Factor is participating in the Smart Machine project, an initiative funded by the Valencian Agency for Innovation (AVI) - IVACE+i Innovation, whose goal is to develop an advanced interoperability platform that enables smart and seamless communication between people and machines in industrial settings.

The initiative aligns with the Industry 5.0 paradigm and addresses the growing need to integrate heterogeneous systems, improve production efficiency, enhance workplace safety, and promote sustainable operations.

Smart Machine is being developed within a consortium coordinated by SOTHIS Servicios Tecnológicos SLU and comprising NUNSYS SA, JIX Food Solutions SL, Robotnik Automation SL, DYMSA Ingeniería SL, and Factor.

Industry Challenges

The industrial sector faces a structural problem: the coexistence of multiple protocols and systems that hinder integration and the efficient exchange of data. To overcome this fragmentation, Smart Machine is committed to adopting the open Sparkplug standard, which standardizes communication between industrial assets and enables device auto-discovery, bidirectional data flow, and real-time analysis.

This technological foundation facilitates the connection between operational systems (OT) and business systems (IT), creating a more coherent, connected, and efficient industrial architecture.

Technological innovation

One of the most innovative elements is the development of advanced human-machine interfaces based on augmented reality and natural language.

These interfaces will allow operators to interact with machines and systems using voice commands and contextual information displays. The goal is to reduce technical complexity and the learning curve.

The use of augmented reality glasses will provide immediate access to operational data, instructions, and safety alerts directly in the worker’s field of view, improving efficiency, ergonomics, and safety.

The project also integrates generative artificial intelligence and intelligent agents capable of interpreting natural language, analyzing industrial data, and facilitating decision-making. Through intelligent assistants, operators will be able to check machine statuses, execute complex actions, or analyze process variables using conversational instructions.

The incorporation of neuro-symbolic models and continuous learning will enable the identification of cause-and-effect relationships in industrial processes and progressively improve the accuracy of the system’s responses.

Project Highlights

Smart Machine se articula sobre cinco ejes clave:

• Create a universal interoperability platform capable of integrating legacy equipment and new technologies.
• Introducing natural and intuitive human-machine communication centered on the user.
• Incorporating advanced AI and augmented analytics to optimize processes and anticipate incidents.
• Promoting industrial sustainability by optimizing energy consumption and reducing the environmental footprint.
• Facilitating regulatory compliance and improving workplace safety.

Impact on the industrial sector

The outcome of Smart Machine will be a smart, connected, and sustainable industrial ecosystem that will improve productivity, reduce costs, and boost business competitiveness. Furthermore, the model is scalable and adaptable to different sectors, which facilitates its transfer to the market and its impact on the digital transformation of the industrial sector.

Smart Machine contributes to the evolution toward more human-centered, efficient, and sustainable factories, where collaboration between people and technology becomes a strategic element of industrial innovation.

FACTOR is leading the transformation of the manufacturing industry through its participation in the MaaSAI project, driving a new Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) ecosystem. This model integrates autonomous agents based on Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0 technologies and a MaaS Cloud Marketplace (CMM), with the aim of increasing flexibility, optimizing production and reducing costs in the metal parts machining sector.

Industry challenges

The metal machining sector faces significant challenges: high maintenance and machine optimization costs; difficulties in scaling production; limited access to predictive maintenance and process control technologies; and the need to adapt quickly to changing demands, all while maintaining the required quality standards.
MaaSAI responds to these challenges through real-time monitoring of machine performance, AI-assisted decision making and agile collaboration between manufacturers.
Specifically, FACTOR is leading Pilot 1, implementing a new methodology for Metal Parts Manufacturing as a Service. This pilot includes:

• Implementation of autonomous monitoring cells, with IoT sensors to track machine availability, performance and quality control.
• Advanced analytics using AI to assess Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) and suggest automatic improvements.
• Creation of a secure, data-driven MaaS network, enabling efficient collaboration between Mother Factories and Daughter Factories (factories and suppliers).
• Optimization of intelligent planning and scheduling through AI-driven MaaS Consumer Agents and Suppliers.

Results and momentum towards the industry of the future

FACTOR expects to achieve significant operational cost reduction, increased production scalability, real-time performance monitoring, intelligent decision making and more efficient industry-wide integration. With the MaaSAI project, FACTOR is driving a paradigm shift in industry, combining AI, IoT and cloud technologies to build a more sustainable, connected and agile manufacturing ecosystem.

PROJECT COMPLETED

FACTOR, in collaboration with the Instituto Tecnológico de Informática (ITI), leads MANTRA (Mixed-Reality Augmented Networks for Teleoperated Robotics Applications), a pioneering initiative that seeks to revolutionize industrial robotics through advanced telepresence and remote control solutions. It combines cutting-edge technologies such as Mixed Reality (MR), 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi interoperability, in order to create safer and more efficient environments in industrial operations where human presence poses a risk.

The initiative is part of the European SPIRIT project, which through an open call selected pilot proposals capable of validating emerging technologies in real industrial environments.

Immersive telepresence for safer control

MANTRA introduces Mixed Reality interfaces with multimodal feedback (haptic, visual and auditory), enabling operators to control robots remotely and intuitively, reducing risk exposure and improving safety.

Connectivity between 5G and Wi-Fi networks, combined with data processing at the edge of the network (edge computing), ensures a seamless, real-time experience tailored to highly demanding industrial environments.

Real impact on industry

In addition to facilitating the execution of complex tasks without direct intervention, MANTRA improves production continuity, operational accuracy and overall process efficiency. It also opens up new opportunities in technical training and remote assistance, allowing operators to be trained in realistic virtual environments.

MANTRA is being developed and validated in real environments, from ITI's laboratories to FACTOR's production facilities, undergoing rigorous testing to assess its applicability in the industrial sector.

PROJECT COMPLETED

AR and VR can create more immersive experiences for people at work in order to make their job safer, by providing new ways to be aware of possible hazards and receive more effective, engaging and entertaining training on safety procedures. With VR/AR headsets, workers will be able, for example, to better understand difficult-to-grasp concepts or topics such as protocols and procedures for safety and security. It offers a great opportunity for industry to be able to make use of a variety of different options relying on extended reality experiences to provide each worker with an immersive access to relevant information, and to encourage the adoption of safer behaviours. Safety in working areas is a major concern nowadays. Awareness, engagement and collaboration among workers, in possibly hazardous environments, is fundamental to prevent the occurrence of incidents. Extended reality offers unprecedented opportunities to make work areas safer. Workers will be advised and become aware of possible dangerous events while they work. Real-time interaction among workers, training through realistic simulations, and real-time updated information on the status of the work environment can significantly increase the level of safety awareness and lead to a safer industry.

In this way, Factor takes advantage of the possibilities of extended reality in its high-precision CNC machining tasks to offer, in the most responsible jobs, immersive access to relevant information, encouraging the adoption of safer behaviors and creating a healthier and more productive work environment.