Virtual presence in remote operation of industrial robot systems.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) are currently in a challenging situation. On one hand, they are small, flexible and have low overhead costs. On the other hand, they are dependent on manual work force which makes their competitiveness dependent on the wage level. Due to this, the SMEs have a high pressure to invest in industrial robot systems to reduce the wage. However, there are challenges for SME's to invest in robot systems. On one hand, they often have the most complex tasks, but on the other hand, they are small and have lack of own competence and resources to establish strong internal teams within robotics. This makes SMEs dependent of acquiring external expertise during the installation, reconfiguration and service of the robot systems. Thus, efficient remote support and service solutions has been requested during the last years. This Industrial PhD project has developed technology for remote operation and support of industrial robot systems. The technology moved remote operator into a state of "Virtual presence" thus, feeling and being able to operate the industrial robot system similar to standing next to it in the factory. The aim of this, is to make him capable providing efficient remote support, service and programming of industrial robot systems. The focus of the experiments and the application was on flexible robot cells designed for complex, specific welding tasks with the central topic in the modelling, methodological elaboration and the development of the technology. This is required for the implementation of the automated weld seam placement applied to the welding joints of the large workpieces. This Industrial PhD project "Virtual presence in remote operation of industrial robot systems" was a collaboration between Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the high tech, industrial robot system integrator, PPM Robotics AS in Trondheim, Norway. The project run from November 2014 until August 2018.

This Industrial PhD represents the development of new technology to improve the human-machine communication in industrial robot systems. This is in-line with PPM Robotics' (PPM) main business goal to provide advanced systems, software and services for profitable robotization of small series production. Its impact and effects are as follows: - The Industrial PhD enables PPM to focus on fundamental technology which catapults PPM's technology into the state-of-the-art regarding potential for future commercial products, specifically in the area of complex, heavy robotic welding. - PPM has a close collaboration with robot manufacturers NACHI-Fujikoshi and OTC. It develops new robot control technology together with them. This Industrial PhD created a strong platform for further collaboration for the next 5-10 years. - The collaboration with BUTE is an important source for new technology and research projects. The Industrial PhD strengthened this collaboration and joint research.

Small- and medium sized enterprises (SME) are currently in a challenging situation. On one hand, they are small, flexible and have low overhead costs compared to bigger enterprises. Due to the increasing requirements to productivity and EHS (Environment, Health and Safety), the SMEs have a high pressure to invest in industrial robot systems to reduce the wage costs which is a challenge due to their knowledge gap. However, there is a significant challenge for SMEs to invest in robot systems. On one hand, they have often the most complicated tasks, but on the other hand, they are small and have lack of own competence and resources to establish strong internal teams within robotics. This makes SMEs dependent of hiring external competence, which is turn creates additional costs, and delays because of the physical transport of the competence personal to SME?s destination. Thus, efficient remote support- and service solutions has been requested during the last years. However, there is still lack of methodology and technology for remote solutions because it?s very challenging to provide the amount of information to a remote operator, which a local operator, standing next to the robot cell, is acquiring through his senses. This, Industrial PhD, is going to focus is to the challenges to create remote operating technology and methodology that puts the remote operator into a state of ?Virtual presence? thus, feeling and getting enough adequate information to being able to operate the industrial robot system similar to be located next to it in the factory. The aim of this, is to make him capable of performing close to to the same operations as being present, and thus, present a solution for future remote support of SMEs. This project, Virtual presence in remote operation of industrial robot systems, is organized as a collaboration between Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary and PPM AS in Norway.