Degree project at Valmet connects AI to real industry challenges
How can AI be used to detect errors in industrial processes? Through his degree project at Valmet, student Ali Gharieb gets to work close to real industrial needs – in a collaboration where research and product development meet.
Doing a degree project together with a company provides the opportunity to work with real challenges and at the same time contribute to the development of new technology. For civil engineering student Ali Gharieb at Mid Sweden University, the degree project at Valmet has become a chance to combine AI, intelligent systems and industrial applications.
In his degree project, he develops an AI model to detect and classify sensor errors in industrial processes. The goal is for the system to be able to distinguish between errors in the process itself and situations where a single sensor gives incorrect values.
- I think it's an extremely interesting research area where technical solutions can be linked to real industrial challenges and have a positive impact on society, says Ali Gharieb.
The work is linked to Valmet's development of digital twins – mathematical models that mimic industrial processes and can be used for analyses, operator training and soft sensors, for example.
- Since much of the analysis and prediction in a pulp mill is based on measuring sensors, it is very important to be able to detect sensor errors and other disturbances in order to get reliable results, says Lars Almkvist at Valmet.
Incorrect sensors can otherwise negatively affect analyses and models and therefore need to be identified and managed.
- Building a methodology for finding defective sensors and dealing with incorrect measurement data is of great importance in order to be able to develop our digital twins further, says Lars Almkvist.
Degree projects and industrial doctoral students can support with basic research in areas that are relevant to our product development. It is an important collaboration for us
For Valmet, cooperation with universities is also important from a long-term perspective.
- Degree projects and industrial doctoral students can support with basic research in areas that are relevant to our product development. It's an important collaboration for us, says Lars Almkvist.
For Ali Gharieb, the degree project has meant an opportunity to work closely with the industry and at the same time immerse himself in an area he wants to continue to develop in even after his studies.
More information
The degree project is carried out within the framework of the research program NIIT – Next Generation Industrial IoT, where Mid Sweden University and industrial partners together develop technology and methods for the digitalized process industry of the future.