Time Latency-Centric Signal Processing: A Perspective of Smart Manufacturing †

Smart manufacturing employs embedded systems such as CNC machine tools, programable logic controllers, automated guided vehicles, robots, digital measuring instruments, cyber-physical systems, and digital twins. These systems collectively perform high-level cognitive tasks (monitoring, understanding, deciding, and adapting) by making sense of sensor signals. When sensor signals are exchanged through the abovementioned embedded systems, a phenomenon called time latency or delay occurs. As a result, the signal at its origin (e.g., machine tools) and signal received at the receiver end (e.g., digital twin) differ. The time and frequency domain-based conventional signal processing cannot adequately address the delay-centric issues. Instead, these issues can be addressed by the delay domain, as suggested in the literature. Based on this consideration, this study first processes arbitrary signals in time, frequency, and delay domains and elucidates the significance of delay domain over time and frequency domains. Afterward, real-life signals collected while machining different materials are analyzed using frequency and delay domains to reconfirm its (the delay domain’s) significance in real-life settings. In both cases, it is found that the delay domain is more informative and reliable than the time and frequency domains when the delay is unavoidable. Moreover, the delay domain can act as a signature of a machining situation, distinguishing it (the situation) from others. Therefore, computational arrangements enabling delay domain-based signal processing must be enacted to effectively functionalize the smart manufacturing-centric embedded systems.