d-scantech.com/applications/aerospace/" target="_blank">maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of airplanes and helicopters</a>.&nbsp;Product Development&nbsp;Advanced 3D scanning captures accurate data of aircraft components, allowing manufacturers to create rapid prototypes for testing and validation. It can also help recreate legacy parts or design new ones by capturing precise 3D models. Besides that, 3D scanners can verify structural deformations, optimizing designs during research and development processes.Inspection3D scanning captures millions of data to inspect intricate components like turbines and engines. Non-contact measurement ensures accuracy without compromising delicate surfaces. For example, Scantech’s handheld 3D laser scanners excel at inspecting sub-flush conditions of fasteners installed on airplane exteriors. These fasteners withstand extreme stress and are crucial for aircraft assembly.MROIn-service aircraft are scanned to identify hidden errors, deformations, and defects. 3D measurement technology ensures proper operation and passenger safety. Handheld 3D scanners provide non-contact measurements without damaging aircraft parts. By scanning the entire surface of an aircraft, including complex geometries, technicians can identify structural issues, corrosion, or fatigue cracks. The high precision of 3D scans allows for early detection of problems, minimizing downtime and reducing the risk of in-flight failures.<h2>Conclusion</h2>The digitization of the Cobra helicopter demonstrated the capabilities of the Scantech NimbleTrack system in transforming a complex real-world object into a detailed digital model. The portability and wireless functionality of the NimbleTrack, combined with the powerful data processing tools in 3D software, showcased a seamless workflow from scanning to model creation.This case study underscores the revolutionary impact of 3D scanning technology in various fields. The ability to capture intricate details and convert them into accurate digital models opens up numerous possibilities, from preserving historical artifacts to enhancing industrial design and manufacturing processes.Discover the magic in action: Watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7OOP-PnqHQ" target="_blank">webinar highlights</a> and explore the capabilities of the Scantech NimbleTrack system further.&nbsp;

SCANTECH and Digitize Designs collaborated to digitize a retired Cobra helicopter, showcasing the NimbleTrack 3D scanning system. The resulting scan data was transformed into 3D CAD models, demonstrating its applications in product development, inspection, and maintenance. 

