Background of Smart Companion Robot Project
This project was selected as one of the ARM Institute’s Quick Start Projects, which were selected from the proposal to create the ARM Institute.
The Smart Companion Robot is intended to first, provide cognitive assistance by delivering the right part and tool at the right place at the right time, eliminating the risk of incorrect parts being assembled, and enhancing quality in high-mix assembly environments; and second, provide physical assistance, by helping the transport of medium-heavy parts from subassembly areas to reduce worker fatigue/repetitive injuries. Such capabilities within the Smart Companion Robot address two variations of mass customization – high volume/low mix space, such as build to stock, and high volume/high mix, such as build to order.
Objective of Smart Companion Robot Project
Demonstrate the viability of an intelligent mobile manipulator robotic system to assist and augment human associates in automotive final assembly, where intensive manual manipulation remains the mainstay.
Technical Approach of Smart Companion Robot Project
The resulting CDIP is anticipated to include:
- Smart collaborative mobile manipulator system for human-robot co-assembly
- Source code for map updating, autonomous navigation and manipulation of parts, applicable to ROS based robots
- Evaluation of mapping and navigation of the robot for manufacturing environment
- Novel interface between human machine simulation
Participants in Smart Companion Robot Project
Clemson University (Principal Investigator), Siemens, BMW, Yaskawa