CN114072751A

CN114072751A - System and method for simulating industrial processes

Info

Publication number: CN114072751A
Application number: CN202080044608.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.赫德曼
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2019-04-18
Filing date: 2020-04-16
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Also published as: EP3956750A1; DE102019205691A1; WO2020212523A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (20) and method for simulating an industrial process. It is specified that a system (20) for simulating an industrial process is provided. The proposed system is designed by means of the components of the system itself to carry out a simulation of the industrial engineering, so that actions and in particular effects can be carried out directly understandable and automatically in the reality of the information system coupled to the system (20). In parallel, the interaction may be displayed by means of the components of the augmented reality/virtual reality system itself and/or the components of the mixed reality. A corresponding method is also proposed.

Description

System and method for simulating industrial processes

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and method for simulating an industrial process.

Background

The networking of the production and logistics fields, which are also arranged across plants, is of course for today's large industrial companies. In this respect, it is increasingly noted that support systems, in particular systems in the field of information technology, are likewise used in different locations for a similar task scope. In this case, the historically developed system, and certain differences in the individual units or locations, may again and again lead to the implementation of a matching process and/or new components of the system. The introduction of new technology may also result in that locally separated locations have to be reconciled with respect to the matching process of new systems and/or at least subsystems. Due to increasingly complex processes and systems, such coordination processes can sometimes be time consuming and accompanied by considerable difficulty in achieving agreement. A first solution is known from the prior art.

Thus, DE 102011111187 a1 discloses a mounting device and a mounting method, in particular for mounting a motor vehicle. The assembly has a simulation unit, which is arranged on the assembly station or in an adjacent space. The assembly is simulated by a simulation unit. The assembly process is carried out in real time by the assembler after the simulation process is completed. Furthermore, a method of assembling a motor vehicle is disclosed.

Furthermore, an overall process control center system with virtual control stations for work groups is known from DE 102015009804 a 1. Here, these work groups are responsible for the design, manufacture and/or adjustment and delivery of the software. In this case, the control center system not only requires a relatively high level of digitization and automation of all the work processes in the organization, but can also enable and facilitate further increases in this level. The control center system provides a verifiable high-performance standard automation module with as novel a high-performance-oriented hardware support as possible (for example using CUDA and/or FPGA or embedded Linux). Furthermore, the control center system covers all value-added processes in an organization, regardless of the technical platform used, wherein it quantitatively collects all these processes in the form of multidimensional measurement series and correlates them in a formally verifiable manner by means of statistical methods, including technical requirements or specification texts, such as taskbooks and specifications and other digital project files provided in a machine-readable format in available storage media and/or databases. In addition, the control center system can be implemented on a virtual control station with configurable and configurable levels of detail, with automated, real-time reporting of aggregated measurement data with interactive and hardware-independent visualization of the entire value chain, wherein the system provides a simplified display of the aggregated data for users with and without technical training through company-specific matching possibilities. This can be achieved through an interactive, flexible data exploration model or through an interchangeable, configurable or adaptive process model. In this case, a process optimization according to the form of the Lean Six-Sigma method (Lean Six Sigma-Verfahren) is possible, in which all the work steps in the tissue can be measured directly, i.e. by means of virtual sensor technology. In addition, the control center system implements machine learning methods to facilitate automatic problem identification and to adaptively and interactively support human resolution of problems. Furthermore, hitherto unknown or company-specific power characteristic coefficients can be determined and stored on the basis of software technology.

Furthermore, an augmented reality system for situation-dependent support of interaction between a user and an engineering device is known from document US 2002/0044104 a 1. An augmented reality system is proposed, which has a device for context-dependent insertion of movements of assembly instructions. Context-dependent insertion of assembly instructions with process-optimized dependencies of the necessary work steps provides context-dependent support through the workflow.

