For the industrial field,this is an era full of challenges.How should we cope with the soaring energy costs,decarbonization,shrinking batch size and shorter life cycle?
To deal with these problems,complete automation is not the ultimate solution.Today,companies are increasingly interested in low-cost automation.This unique lean production method usually does not use external energy such as transmission device,sensor,electric power or compressed air,nor does it need any electric power.It mainly relies on elasticity,gravity and mechanical principles,thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions.As a unique form of automation,low-cost automation has many advantages.Compared with traditional automation,its material cost is greatly reduced,and its implementation depends more on the commitment and creativity of employees.However,in situations where higher load and more complex operation are required,the application range of low-cost automation is limited.How to maximize the advantages of low-cost automation?What amazing synergies will be produced when combined with cooperative robots or autonomous mobile robots(AMR)?Professor Constantin May,founder and academic director of CETPM training institution,conducted in-depth research on relevant topics.The CETPM training institution he founded can provide college-level training courses covering various topics,including excellent operation,lean management,six sigma and low-cost automation,so as to improve the skills of employees in the industrial field and promote them to actively improve the operation process.
1.The future factory sharing CETPM is the place to develop low-cost automation and robot solution applications.It shows us the potential way to combine the two.In these different applications,you can also find the figure of item lean production assembly system.Over the years,the cooperation between CETPM and item has been very successful.Professor May and Stefan Armbruster,the product manager and lean expert of item,regularly hold joint seminars on low-cost automation.They have trained a number of excellent low-cost automation experts,and these experts have returned to their companies to continue to promote the development of low-cost automation.
2.Because of low procurement cost,simple programming and flexible implementation scheme,collaborative robots are becoming more and more popular in the industrial field.Professor May explained to us:”The advantages of cooperative robots are durability,reliability and high repeatability,while the advantages of human beings are decision-making ability,flexibility and various skills.”Cooperative robots can replace employees to complete tasks that are not ergonomic and monotonous,such as stacking and machine loading.In this way,their human”colleagues”can free their hands to complete other tasks.Moreover,appropriate robot solutions can make up for the lack of skilled workers.However,the strength of the cooperative robot is limited,which means that it can only move small turnover boxes within a limited range.Integrating collaborative robot solutions and low-cost automation can greatly expand the application field of robots.This has been proved in the application of CETPM in the future factory.
In the future factory of CETPM,visitors can watch many application examples of innovative automation solutions.The core component of an application is an xArm series collaborative robot manufactured by UFACTORY.At first,the robot will fill the small turnover box,then press the switch and control lever and push a component forward to ensure that the entire small turnover box continues to move forward,and then start to fill the next small turnover box.Once the relevant mechanical devices are started,all operations can be carried out automatically,all of which benefit from the application of slope,roller and lifting system.3.Empowerment
In addition to cooperative robots,autonomous mobile robots(AMR)are also rising stars in the field of automation.Because they do not rely on markers,but use laser scanners to process maps of the surrounding environment,they can be introduced and implemented faster.With the help of artificial intelligence,autonomous mobile robots can easily distinguish between permanent obstacles and temporary obstacles and make corresponding decisions.Therefore,they can skillfully bypass obstacles.When a suitable structure is installed on it,the autonomous mobile robot can perform tasks such as internal logistics automation.Professor May said:”Autonomous mobile robots have many advantages,and with the progress of technology,they are more and more easy to introduce and implement.”
At present,many autonomous mobile robots can only transport one loading vehicle at a time.Loading and unloading is also a complex matter,because conveyor belts,mechanical arms and similar systems need to be automated.Here,low-cost automation can provide an ideal solution.
“At CETPM,we found that low-cost automatic mechanical devices can be used to complete the loading and unloading of autonomous mobile robots,”said Professor May.For example,use the kinetic energy of the autonomous mobile robot to lift or move the loader.This solution not only saves costs and electricity,but also reduces carbon dioxide emissions because of its lower material expenditure than traditional automation and does not rely on electricity.If multiple loading trucks are stacked on the autonomous mobile robot,the low-cost automation framework can be used to complete automatic unloading,and more materials can be moved in the same time.The strong combination of robots and low-cost automation has expanded the application potential of automation.As an expert in assembly component systems in industrial applications,item can provide highly flexible solutions for low-cost automation,help users reduce costs and increase efficiency,and maximize benefits.