Bowling Green State University (BGSU) researchers aim to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and glass manufacturing. The research initiative, part of the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub, is a three-year study into how AI could improve process controls and energy efficiency in glass melting.
The project is supported by a $652,000 grant from the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium and is led by Mohammed Abouheaf, Ph.D., an associate professor in the BGSU College of Engineering and Innovation.
“In working with our industrial partners, we have identified that energy efficiency is a significant focus in glass manufacturing,” Abouheaf says in a release. “By integrating AI and machine learning into the glass-melting processes, our goal is to improve performance, which, in turn, will improve energy efficiency.”
Abouheaf explains that the extreme temperatures and corrosive conditions inside glass furnaces make it impractical to install enough sensors for comprehensive measurement. To address this limitation, he and his research team plan to develop advanced algorithms capable of estimating unmeasured variables using existing sensor data. A central challenge of the project is achieving the simultaneous optimization of multiple, often competing, objectives, as traditional control systems typically focus on a single target, such as maintaining a set temperature.
The team plans to create a data-driven, multi-objective optimization tool designed to balance energy efficiency, nitrous oxide emissions, control input constraints and boundary-condition robustness. Although the research is centered on glass manufacturing, Abouheaf notes that the approach could have broader applications across other industries.
“Successfully integrating AI into the manufacturing process to improve performance and energy efficiency would benefit multiple industries beyond glass manufacturing,” he explains. “This work is incredibly important as companies continue to adapt to emerging technologies and production demands.”
BGSU is collaborating with the University of Toledo, several global organizations and Actual Reality Technologies, a Toledo, Ohio-based company specializing in augmented intelligence and data modeling.