While the approaches to date have enabled predictable simulations, they tend to lack acceptance because, particularly in historically developed corporate structures, the real reality of having multiple organizational systems is overly complex for the typically one-dimensional planning routines of simulation applications.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system and a method for simulating a technical industrial process, which allow low-cost simulation by means of technical means, taking into account the current technical systems.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a system for simulating an industrial process is provided. Such a system here comprises: at least one server and at least one screen device coupled to the at least one server; a virtual platform program having at least one visualization plane, the virtual platform program being executable stored on at least one server, wherein the virtual platform program is displayable on at least one screen device and the virtual platform program is designed to be used simultaneously by a plurality of users; a virtual smart object library, wherein the smart object library is connected to a virtual platform program and is designed to provide existing objects and objects to be relocated and/or real process flows at least partially as corresponding virtual objects on at least one visualization plane based on a placement process of a user of the system. The system is designed to display the interaction of the virtual objects with one another at least partially by means of augmented reality/virtual reality components and/or mixed reality components. The system furthermore has at least one interface program which is stored executable on the at least one server and which is designed to transmit the virtual objects and/or the interactions of the virtual objects with one another at least partially into flow routines of real objects corresponding to the virtual objects, of at least one information system which can be coupled to the system, and/or to provide these flow routines and/or objects by the at least one information system for simulation purposes in the system, so that the effects of the actions can be realized in parallel both in virtual reality and in real information systems intelligibly and automatically. In this way, the relationship to the actually existing information system can already be established during the simulation of the industrial process, so that the simulation process and the planning activities associated therewith can be carried out more efficiently and thus less expensively. Furthermore, the participating persons no longer need to converge at one place, but can virtually join the simulation from their respective locations, for example in the form of a process workshop. This may be done, for example, similar to a video conference using known techniques like Skype. The use of a virtual platform, for example in the form of any conventional software for virtual reality, therefore offers the possibility of visualizing the complexity of real objects which are present and arranged in the respective industrial process and are therefore linked to reality. The participating persons therefore do not need to transfer work when understanding the situation, but can directly concentrate on the problem point. Herein, the term "industrial process" should be interpreted broadly and thus includes all processes and physical objects found in an industrial site. Thus, for example, reference can be made not only to an actual industrial production with all the actual objects and process flows provided here, but also to the logistics processes and logistics objects associated therewith. For example, containers with information elements in the form of printed sheets and scanning devices, in particular hand-held scanning devices, can be virtually simulated, so that these processes can be displayed. This may include, for example, a report as an extensive record. With the interface provided, it is also possible to access the real information system required during the simulation, so that preliminary insights and work steps can already be displayed here. In other words, the proposed system can be connected at least partially in real time to an existing IT system, so that virtual simulations and complex processes can already be connected or coupled to a real information system in the form of, for example, already existing standard software solutions, so that the effect of actions can be realized intelligibly and automatically not only in virtual reality but also in real information systems in parallel. It is conceivable here for the interface to be set at least in part by at least one sub-region of the smart object library or an object stored therein and/or at least in part by at least one function of at least one sub-region of the smart object library or an object stored therein. The object stored there can thus be stored in the smart object library by means of the set working routine, so that at least one subregion of the set interface is thereby at least partially mapped. The objects stored in the smart object library may also be formed during the application itself, or already placed objects may be used accordingly. These objects may be pre-placed, for example, at least in part by the user himself, or loaded, for example, by a commercial product. The system provides for the added object to be prepared and/or adapted accordingly for use by providing the aforementioned interface, for example, by means of a specification. In this connection, the term "smart object library" is to be understood as meaning that a special form of the object is provided here accordingly, so that the interfaces explained above can be used. In this context, IT is conceivable that the industrial processes simulated in the system can be displayed accordingly in the real information system and also be executed there, so that in these IT systems the user can understand the respective follow-up activities or the command chains triggered on the basis of the simulation or the general working routines and the results thereof. This can be done, for example, in real time, wherein IT is conceivable that the results triggered and generated in the IT system connected via the interface can themselves be displayed as a result (or results) of the simulation accordingly, so that normal operation is not impaired by the presented activity of the connected simulation system. Libraries