Industrial Sound Analysis

Whether in industry, nature, or cities: Audible noises are generated wherever something is moving. The "Industrial Media Applications IMA" group in Ilmenau, Germany, develops AI-based methods for sound analysis - particularly for analyzing industrial sounds - and thus creates innovative approaches for automated acoustic monitoring (amo) of products and processes. amo can be used along the entire value chain for quality assessment and offers added value where, for example, optical monitoring methods reach their limits.

For this reason, a team of twelve data scientists, data analysts, software developers, project managers and strategists is researching AI-based solutions for audio signal analysis. One important point is that the acquired measurement data is processed without a connection to an external cloud and our solutions can be implemented within the company or directly at the monitored machine. 

Industries

• Production (including mechanical and plant engineering, and manufacturing technology)
• Automotive industry
• Construction
• Industry 4.0

Our value proposition

"Creating the production of the future - avoiding faults, efficiently using resources, protecting our environment."

The example of your car illustrates the potential for quality assessment based on audio. You know the familiar sound caused by engine, tires, and airflow. But how do you feel when this sound changes? A rattling or grinding noise could cause you to worry and you might consider whether driving is still safe. You probably react to this unknown and unexpected condition by driving to the car repair shop or at least stopping your car. It's a similar story in the industry. We analyze the sound of your product or production process and alert you when something is not working as expected.

The IMA team with group leader Judith Liebetrau (deputy: Peter Hofmann) provides with amo innovative solutions for an optimization of industrial production. Together with our customers and research partners, we develop customized processes for AI-based acoustic monitoring.

The IMA team is always looking for new use cases to further optimize their AI algorithms and find innovative technologies for unsolved problems. Within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, we can rely on a strong network of expertise in a wide range of disciplines. We will find a suitable solution for your problem and the form of collaboration that suits you best - from self-funding to publicly funded projects.

With our methods and capabilities, we can help you use your resources efficiently.

Non-destructive, non-contact acoustic testing methods: Automated acoustic monitoring supports you in the fields of process optimization and predictive maintenance.

Training in using machine learning in your own application: We help you to acquire and apply the use of AI-based methods.

Can you find your use case here?

There are many fields of application for acoustic monitoring. Wherever audible sound occurs in processes or on products, the use of automated acoustic testing methods can offer added value. We are continuously investigating the application of our AI algorithms for acoustic quality control in the manufacturing areas of welding and machining, in lightweight construction and for traffic monitoring. Also, other use cases exist, where acoustic signals provide information about quality and grade.