The human-robot collaboration (HRC) is an integral part of numerous research activities. The combination of the positive capabilities of human workers and robots ensures a high resource efficiency and productivity. However, especially the planning and implementation of HRC applications requires the consideration of several issues like the economic feasibility, acceptance of employees and in particular technical practicability. Based on the study of existing approaches which consider different technical or economic issues, we present a new method to identify suitable areas of HRC applications within assembly systems and to estimate the optimal allocation of human-related and automated subtasks. Finally, our approach is verified in an assembly line for terminal strips which in turn arises from an industrial use case.

Task-based Potential Analysis for Human-Robot Collaboration within Assembly Systems

Pose error correction of a robot end-effector using a 3D visual sensor for control cabinet wiring

Didactic Concept for Increasing Acceptance of Consistent Data Standards Using the Example of Assistance Systems in Assembly

Situational task change of lightweight robots in hybrid assembly systems

Vision-based adjusting of a digital model to real-world conditions for wire insertion tasks

Der globale Wettbewerb stellt die Fertigung im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau vor grose Herausforderungen. Hintergrund ist die Forderung nach reduzierter Lieferzeit, spater Individualisierung und Fehlerfreiheit bei gleichzeitiger Zunahme der Funktionsvielfalt, die sich meist in Elektronik und Software abbildet. Damit steigt die Bedeutung des Schaltschranks innerhalb der gesamten Wertschopfungskette. Die Branche ist jedoch gepragt von einem geringen Automationsgrad und unzureichender IT-Integration. Eine industrielle Linienfertigung kann Abhilfe schaffen und den Prozess der Schaltschrankproduktion auf die gestiegenen Anforderungen vorbereiten. Befahiger sind dabei Prinzipien aus dem Zukunftsprojekt Industrie 4.0.

ClipX: Auf dem Weg zur Industrialisierung des Schaltschrankbaus

This paper describes an approach to optimize workstations for manual assembly systems with high product variances by applying a set of methods in a structured manner. The main goal is to optimize workstations in terms of their efficiency and ergonomics. Therefore, this contribution provides an extensive analysis in the field of assembly efficiency and ergonomics. Based on the results, optimized concept versions are designed and evaluated by simulation. The favored concepts are presented to assembly workers prior to a cardboard engineering workshop. In the workshop, assembly workers build and optimize their own workplace with cardboard material. The workshop results lead to a final layout for implementation. The methodology has been implemented using the example of terminal strip assembly. A digital e-ink labeling system has been applied to ensure an efficient and ergonomic material arrangement. The use of a holistic methodology has resulted in a measurably more efficient and ergonomic workstation, which also uses digital technologies to support these positive effects.

Andreas Schreiber

Papers

ClipX: Auf dem Weg zur Industrialisierung des Schaltschrankbaus

Optimization of a multi-component assembly workstation