Background of Robotics and Automation Decision Framework Project
Funding for this project was provided by U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through the American Rescue Act Grant – an effort to fund high-impact projects for research, development, and testbeds for pandemic response. Learn more.
Objectives & Technical Approach
- Demonstrate a mitigation framework for critical bottlenecks of the nation’s COVID-19 SCs through integration of robotics and automation.
- Develop novel digital simulation testbeds of manufacturing facilities at the micro-level, and SC networks at the macro-level, to demonstrate through scalable pilot projects improvements with specific key performance indicators in robotics and automation.
- Increase the capabilities of small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) that often lack the capital, know-how, and scale to embed themselves through robotics and automation effectively into critical SCs by articulating the value proposition for SMMs.
- Disseminate tools for accelerating industry adoption through the ARM Institute, SAI, and NIST MEP networks.
Impact
This project seeks to address needs uncovered and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Outputs from this project will better prepare the U.S. to respond to future pandemics and similar unexpected crises, through the use of robotics and automation to streamline production.