provided in the system may enable readjustment of any type of interaction between objects. In this case, not only preselection of objects can be set, but also the possibility of re-receiving and designing other objects can be provided. For example, the object may be graphically visualized, at least in part, in the virtual platform. Knowledge newly generated by simulation with the presented system, for example about the arrangement and characteristics of the virtual objects (which may also be referred to as smart objects) themselves, as well as the interactions between them or their behavior in the respective process flows, enables conclusions to be drawn about the possibly necessary configuration of existing IT systems. In this respect, using the simulation by the presented system not only enables a conditional mapping of reality by means of the IT system connected via the interface, but in other words a test run is performed in parallel with the real IT system, so that here also during the simulation a further potential for improvement is already visible. Thus, IT is not necessary to create a virtual reality scenario separately and to perform the configuration of the respective IT system manually in parallel therewith, but these work steps may be performed at least partially in parallel. The selection of the predefined virtual reality scenario enables the context of the application (e.g. the stocking, warehouse or assembly process) to be deduced, whereby the respective module and the associated process can thus be identified in the respective IT system. In the extreme case, IT is conceivable for the simulation to generate the corresponding command structure at least partially directly in the corresponding IT system, for example in the form of a script or at least one command line, wherein this partial result can then already be used in the real world, i.e. in a real industrial process. In this way, the process can be accelerated, since an at least partial overlap of the task packages to be executed can thereby already be executed and/or can be generated in real time during the simulation. In other words, the respective further instances may be automatically configured by a build process in the virtual reality (or IT system). In other words, the provided interface can also be used to provide a structure provided by the IT system for building the simulation, so that interaction can be achieved in this regard. Thus, by means of the interface, on the one hand, the simulation can trigger a series of actions in the respective information system, and on the other hand, the flow routines or instructions already present in the respective information system can also serve as a basis for the actions to be generated in the system, at least partially in the form of a simulation of the industrial process. It is also conceivable that the aforementioned possibilities occur at least temporarily or partially in parallel and that, for example, a corresponding improvement circuit can thus be generated. In particular, the mutual conditions of the processes to be reset or optimized can thus be supported and additionally accelerated in an advantageous manner. In this way, complex test stands actually running may become superfluous in the future, so that with the proposed solution further costs can be saved in this regard. Acceptance of new industrial processes can also be promoted by means of the system and its application, wherein with the proposed solution already prior to the actual first application of the process existing information processes can be utilized to clean up or solve problems that may arise. Thus, complex technical processes interacting with existing IT systems or generally existing information systems, as well as interactions between objects in a process chain, can be simulated. Commercially available analog systems do not provide such networking with existing information systems, and therefore additional analysis, for example, relating to compatibility aspects of existing IT systems, often triggers additional costs. The provided interface can thus enable a connection from the simulation (starting from the placement of the individual objects themselves until these objects interact with one another accordingly) to the respective information system, so that, in addition to the actual virtual simulation, a corresponding knowledge of the effects and actions and/or flow routines in the already existing information system can be achieved. The use of technologies around augmented reality/virtual reality components and/or mixed reality components may enable the previously mentioned advantages to be experienced more directly and thus also understandable for the respective user. Furthermore, the further knowledge obtained with these techniques can be directly entered into the previously presented flows by the interface program, so that a more efficient and therefore less costly process can be achieved with the system.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a method for simulating an industrial process is provided. The method comprises the following steps: operating the system according to claims 1 to 9; running a virtual platform program having at least one visualization plane on at least one server of the system, wherein the virtual platform program is displayable on a screen device and is designed to be used simultaneously by a plurality of users; a virtual smart object library is stored and executed, wherein the smart object library is inserted into a virtual platform program and is designed such that, based on a placement process of a user of the system, existing objects and objects to be relocated and/or real process flows are provided at least partially as corresponding virtual objects on at least one visualization plane. Furthermore, the method comprises the further steps of: providing and activating components of the augmented reality/virtual reality system itself and/or components of the mixed reality system itself; displaying interactions of virtual objects with each other at least in part by means of components of the augmented reality/virtual reality system itself and/or components of mixed reality; at least one interface program is run in the system, wherein the interface program is designed to transmit virtual objects and/or interactions of virtual objects with one another at least partially into flow routines of real objects corresponding to the virtual objects, of at least one information system that can be coupled to the system, and/or to provide these flow routines and/or objects by the at least one information system for simulation purposes in the system, so that the effect of the action can be realized intelligibly and automatically not only in virtual reality but also in real information systems in parallel. The aforementioned advantages for the system apply to the proposed method also in the range of reusability.