Publication
Title
Design methodology to improve human-robot coproduction in small- and medium-sized enterprises
Author
Abstract
In recent years, mass-customization and on-demand production have spread to larger ground. To accommodate these developments, manufacturing systems are being transformed to allow more flexibility and agility. One of the technologies that allow flexibility and agility is collaborative robots. The design and implementation of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) is a complex activity that requires bridging between disciplines. With the introduction of collaborative robots, new disciplines are added to this activity, which need to be linked to the existing design methods and procedures. Currently, the lack of these links is a bottleneck for small-andmedium-sized enterprises that have limited resources for implementation. In this paper, we introduce a human-robot coproduction design methodology, with the aim of raising the capacity of designers for reasoning on collaboration between humans and robots in manufacturing. The methodology comprises four procedural steps: analysis, modeling, simulation, and evaluation, with specific methods, tools, and instruments. The methodology has been evaluated in a laboratory environment by performing a pilot study with designers. While the current implementation of the methodology and its instrumentation is limited, it has been shown that the methodology enables quick design iterations during the conceptual design phase of human-robot coproduction, thanks to procedures that have been tailored for this novel form of organizing and structuring production processes in IMS.
Language
English
Source (journal)
IEEE/ASME transactions on mechatronics / Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; American Society of Mechanical Engineers. - New York
Publication
New York : 2018
ISSN
1083-4435
DOI
10.1109/TMECH.2018.2839357
Volume/pages
23 :3 (2018) , p. 1092-1102
ISI
000435338300012
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 28.06.2018
Last edited 02.10.2024
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