Seamless human robot collaborative assembly – An automotive case study

• Published in: Mechatronics (Oxford) Vol. 55; pp. 194 - 211
• Main Authors: Michalos, George, Kousi, Niki, Karagiannis, Panagiotis, Gkournelos, Christos, Dimoulas, Konstantinos, Koukas, Spyridon, Mparis, Konstantinos, Papavasileiou, Apostolis, Makris, Sotiris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2018
• Subjects: Augmented reality; Human robot collaboration; Integration and communication; Interaction; Safety; Wearable devices; Safety; Integration and communication; Wearable devices; Human robot collaboration; Interaction; Augmented reality
• ISSN: 0957-4158; 1873-4006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mechatronics.2018.08.006

•Implementation of a robotic system for advanced human robot collaborative assembly.•Use of wearable devices for multi – modal interaction and human robot communication.•Deployment of a safety concept involving multiple robot safety control functions.•Deployment of novel integration and orchestration mechanisms based on SoA concept.•The complete system has been validated in a case study from the automotive industry. This paper presents the implementation of a robotic system for advanced human robot collaboration assembly and discusses all the technological approach that has been implemented for facilitating the interaction and support of human operators. Unlike current industrial practice where the assembly is performed by operators, the proposed approach aims at combining the benefits of high payload industrial robots with human capabilities under a fenceless environment, by assigning to them each task based on their capabilities. Enabling technologies involve manual guidance techniques and new wearables devices allowing for multi – modal interaction as well as robot safety control functionalities. Wearable devices such as Augmented Reality glasses and smartwatches are used for closing the communication loop between operators and robots under a service-oriented architecture. The complete system is validated in a case study from the automotive industry under the ROBO-PARTNER project. A detailed safety analysis of the scenario has been performed supported by a Risk Assessment, safety concept and Safety Related Parts/Control Systems (SRC/CS) design. The findings support the concept that humans’ and robots’ destiny is collaboration rather than competition.