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the use of the system according to claims 1 to 9 in the method according to claim 10 is provided. The advantages mentioned above are also applicable to the applications provided, insofar as they are applicable.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the further features mentioned in the dependent claims.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is therefore provided that the system is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that the simulation is accessible to other users at any point in time and can be changed by other users and stored as a new version. Thus, actions are all activities related to the creation and execution of the simulation. Thus, it is ensured that, in addition to the person who designed and executed the simulation, other persons can know the simulations at any time. In this way, many persons can discuss the problem or topic that is suggested or may occur in a very targeted manner and thus efficiently and at low cost, wherein the result ensures a good basis for the scope of the actually occurring tasks, in particular tasks related to existing IT systems. Thus, the aforementioned advantages may be better realized and attained. For example, the simulated documents may be continuously recorded in the form of a seminar result, so that various aspects of the simulation may be provided to different users at different locations at a later point in time. Thus, a person who is unable to attend a seminar or simulation can supplement the simulation performed at any time and experience the entire simulation and thus comment on it as well. The annotations may be marked directly, for example, or saved as new process variants. Here, the IT system and ITs intermediate results accessed through the interface may also be included in the document or may be part of the document. IT is also conceivable to provide this displayed history in the IT system as part of the results in the document to a user population in order to be able to better assess the potential for possible improvement. It is provided that the simulation performed and the access to the information system and all knowledge obtained thereby are directly available to a large number of users. In this respect, it is not necessary, as is usual, to first create a summary of the complex simulation, which can then be provided to one or more users in a time-staggered manner. Since the documentation can be provided immediately, problems that arise between the professional process to be simulated and the corresponding IT system can be identified more quickly, and thus solved efficiently, since all the personnel that should be necessary to facilitate the solution can directly view the results.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also provided that the system is additionally designed to display interactions between the virtual objects, which cannot be displayed in the flow routine of the at least one information system of the real objects corresponding to the virtual objects. The additional display may for example comprise a visual marking of such a virtual object. It is also conceivable that the respective protocols of the virtual objects are additionally provided in the additional illustration. It is also conceivable to provide an additional display by means of at least one additional visualization plane. Thus, such an object may be provided with a frame or any other symbol, for example. In this way, the user quickly and efficiently obtains an overview of the missing connections, and can derive appropriate action requirements accordingly. In particular, the necessary flows of the connected IT systems can thus be better identified in an efficient and thus cost-effective manner. Furthermore, IT is thus possible, by means of the system and ITs use in the respective location, to recognize, with the process to be generated, to what extent the existing IT systems and their respective interactions with one another are suitable for the new process, or where gaps and/or boundaries of existing IT systems and/or IT system connections are located. Furthermore, IT can thus be quickly recognized which work steps have to be carried out or carried out in the respectively associated IT system in parallel with the construction of the actual industrial process, in order to thus achieve a rapid conversion of the simulation into reality. These recognitions can be generated, for example, in addition within the document as further intermediate results and provided, for example, in the form of work instructions to the respective user group in the form of a specification to be executed or, in general, as basic instructions.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one information system is selected from the group consisting of: ERP (e.g. SAP), forklift control center system, material management system, warehouse control center, automated warehouse, packaging planning, scheduling planning, warehouse management, process simulation software, In particular process software from e.g. pressing plant, body manufacturing, paint shop, assembly, predictive maintenance, asset management, worker guidance, production planning, MES, control center, operational data collection, machine data collection, control center, tempo, transport system (FTS), jis (just In sequence), maintenance, financial integration, reporting system. The system can thus be connected to the respectively mentioned information system via an interface, so that the previously mentioned advantages can be realized particularly well for these specific applications. It is conceivable to consider a plurality of the aforementioned information systems accordingly simultaneously and/or in parallel. Implicitly, the aforementioned information system also comprises any embodiment and/or complement which, in the broadest sense, relates to and/or comprises the visualization of acceptance procedures and/or change management and/or data migration and the checking and/or amending of data spaces