Digitizing a Cobra Helicopter with NimbleTrack to Unlock 3D Scanning Potential

Instead, it’s a term applied to the harnessing of Industry 4.0 technologies to incorporate the human element into industrial development and make it more ethical. What Industry 5.0 aims to achieve is the integration of societal values like reducing waste and ethical sourcing, reuse of materials and the circular economy&nbsp;The term ‘industrial revolution’ appeared for the first time considerably after the event, which people just experienced as a gradually increasing disruption to their existing way of life. In the first one, production changed from small-scale handcrafted goods to larger-scale manufacturing of machine-made items. In the second, mechanical machinery was advanced by the introduction of electricity and mass production, while the third saw the 20th-century phenomena of computers and electronics. The fourth industrial revolution&nbsp;<a title="Differed From The Third" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/whats-the-difference-between-industry-4.0-and-industry-3.0" target="_blank">differed from the third</a> in that it introduced the power of digital technologies. It brought smart technologies like AI, robotics, automation, digital twins and the virtual industrial world. We became familiar with the Internet of Things (IoT) and its associate, the&nbsp;<a title="Industrial IOT" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/what-is-iiot" target="_blank">Industrial IoT</a>.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">An Industrial Revolution For People</h2>Industry 5.0 demonstrates a promising development in industrialisation where the drive to exploit resources purely for profit could evolve into more human endeavour. Many companies now recognise that the former model is causing the gradual destruction of the earth’s substance. This fifth revolution aims to prioritise human beings over profits, with a greater focus on sustainability and increased resilience. The European Union characterises it as a way to extend industry beyond the capitalist goals of productivity and efficiency.&nbsp;This prioritising of societal values marks an important departure from previous industrial strategies and moves it towards a more holistic perspective. Similar strategies have been explored before, such as focussing on corporate social responsibility, with greater or lesser degrees of success. The concepts of Industry 5.0 are innovative and – some might say – idealistic, but their goal is to put people and the planet before profit. What makes it even more comprehensive is that it extends to all types of organisations and a broad range of business strategies. The European Union hopes that this strategy will see a rare historical reverse, redefining the industry’s fundamental objectives, and has set up a <a title="Industry 5.0 " href="https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/industry-50_en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Community of Practice and an Industry 5.0 Award</a> to promote it.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Implementing Industry 5.0</h2>Each of the preceding industrial revolutions was driven by a disruptive new technology, starting with the steam engine that introduced powered machinery to manufacturing. Mass production and the assembly line symbolised efficiency, while computers enhanced the speed of processing to unprecedented levels. Industry 4.0 brought us the intelligent technologies on which the developments of Industry 5.0 are founded, which will integrate human well-being with stronger human-robot collaboration.Industry 5.0, as it is proposed, relies on three key principles: sustainability, resilience and a focus on people.<h3 dir="ltr">Sustainability</h3>Industry 5.0 sees businesses becoming more sustainable through a number of initiatives to minimise the environmental impact that comprises the <a title="Circular Economy" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/manufacturing-a-circular-economy" target="_blank">circular economy</a>. This means reducing greenhouse emissions, energy consumption and waste generation. Natural resources should be preserved and, if possible, renewed.<h3 dir="ltr">Resilience</h3>For the industry to be resilient, its production processes must be extremely robust, agile, protected against disruptions and able to maintain critical infrastructure in a crisis. The pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of supply chains, and these need to be solved and, if possible, eliminated.<h3 dir="ltr">Focus On People</h3>A human-centric approach puts people’s needs in the vanguard of production processes. Instead of deciding how workers can exploit new technologies, Industry 5.0 explores how innovative technologies can benefit workers. It combines the precision performance of robots with human critical and creative abilities to deliver more people-focussed results.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Industry 5.0 Technologies</h2>Several technologies are ideally tailored for the intricate systems that support the 5.0 initiatives, including blockchain, the anticipated 6G network, smart manufacturing and the IIoT. All these factors play a role in speeding up communications, making them more secure and reducing the overall amount of network traffic. They’ll make systems more reliable and efficient, leveraging the power of machine learning and big data analytics.&nbsp;The goal is to streamline production processes, optimise sustainability and waste management, plus reduce operating costs. Integrating these technologies will bring lasting benefits that complement the core values of Industry 5.0. These include substantial energy savings, better attraction and retention of workforce talent, enhanced resilience and greater awareness of environmental impacts.&nbsp;<ul><li dir="ltr">Saving energy and conserving resources is critical to the health of our planet, and Industry 5.0 will leverage the abilities of AI and big data management to use resources more effectively. It will integrate more sustainable practices, especially in industries that are traditionally more energy and resource-intensive. This will, in turn, give businesses a greater appeal to consumers, employees, and potential investors, as they perceive environmental sustainability as running in harmony with economic performance.</li><li dir="ltr">With the rapid advance of new industrial technologies, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain a sufficiently skilled and talented workforce. The goal of Industry 5.0 is to provide a more engaging and progressive work environment. Instead of humans being assigned merely to manage machine operations, the more human-centric approach will foster their creativity and ingenuity. This will result in greater employee loyalty and satisfaction.</li><li dir="ltr">Integrating 5.0 technologies with its people-focused ideology will reinforce awareness of the industry’s impact on the environment. Recent years have demonstrated how easy it is for traditional economic systems to be impacted by radical disruptions. The global pandemic, trade wars and climatic devastation have highlighted the need for greater agility and resilience.</li></ul>Industry 4.0 laid the foundations of an automated industry powered by IT. The next phase will see greater collaboration between advanced technologies and humans – for example, by optimising workplace processes with AI-driven robots. Unlike its predecessor, Industry 5.0 looks to leverage new technologies to promote prosperity beyond merely economic growth and job creation. The future of industry in society is to focus on worker well-being as a key element in the production process and to respect the limits of global exploitation.

Although many of us are still getting to grips with Industry 4.0 – or the Fourth Industrial Revolution – a new term is already appearing. Industry 5.0 isn’t introducing any radical new form of technology, as happened in previous industrial revolutions. 

What Is Industry 5.0?

