Virtual Simulation of Human-Robot Collaboration Workstations

Castro, Pamela Ruiz; Högberg, Dan; Ramsen, Håkan; Bjursten, Jenny; Hanson, Lars

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-96077-7_26

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…With reference to the studied assembly process, the proposed algorithm was not applied to each of the 19 identified tasks (Table 3), since many of them are the same operation repeated in different moments. In particular, this is the case of the taking and the positioning of cable harness (tasks 1-4, 9-10), and the picking and the dropping off the taping pistol, as well as the related taping tasks (6)(7)(8)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). It is worth noticing that although the grouped tasks have a different duration and involve different components, for the purpose of assessing their potentials in HRI they behave like they are the same task.…”

Section: Evaluation Of the Potential For Collaborative Roboticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A possible and concrete solution to improve the social sustainability in terms of physical ergonomics without neglecting the production efficiency is represented by the collaborative robotics [5,6], as demonstrated by the increasing scientific literature on such a topic. Castro et al [7] developed an integrated robot simulation and digital human modeling aimed to be a tool to create and confirm successful ergonomic collaborative workstations. Lietaert et al [8] proposed a model-based methodology to aid the layout design of a collaborative workcell by considering feasibility, reachability, safety, and ergonomics as constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Evaluation Of the Potential For Collaborative Roboticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

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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“…The design of the workstation can be facilitated by the innovative technologies of Industry 4.0 (Burggräf et al, 2019 ). Some studies showed the digital transformation of the manual workstation into a collaborative one (Pini et al, 2016 ; Gualtieri et al, 2020 ; Colim et al, 2021 ; Palomba et al, 2021 ) and indicated the benefits of collaborative cooperation between operators and robots (Consiglio et al, 2007 ; Sadrfaridpour and Wang, 2017 ; Heydaryan et al, 2018 ; Castro et al, 2019 ; Liau and Ryu, 2020 ; Parra et al, 2020 ; Pérez et al, 2020 ). Gualtieri et al ( 2021 ), through the literature review of the research challenges on ergonomics and safety in industrial human–robot collaboration, pointed out the lack of studies on ergonomics compared to safety-related topics.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Modular and Adaptive Laboratory Set-Up for Neuroergonomic and Human-Robot Interaction Research

et al. 2022

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The industry increasingly insists on academic cooperation to solve the identified problems such as workers' performance, wellbeing, job satisfaction, and injuries. It causes an unsafe and unpleasant working environment that directly impacts the quality of the product, workers' productivity, and effectiveness. This study aimed to give a specialized solution for tests and explore possible solutions to the given problem in neuroergonomics and human–robot interaction. The designed modular and adaptive laboratory model of the industrial assembly workstation represents the laboratory infrastructure for conducting advanced research in the field of ergonomics, neuroergonomics, and human–robot interaction. It meets the operator's anatomical, anthropometric, physiological, and biomechanical characteristics. Comparing standard, ergonomic, guided, and collaborative work will be possible based on workstation construction and integrated elements. These possibilities allow the industry to try, analyze, and get answers for an identified problem, the condition, habits, and behavior of operators in the workplace. The set-up includes a workstation with an industry work chair, a Poka–Yoke system, adequate lighting, an audio 5.0 system, containers with parts and tools, EEG devices (a cap and smartfones), an EMG device, touchscreen PC screen, and collaborative robot. The first phase of the neuroergonomic study was performed according to the most common industry tasks defined as manual, monotonous, and repetitive activities. Participants have a task to assemble the developed prototype model of an industrial product using prepared parts and elements, and instructed by the installed touchscreen PC. In the beginning, the participant gets all the necessary information about the experiment and gets 15 min of practice. After the introductory part, the EEG device is mounted and prepared for recording. The experiment starts with relaxing music for 5 min. The whole experiment lasts two sessions per 60 min each, with a 15 min break between the sessions. Based on the first experiments, it is possible to develop, construct, and conduct complex experiments for industrial purposes to improve the physical, cognitive, and organizational aspects and increase workers' productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness. It has highlighted the possibility of applying modular and adaptive ergonomic research laboratory experimental set-up to transform standard workplaces into the workplaces of the future.

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“…Finally, Castro et al's [31] work on "Virtual Simulation of Human-Robot Collaboration Workstations" illustrates the development and use of an integrated digital human modelling and robot simulation tool, both intended to be a tool for engineers to create and adapt successful collaborative workstations.…”

Section: Newest Advances In Collaborative Robots In Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Wire Harness Assembly Process Supported by Collaborative Robots: Literature Review and Call for R&D

et al. 2022

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The wire harness assembly process is a complicated manufacturing activity, which is becoming more complex because of the evolving nature of mechatronic and electronic products that require more connectors, sensors, controllers, communication networking, etc. Furthermore, the demand for wire harnesses continues to grow in all industries worldwide as the majority of equipment, appliances, machinery, vehicles, etc., are becoming “smart” (i.e., more mechatronic or electronic). Moreover, most of the wire harness assembly process tasks are done manually, and most of these are considered non-ergonomic for human assembly workers. Hence, the wire harness manufacturing industry is faced with the challenge of increasing productivity while improving the occupational health of its human assembly workers. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a literature review exploring the state of the use of collaborative robots in the wire harness assembly process due to their potential to reduce current occupational health problems for human assembly workers and increase the throughput of wire harness assembly lines, and to provide main findings, discussion, and further research directions for collaborative robotics in this application domain. Eleven papers were found in the scientific literature. All papers demonstrated the potential of collaborative robots to improve the productivity of wire harness assembly lines, and two of these in particular on the ergonomics of the wire harness assembly process. None of the papers reviewed presented a cost–benefit or a cycle time analysis to qualitatively and/or quantitatively measure the impact of the incorporation of collaborative robots in the wire harness assembly process. This represents an important area of opportunity for research with relevance to industry. Three papers remark on the importance of the integration of computer vision systems into a collaborative wire harness assembly process to make this more versatile as many types of wire harnesses exist. The literature review findings call for further research and technological developments in support of the wire harness manufacturing industry and its workers in four main categories: (i) Collaborative Robotics and Grippers, (ii) Ergonomics, (iii) Computer Vision Systems, and (iv) Implementation Methodologies.

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Virtual Simulation of Human-Robot Collaboration Workstations

Cited by 11 publications

References 12 publications

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

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

Development of Modular and Adaptive Laboratory Set-Up for Neuroergonomic and Human-Robot Interaction Research

Wire Harness Assembly Process Supported by Collaborative Robots: Literature Review and Call for R&D

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