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the virtual smart object library is designed for loading objects from a commercial product. Thus, the aforementioned advantages can be better achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the interface program is set at least partially by at least one sub-region of the smart object library or an object stored therein and/or at least partially by at least one function of at least one sub-region of the smart object library or an object stored therein. Thus, the aforementioned advantages can be better achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the documentation of the system includes: the simulation-triggered and generated work result of the at least one information system coupled to the system can itself be displayed as a result (or results) of the simulation in such a way that normal operation is not impaired by the represented activity of the connected system. Thus, the aforementioned advantages can be better achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the smart object library is provided at least partially from the outside by means of a supplement in the form of a commercial product and is designed to load objects from these commercial products as required. Thus, the aforementioned advantages can be better achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also provided that the system is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that a visual recognition of the executed simulation, in particular in the form of an image and/or video sequence, can be ensured, so that aspects of the simulation are accessible to different users at different locations even at a later point in time. Thus, the aforementioned advantages can be better achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also provided that the system is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that the simulation is accessible to other users at any time. The aforementioned advantages apply in the same way to this particular variant of the proposed method.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the system is additionally designed to display interactions between the virtual objects, which cannot be displayed in the flow routine of the at least one information system of the real objects corresponding to the virtual objects. The aforementioned advantages apply in the same way to this particular variant of the proposed method.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also provided that the virtual smart object library is designed to load objects from commercial products. The aforementioned advantages apply in the same way to this particular variant of the proposed method.

