Ultra Rapid Reconfigurable Robot System

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. On the other hand, they are dependent on manual work force which makes their competitiveness dependent on the wage level - which is significantly higher in Western Europe and USA compared to Eastern Europe and Asia. In addition the SMEs have normally limited competence about robotics and automation which traditionally has slowed down the rate of investment for industrial robots. 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 some special challenges for SMEs to invest into robot systems. Firstly, they have small-series production, requiring rapid reconfiguration. Secondly, they have often lack of expertise on robotics and automation. This puts special requirements on the flexibility and user friendliness of the industrial robot system. This, Industrial PhD, is going to focus on this challenge, and perform R&D to create new technology and methodology to get the flexibility and intuitiveness of industrial robot systems to a level which complies with the future requirements in SMEs. There focus will especially be on - Methods and technology for very rapid and easy programming of industrial robots - Intuitive man-machine communication; thus, bidirectional between the robot system and the local operator The target will basically be pick?n place, assembly and palletizing. The results will be developed, verified and demonstrated in the laboratory. The project, Ultra Rapid Reconfigurable Robot System, is a collaboration between Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany and the high tech, research based, industrial robot system integrator, PPM AS in Trondheim, Norway.

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. On the other hand, they are dependent on manual work force which makes their competitiveness dependent on the wage level ? which is significantly higher in Western Europe and USA compared to Eastern Europe and Asia. There is some special challenges for SMEs to invest into robot systems. Firstly, the have small series production, requiring rapid reconfiguration. Secondly, they have often lack of expertise on robotics and automation. This puts special requirments on the flexibility and user friendliness of the industrial robot system. This, Industrial PhD, is going to focus on this challenge, and perform R&D to create new technology and methodology to get the flexibility and intuitiveness of industrial robot systems to a level which complies with the future requirements in SMEs. There focus will especially be on - Methods and technology for very rapid and easy programming of industrial robots - Intuitive man-machine communication; thus, bidirectional between the robot system and the local operator The project, Ultra Rapid Reconfigurable Robot System, is a collaboration between Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany (hereinafter; FAPS) and the high tech, research based, industrial robot system integrator, PPM AS in Trondheim.