PATHFINDER | European research and innovation agenda for future simulation and forecasting technologies

Pathfinder investigates the role of simulation and forecasting technologies (S&FT) as a lever to increase manufacturing performance and proposes a roadmap capable to clearly point out key challenges for these technologies future development. Pathfinder is indeed intended to drive research and development activities in the Simulation and Forecasting Technologies arena, and, to this end, the roadmap develops, through the analysis of current state of practice compared with the future state envisioned, a final list of research priorities to provide guidance for the key stake-holders. The analysis carried out, along with the continuous feedback process adopted within the Pathfinder network, allowed to identify the following challenges: S&FT and Digital Continuity - Digital Continuity refers to the ability to maintain the digital information available all along the factory life-cycle, despite changes in purpose and tools, allowing data (the oil that fuels manufacturing) to be enriched and used as needed for that specific phase (from design, through use and maintenance, till dismissal/re-design). This challenge addresses: Interoperable simulation and forecasting systems; Digital continuity across product and factory lifecycle of engineering information; seamless use and reuse of engineering data; Reduce modelling effort; Modelling of complex problems; Multidisciplinary integrated modelling; Standardization. S&FT and Scalability - Scalability refers to the ability of an application to function efficiently when its context is changed in size or volume. This challenge addresses: Step-by-step integration and adoption of S&FT; S&FT solution scalable on different devices and platforms; from on-premises software to cloud-based services; S&FT and Synchronization of Digital and Real World - Synchronization of Digital and Real World refers to the convergence of physical world and virtual world, where the second must closely mirror the first and where the first generates an unprecedented volume of data to be taken care of by the latter. This challenge addresses: Self-adjustment of digital models triggered by smart objects (embedded intelligence – Cyber Physical System paradigm); Co-simulation in real-time; Multidisciplinary simulation models and tools, Handling of big-data. S&FT and Advanced Human-Machine Interfaces – Advanced Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) must provide transparent insights into the digital-virtual world and must allow to interact with S&FT in an intuitive and natural way. This challenge addresses: intuitive, mobile, context-sensitive and collaborative user-interfaces. S&FT and Digital Consistency & Security - Digital Consistency & Security refers to the fact that data originating from and travelling along the factory lifecycle should be safe and shouldn't contradict each other. This is a significant challenge especially in the context of the digital continuity, vertical integration and horizontal integration, where distributed and heterogeneous data sources will be linked and made available in an open and interoperable manner. This challenge addresses: optimised provision of consistent data, data security and privacy. S&FT, Data and Knowledge - This challenge addresses: Big Data and Data Analytics; Ontologies definition; Relevant knowledge capture and reuse, also for training and education http://www.pathfinderproject.eu