Finally, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the interface program is set at least in part by at least one sub-region of the smart object library or an object stored therein and/or at least in part by at least one function of at least one sub-region of the smart object library or an object stored therein, and wherein the system is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that a visual perception of the executed simulation, in particular in the form of an image and/or video sequence, can be ensured, so that aspects of the simulation are accessible to different users at different locations even at a later point in time. The aforementioned advantages apply in the same way to this particular variant of the proposed method.

The proposed system and method can be applied in different industrial fields and industries. It is also conceivable to apply the basic idea to other fields, such as service departments and processes taking place there. In this case, for example, the respective application can be set during a project planning phase/start-up phase. Applications of the proposed system and method can also be presented during a testing phase of an industrial process to be simulated, in particular with a key user. Furthermore, training measures and further qualification measures around the process to be simulated can be supported and/or performed with the proposed solution. In particular, the mutual conditions of the processes to be reestablished or the processes to be optimized can thus be supported and additionally accelerated in an advantageous manner.

The different embodiments of the invention mentioned in the present application can advantageously be combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in individual cases.

Drawings

The invention is explained below in the examples with reference to the associated figures. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for simulating an industrial process; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for simulating an industrial process.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic flow diagram 10 of a method for simulating an industrial process. The method for simulating an industrial process comprises the following steps: in a first step 12, a system 20 according to claims 1 to 9 is executed and a virtual platform program 22 having at least one visualization plane is executed on at least one server of the system 20, wherein the virtual platform program 22 can be displayed on a screen device 30 and is designed to be used simultaneously by a plurality of users. In a second step 14, a virtual smart object library 24 is stored and executed, wherein the smart object library 24 is accessed into the virtual platform program 22 and is designed to provide existing objects and newly placed objects and/or real process flows at least partially as corresponding virtual objects on at least one visualization plane based on the placement process of the user of the system 20. In a third step 16, the components of the augmented reality/virtual reality system itself and/or the components of the mixed reality system itself are provided and activated, and the interaction of the virtual objects with each other is shown at least partly by means of the components of the augmented reality/virtual reality system itself and/or the components of the mixed reality. In a fourth step 18, at least one interface program 32 is run in the system 20, wherein the interface program 32 is designed to transmit the virtual objects and/or the interactions of the virtual objects with one another at least partially to the flow routines of the real objects corresponding to the virtual objects, of at least one information system 34 that can be coupled to the system 20, and/or to provide these flow routines and/or objects by the at least one information system 34 for simulation purposes in the system 20, so that the effect of the action can be realized intelligibly and automatically not only in virtual reality but also in real information systems in parallel. Fig. 2 shows a system 20 for simulating an industrial process. The system 20 is illustrated with a virtual platform program 22 and a smart object library 24, wherein a first connection arrow 26 represents interaction between the virtual platform program 22 and the smart object library 24. Furthermore, a second connecting arrow 28 indicates in what kind of activities and simulations the visualization can be performed on the screen device 30. The screen means 30 may be, for example, a standard monitor or a portable mobile device with a corresponding screen. The screen device 30 may also be VR/AR or MR glasses, for example. The system 20 can be connected to an information system 34 via an interface program 32, which is shown here schematically in the form of a double-headed block arrow. With respect to the image plane, three possible simulation results 36 are shown on the right side of the system 20, and thus illustrate that the most different results can be produced by means of the system 20. The third connecting arrow 38 points to the document symbol 40 and illustrates that the simulation results 36 can be recorded in parallel with the simulation by means of the system 20. For example, it is conceivable that a shelf system should be simulated by means of the system 20, wherein six shelf positions should be placed virtually accordingly. These six shelf positions can now be placed simultaneously in the respective information systems 34 by means of the interface program 32. In other words, the set objects are set in the library 24 with their properties such that interaction of the objects with one another is possible and the application of the interface program 32 is supported in this regard in a meaningful manner. Conversely, a certain number of already existing shelf positions stored in the information system 34 with reference to a real shelf system may in turn support the simulation at that position. Fig. 2 here shows only schematically a possible embodiment of the proposed system 20. In particular, it is also conceivable for the interface program 32 to be set at least partially by at least one sub-region of the smart object library 24 and/or to be set at least partially by at least one function of at least one sub-region of the smart object library 24

List of reference numerals

10 flow chart

12 first step

14 second step

16 third step

18 fourth step

20 system

22 virtual platform program

24 intelligent object library

26 first connecting arrow

28 second connecting arrow

30-screen device

32 interface program

34 information system

36 simulation results

38 third connecting arrow

40 document symbol

Claims

1. A system (20) for simulating an industrial process, comprising:

● at least one server and at least one screen device (30) coupled to the at least one server;

●, a virtual platform program (22) having at least one visualization plane, said virtual platform program being executable stored on said at least one server, wherein said virtual platform program (22) is displayable on said at least one screen device (30) and said virtual platform program is designed to be used simultaneously by a plurality of users;

● virtual smart object library (24), wherein the smart object library (24) is accessed into the virtual platform program (22) and is designed to provide existing objects and objects to be relocated and/or real process flows at least partially as corresponding virtual objects on the at least one visualization plane based on a placement process of a user of the system (20), characterized in that the system (20) is designed to display interactions of the virtual objects with one another at least partially by means of augmented reality/virtual reality components and/or mixed reality components, and the system (20) has at least one interface program (32) which is stored executable on the at least one server, and the program interface is designed to transmit interactions of virtual objects and/or virtual objects with one another at least partially to the virtual platform program (22) The flow routine of at least one information system, which can be coupled to the system (20), of real objects corresponding to the simulated objects and/or the flow routine and/or the objects are provided by the at least one information system (34) for simulation purposes in the system (20), so that the effect of the action can be realized in parallel both in virtual reality and in real information systems understandably and automatically.