This article was first published on <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/news/all-news/a-renewable-energy-system-requires-digital-control-development?id=1258c936-3d43-417a-bee4-d219f40f9038">dtu.dk</a>When we talk about the transition to a 100% renewable energy system, we often talk about it as something that is about to happen. It is common knowledge that things are moving in that direction, and Denmark is one of the countries leading the way.When we talk about the challenges associated with this transition, a point of concern is that there may not be sufficient green power at the right times. Sunshine or wind is not always guaranteed, and Energinet, where I am a board member, recently announced that the average outage time will increase from 22-30 minutes per year in 2021-23 to 36 minutes per year in 2034.Research into this problem is well underway, and a number of dedicated, consumer-oriented solutions have been developed to curb it. Among the best known are probably the many smart charging solutions for electric cars that ensure that the car is charged when the price is low. That is, when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. In addition, work is being done to make a number of other consumption technologies flexible so consumption can follow the fluctuating electricity production.Something we very rarely talk about, however, is how we can succeed in designing and managing the energy system to ensure continuous stability.<h2>Unknown territory</h2>Right now, we don’t know enough. This is a problem, because if we do not know how to design the overall system to ensure stability, and get a common language for the control, we do not know how to design the individual system components. Or how to better safeguard the system against crashes when we are exposed to cyberattacks.Specifically, it is about learning more about how a system based on power electronic converters can be controlled digitally. The most important task of converters is to quickly and efficiently convert direct current to alternating current and vice versa, so your car battery can be charged with alternating current from the electricity grid, for example.An increasing share of the future electricity consumption will be connected via converters that will increasingly be used in the grid for, e.g., large direct current connections connecting countries.Production units such as solar and wind farms are also based on converters. They replace the large, central power plants that we know today and which so far have stabilized the energy system. The process at the power plants has been that steam is poured into a turbine, which causes a shaft with a large alternator to rotate. The generator is connected directly to the power grid and has a built-in inertia that ensures that imbalances and disturbances do not propagate in the grid immediately, but are absorbed by the generators at the large power plants, which creates stability.The same will not happen with the converters, which do not have the built-in inertia of the generators, but are digitally controlled. So it is the way electronics are digitally controlled that determines whether the stability of the system can be maintained.It is a completely new way of designing an energy system. We are moving in new and unknown territory.<h2>Energy infrastructure boosts development</h2>Ensuring a future with a robust, renewable energy system that responds appropriately to errors and attacks will require a targeted prioritization of research and innovation of the energy system as such and of digital control.Research into how to balance an energy system with a large proportion of wind and solar is underway. The experimental facility SYSLAB, which is part of PowerLabDK and linked to DTU Wind and Energy Systems at Risø, is currently being finalized. Until now, the facility has consisted of a mini-electricity system based on a renewable energy system, but currently district heating and hydrogen infrastructure are also being connected to form a fully interconnected, renewable energy system.This enables us to develop solutions in a protected laboratory environment, where we integrate the different infrastructures and manage them optimally in relation to each other. This means that we can get more value out of the technologies - for example by storing the heat from the heat pumps - and coordinate everything so the energy is used optimally.Technologies tested in this environment can then be moved to, e.g., Bornholm, which serves as a living laboratory for an energy system based on renewable energy. Test facilities such as SYSLAB and Bornholm allow us to develop new market-based solutions that ensure that charging of electric cars can be coordinated - not just according to how much wind and solar is available. But also according to the local network capacity which supplies the individual consumer.If such solutions are not introduced, the high proportion of flexible consumption will clump together for a few hours, causing the local electricity grid to collapse. So the possibilities are plentiful, but when it comes to the quick digital control of the converters, the existing test facilities fall short.<h2>Digital twin as a solution</h2>It is therefore crucial that we have a tool to examine the new phenomena associated with an energy system based on digitally controlled converters. To do this, we must be able to study the energy system in a much higher temporal resolution, which enables us to see how a system based on converters reacts at microsecond level.This is necessary because the digitally controlled converters operate extremely fast. And if the control fails, it will happen at the microsecond level. We must therefore be able to understand what is happening and develop new solutions in the high temporal resolution. A bit like when you take a high-resolution photo: It is razor-sharp overall, but you can also zoom in on specific areas to take a closer look at the small details.Specifically, this will be possible through a digital 1:1 model of the energy system. High-resolution digital twin. With the digital twin, we will be able to test solutions and strategies, and study how the overall system reacts in detail to different control designs. For example, we will be able to test how converter control should be designed and coordinated. It will also make it possible to test the system response to a cyberattack, and subsequently design it to be robust against that particular type of attack.In other words, we are in the process of developing the solutions that make it possible to balance the energy in the system hour by hour and minute by minute. But we have yet to effectively solve the challenges associated with an electricity system based on converters and digital control, where things happen at microsecond level. We have a pretty good idea of what it takes, but lack the tools to ensure a viable design.Talking about digital control may not be as tangible as talking about smart charging of electric cars and balancing production and consumption. But it is necessary to prioritize the area if we are to realize the green energy transition together and not compromise our security of supply.

We don't talk enough about the challenges of managing an energy system based on 100 per cent renewable energy writes Jacob Østergaard, Professor at DTU Wind and Energy Systems in a column on Ingeniøren.

We know surprisingly little about how a renewable energy system should be managed. This must change, because digital control is crucial for the system's robustness, writes Professor and Head of Division at DTU Wind and Energy Systems Jacob Østergaard in a column.

A renewable energy system requires digital control development

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