Alfred Hypki

Bio: Alfred Hypki is an academic researcher from Ruhr University Bochum. The author has contributed to research in topics: Robot & Human–robot interaction. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 16 publications receiving 141 citations. Previous affiliations of Alfred Hypki include Technical University of Dortmund.

A modular and extensible framework for real and virtual bin-picking environments

Abstract: The number of industrial applications where a robot needs to unload disordered parts is increasing substantially. The usage of robot vision is highly preferred to obtain reliable results. In the past different algorithms for localizing objects as well as for motion planning to avoid collisions between gripper, object and environment were presented and even some commercial Bin-Picking systems are available. Nevertheless a realistic simulation taking account of various vision and robot systems and path planning strategies to predict cycle times is still not possible. In this paper a universal software framework with the focus on virtual Bin-Picking is presented. Utilizing a generic approach this framework enables the integration of various algorithms for object recognition, motion planning, different types of robots, grippers and vision systems. Thus an efficient simulation of different (virtual) Bin-Picking setups including equipment such as sensor devices or robot controllers within a virtual environment is possible. Furthermore the use of such a system allows the prediction of cycle times, percentage of tangible objects or testing of different Bin-Picking setups.

A Hybrid Collaborative Operation for Human-Robot Interaction Supported by Machine Learning

Abstract: Speed and separation monitoring (SSM) as well as power and force limiting (PFL) are two of the four permissible collaborative operations in human-robot interaction (HRI). Current standards and guidelines provide users and system integrators with a simple basis to calculate permissible separation distances between human workers and robots. However, problems occur in practical implementations, as the safety zones are oversized due to various simplifications and corresponding path velocities have to be significantly reduced. This leads, for example, to cycle time losses and wasted space within the respective HRI application. The present paper describes an approach to combine the SSM and PFL collaborative operations and to exploit the optimization potential for robot motion planning and the design of collaborative workstations. To localize the necessary human body regions, we integrate a method from the field of machine learning. Using an exemplary HRI scenario with the PILZ lightweight robot PRBT, we validate the approach presented here and discuss initial results.

Task-based Simulation Tool for Human-Robot Collaboration within Assembly Systems

Abstract: The human-robot collaboration unites positive skills of humans (flexibility, intuition, creativity) and robots (strength, stamina, velocity, precision) in order to ensure a high level of resource efficiency and productivity also with smaller batch sizes and a high variety of versions in production. However, the design of a collaborative assembly system is a complex engineering challenge due to the different goal criteria that have to be considered. A simulation tool for designing and securing human-robot collaboration is yet missing which prevents the widespread use of such technologies. This paper proposes a concept of a simulation tool for collaborative workplaces. In the future, this will ensure that also companies with little experience and limited resources are empowered to implement human-robot collaboration systems prosperously.

Functional Integration of a Robotics Software Framework into a Human Simulation System

Abstract: Human-robot collaboration (HRC) in assembly aims to combine the special skills of human workers and robots in order to increase productivity in flexible assembly processes and reduce the physical strain on human workers. The high degree of cooperation goes hand in hand with the fact that the costs of introducing an HRC workplace are relatively high and HRC has so far been difficult to implement in ongoing productions. A major reason for this is the lack of planning and simulation software for the HRC. Therefore, this paper presents the integration of simulation functionalities for robotic components into an existing proprietary software for manual work activities. It leads to an overall simulation tool for the design of collaborative assembly systems. One motivation for this development is to get a realistic simulation of HRC with a collision-free trajectory planning which provides reliable information on the cycle time, layout optimization and safety analysis already during planning and well before the actual commissioning of the HRC application.

Digitalized Product-Service Systems in Manufacturing Firms: A Case Study Analysis: Linking Digital Systems with Physical Products to Create Novel Product-Service Bundles That Provide Services Independently and Proactively Can Enable Advanced Services and Promote Growth

Abstract: The term servitization has been used in recent years to describe a growing service orientation among product manufacturers, who are increasingly moving from simply selling products to offering supportive services tailored to the product (Baines et al. 2009; Wise and Baumgartner 1999; Vandermerwe and Rada 1988). These services range from traditional product-related services such as maintenance, repair, and training to advanced customer-oriented services (Lay 2014; Oliva and Kallenberg 2003; Mathieu 2001). Advanced services typically take the form of product-service systems (PSS), or physical products bundled with intangible services in a customized manner to fulfill highly individual customer needs (Tukker and Tischner 2006; Goedkoop et al. 1999). These innovative, individualized product-service bundles increase the value delivered to the customer and hence increase the competitiveness of the provider (Boyt and Harvey 1997). The move toward servitization has coincided with a rising trend toward digitalization, with manufacturers equipping products with intelligent digital systems that allow the products to operate independently of human intervention and communicate with other machines. As a logical consequence of the confluence of servitization with this trend toward intelligent machines, an increasing number of manufacturers are using digital systems to support their services (Minister and Meiren 2011), creating totally new industrial product-service offerings, such as comprehensive remote services that bring digital and physical systems together to pave the way for, for instance, availability guarantees. These new kinds of offerings may in turn lead to far-reaching reconfigurations of the mechanisms of value creation in manufacturing. Thus, manufacturers cannot afford to ignore these emerging forces, which have the power to completely reshape the industrial landscape. Companies that do not keep up with these developments may find themselves threatened with extinction in the near future, as competitors with more customized, responsive offerings gain advantage. Three practical case studies from our joint research projects on servitization show how companies can combine digital systems with PSS to harvest value and build competitive advantage. Services Innovation and Digitalization Previous studies of servitization have assumed that manufacturers move from product manufacturer to solution provider along a defined transformation path (Gebauer, Fleisch, and Friedli 2005; Gebauer 2004). This transition path is typically described as taking place in stages, with each stage offering different potentials for differentiation (see, for example, Matthyssens and Vandenbempt 2010; Gebauer, Bravo-Sanchez, and Fleisch 2008; Matthyssens and Vandenbempt 2008; Penttinen and Palmer 2007; Oliva and Kallenberg 2003; More 2001). At the end of the path, manufacturers offer innovative PSS, such as availability guarantees or build-operate-transfer (BOT) models, which increase customer value on the one hand and create competitive advantage for the provider on the other (Brady, Davies, and Gann 2005; Boyt and Harvey 1997). While PSS have been widely discussed--see Velamuri, Neyer, and Moslein (2011) for a review of the literature--the effect of the digital revolution on this servitization pathway has been less well explored. Most articles have dealt with the new challenges and impacts of digitalized services, focusing on how they differ from more traditional product-related services. What is missing in the literature is a comprehensive framework bringing together the emerging trends of servitization and digitalization in one conceptual structure. The integration of digitalization with services innovation has important implications for services. For instance, because digital services can be provided independent of manufacturer and customer location, traditional service characteristics like perishability and inseparability do not apply to digital service creation (Holtbriigge, Holzmuller, and von Wangenheim 2007). …