2. The system (20) according to claim 1, wherein the system (20) is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that the simulation is accessible to other users at any point in time and can be changed by other users and stored as a new version.

3. The system (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (20) is further designed to additionally display interactions of the virtual objects with each other, which interactions cannot be displayed in a flow routine of at least one information system (34) of real objects corresponding to the virtual objects.

4. The system (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one information system (34) is selected from the group consisting of: ERP (e.g., SAP), forklift control center system, material management system, warehouse control center, automated warehouse, packaging planning, dispatch planning, warehouse management, process simulation software, and in particular, process software from, for example, pressing plant, body manufacturing, paint shop, assembly, predictive maintenance, asset management, worker guidance, production planning, MES, control center, operational data collection, machine data collection, control center, tact, transportation system (FTS), JIS, maintenance, financial integration, reporting systems.

5. The system (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the virtual smart object library (24) is designed for loading objects from a commercial product.

6. The system (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface program (32) is set at least partly by at least one sub-area of the smart object library (24) or an object stored therein, and/or at least partly by at least one function of at least one sub-area of the smart object library (24) or an object stored therein.

7. The system (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (20) documents include: the simulation-triggered and generated work result of at least one information system coupled to the system (20) can be displayed as a result (or results) of the simulation in turn, so that normal operation is not impaired by the represented activity of the connected system (20).

8. The system (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smart object library (24) is provided externally at least in part by a supplement in the form of a commercial product and is designed to load objects from the commercial product as needed.

9. The system (20) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the system (20) is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that a visual insight into the performed simulation, in particular in the form of an image and/or video sequence, can be ensured, so that aspects of the simulation are accessible to different users at different locations even at a later point in time.

10. A method for simulating an industrial process, comprising the steps of:

● operating the system (20) according to claims 1 to 9;

● running a virtual platform program (22) with at least one visualization plane on at least one server of the system (20), wherein the virtual platform program (22) is displayable on a screen device (30) and is designed to be used simultaneously by a plurality of users;

●, storing and running a virtual smart object library (24), wherein the smart object library (24) is accessed into the virtual platform program (22) and is designed to provide existing objects and objects to be relocated and/or real process flows at least partly as corresponding virtual objects on at least one visualization plane based on a placement process of a user of the system (20), characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:

● provide and activate the augmented reality/virtual reality system's own components and/or the mixed reality system's own components;

● displaying interactions of virtual objects with each other at least in part by means of components of the augmented reality/virtual reality system itself and/or components of mixed reality;

● at least one interface program (32) is run in the system (20), wherein the interface program (32) is designed to transmit virtual objects and/or the interaction of the virtual objects with one another at least partially into a process routine of at least one information system (34) that can be coupled to the system (20) of real objects corresponding to the virtual objects and/or to provide the process routine and/or the objects by the at least one information system (34) for simulation purposes in the system (20), so that the effect of actions can be realized intelligibly and automatically not only in virtual reality but also in real information systems in parallel.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the system (20) is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that the simulation is accessible to other users at any point in time.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the system (20) is further designed to display interactions of the virtual objects with each other, which interactions cannot be displayed in a flow routine of at least one information system (34) of real objects corresponding to the virtual objects.

13. The method according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the virtual smart object library (24) is designed for loading objects from a commercial product.

14. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the interface program (32) is set at least in part by at least one sub-region of the smart object library (24) or an object stored therein and/or at least in part by at least one function of at least one sub-region of the smart object library (24) or an object stored therein, and wherein the system (20) is designed to record the action in its entirety, so that a visual perception of the performed simulation, in particular in the form of an image and/or video sequence, can be ensured, so that various aspects of the simulation are accessible to different users at different locations even at a later point in time.

15. Use of a system (20) according to claims 1 to 9 in a method according to claim 10.