Implementation of a Laboratory Case Study for Intuitive Collaboration Between Man and Machine in SME Assembly

Gualtieri, Luca; Rojas, R. A.; Garcia, Manuel A. Ruiz; Rauch, Erwin; Vidoni, Renato

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-25425-4_12

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The experimental study of this work was developed in the laboratory scenario shown in Figure 1. A laboratory scenario has great adaptability for the identification of humanrobot solutions, development of new methodologies, application of algorithms and evaluation of collaborative human-robot workstations [21].…”

Section: Human-robot Collaborative Workpacementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Interaction Analysis in Human–Robot Collaboration Using an Assembly Task

2021

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In human–robot collaborative assembly tasks, it is necessary to properly balance skills to maximize productivity. Human operators can contribute with their abilities in dexterous manipulation, reasoning and problem solving, but a bounded workload (cognitive, physical, and timing) should be assigned for the task. Collaborative robots can provide accurate, quick and precise physical work skills, but they have constrained cognitive interaction capacity and low dexterous ability. In this work, an experimental setup is introduced in the form of a laboratory case study in which the task performance of the human–robot team and the mental workload of the humans are analyzed for an assembly task. We demonstrate that an operator working on a main high-demanding cognitive task can also comply with a secondary task (assembly) mainly developed for a robot asking for some cognitive and dexterous human capacities producing a very low impact on the primary task. In this form, skills are well balanced, and the operator is satisfied with the working conditions.

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Section: Human-robot Collaborative Workpacementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Interaction Analysis in Human–Robot Collaboration Using an Assembly Task

2021

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“…Future research should focus on the possibility to autonomously and dynamically adapt the workstation elements according to operators' psychophysical work conditions, needs, and wants [32]. This will surely improve both physical and cognitive ergonomics and therefore have a good impact on productivity.…”

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confidence: 99%

Design of Human-Centered Collaborative Assembly Workstations for the Improvement of Operators’ Physical Ergonomics and Production Efficiency: A Case Study

et al. 2020

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Industrial collaborative robotics is one of the main enabling technologies of Industry 4.0. Collaborative robots are innovative cyber-physical systems, which allow safe and efficient physical interactions with operators by combining typical machine strengths with inimitable human skills. One of the main uses of collaborative robots will be the support of humans in the most physically stressful activities through a reduction of work-related biomechanical overload, especially in manual assembly activities. The improvement of operators’ occupational work conditions and the development of human-centered and ergonomic production systems is one of the key points of the ongoing fourth industrial revolution. The factory of the future should focus on the implementation of adaptable, reconfigurable, and sustainable production systems, which consider the human as their core and valuable part. Strengthening actual assembly workstations by integrating smart automation solutions for the enhancement of operators’ occupational health and safety will be one of the main goals of the near future. In this paper, the transformation of a manual workstation for wire harness assembly into a collaborative and human-centered one is presented. The purpose of the work is to present a case study research for the design of a collaborative workstation to improve the operators’ physical ergonomics while keeping or increasing the level of productivity. Results demonstrate that the achieved solution provides valuable benefits for the operators’ working conditions as well as for the production performance of the companies. In particular, the biomechanical overload of the worker has been reduced by 12.0% for the right part and by 28% for the left part in terms of manual handling, and by 50% for the left part and by 57% for the right part in terms of working postures. In addition, a reduction of the cycle time of 12.3% has been achieved.

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“…The product or process quality evaluation aims to investigate if a task or an activity requires improvements in terms of standardization and reduction of process instability or variability [35,36]. From a manufacturing approach, variability is defined as an inherent process deviation from a nominal value.…”

Section: Metrics For Product/process Quality Evaluation: Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a manufacturing approach, variability is defined as an inherent process deviation from a nominal value. In [35], process variability is identified as a coefficient of variation CV,…”

Section: Metrics For Product/process Quality Evaluation: Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

On Cognitive Assistant Robots for Reducing Variability in Industrial Human-Robot Activities

2020

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In the industrial domain, one important research activity for cognitive robotics is the development of assistant robots. In this work, we show how the use of a cognitive assistant robot can contribute to (i) improving task effectiveness and productivity, (ii) providing autonomy for the human supervisor to make decisions, providing or improving human operators’ skills, and (iii) giving feedback to the human operator in the loop. Our approach is evaluated on variability reduction in a manual assembly system. The overall study and analysis are performed on a model of the assembly system obtained using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) and tested in a robotic simulated scenario. Results show that a cognitive assistant robot is a useful partner in the role of improving the task effectiveness of human operators and supervisors.

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Implementation of a Laboratory Case Study for Intuitive Collaboration Between Man and Machine in SME Assembly

Cited by 20 publications

References 37 publications

Cognitive Interaction Analysis in Human–Robot Collaboration Using an Assembly Task

Cognitive Interaction Analysis in Human–Robot Collaboration Using an Assembly Task

Design of Human-Centered Collaborative Assembly Workstations for the Improvement of Operators’ Physical Ergonomics and Production Efficiency: A Case Study

On Cognitive Assistant Robots for Reducing Variability in Industrial Human-Robot Activities

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