Abstract:

Since the beginning of the 21th century, international industry is experiencing a very fast and deep transformation. This transformation is related to the innovation in the field of digital technologies, it is considered as the “fourth industrial revolution” and it is referred as “Industry 4.0” or “Industry of the future (IoF)” in Europe. Some of the main innovation lines on the IoF, such as cyber-physical systems, smart machines, collaborative robots, full automation, autonomous industrial vehicles, smart sensors, virtual commissioning, etc., are closely related with Systems Engineering discipline and, therefore, an increase in job offers for professionals who master this knowledge and competences is expected. In this way, it is of interest for industrial engineering degrees to foster educative innovation activities focused on system engineering and digital technologies in order to upgrade the knowledge of the students. Following this idea, this paper presents an innovative example about how 3D technologies and systems engineering techniques can be used together for providing a better learning experience to the students, enhancing their digital competences in 3D technologies (CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM environment), in collaborative work, about the technologies related to the Industry of the Future and Systems Engineering, and increasing their employability prospect. Advantages of using a combination of both technologies are presented, opening a new line of possibilities for virtual simulation, commissioning, computer control, etc. It shows the enormous potential of using both technologies together for improving employability for students of engineering degrees and for boosting the future students’ interest about these studies.

Keywords:

3D Technologies, Systems Engineering, Robotics, Innovation Engineering.