n TECHNOLOGY Feburary 2024 www.drivesncontrols.com 18 GERMAN RESEARCHERS are developing a large mobile robot that, they believe, could bring much more exibility and productivity to industrial applications than conventional xed-base robot systems. The mobile platform, built by the German rm BroetjeAutomation, carries a six-axis Comau robot arm with a 150kg load capacity. The researchers, from the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University, argue that traditional robots anchored to the oor have a restricted workspace. Although mobile cobots (collaborative robots) do exist, their payloads are usually limited to around 8kg. If large robots were able to move freely between assembly stations, the resulting unlimited workspace could provide exibility and allow resources to be deployed more strategically, the WZL researchers argue. The robots could also perform some of the tasks currently handled by AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). The researchers are using their large robot to conduct research in areas such as planning simultaneous movement of the manipulator and the base, which has not been possible until now. They believe that such “holistic” motion planning, will allow mobile manipulators to be deployed with 25% faster execution times. As well as the mobile platform, BroetjeAutomation has supplied software based on the Robot Operating System 2 (ROS2), allowing the researchers to develop new algorithms, and opening up possibilities for innovative approaches to robotics and assembly research. The mobile robot uses multiple sensors to perceive its environment and to operate autonomously. In the future, it will be integrated into a 5G campus network and will be capable of communicating wirelessly in real-time with other robots and factory cloud systems. A hybrid Siemens control system will allow the mobile robot to be controlled in realtime using a Linux-based operating system. “The large robot is unique in its 5G connectivity, payload capacity, ROS control and mobility. Our nickname for it is Snow ake,” says Dr-Ing Amon Göppert, chief engineer at WZL’s Chair of Production Metrology and Quality Management. “With this, we can implement new automated assembly processes for large components and address the automation gap in the industry.” The researchers believe that the mobile robot could be a key element of future “lineless mobile assembly systems” (LMAS). These abandon spatial and temporal rigid chaining of individual assembly systems, allowing (partial) mobilisation of resources on production oors following a “clean oor” approach. In LMAS, AMRs and autonomous mobile manipulators (AMMs) take over the transportation tasks and, in the case of AMMs, can even perform assembly steps. https://www.wzl.rwth-aachen.de/cms Large mobile robot opens up options for flexible assembly HEIDENHAIN HAS developed a rotary encoder with a built-in accelerometer and microcontroller that allows position measurements and vibration analysis to be performed by a single component, thus simplifying condition monitoring and maintenance planning in highwear automated systems. The combined sensor allows users to use predictive maintenance to optimise machine servicing intervals and to anticipate any irregular maintenance before problems occur. Detecting vibrations early is vital to ensure long service lives for production systems and to avoid possible machine damage, downtime and scrap. By integrating a three-axis accelerometer into its ECI 123 Splus inductive encoder, Heidenhain says it has created a new and convenient way of detecting and analysing vibrations on rotating machines. It also avoids the need to install additional vibration sensors, while simplifying cabling and installation. Linking vibration data with position feedback makes it easier to determine the type and location any vibrations. The encoder also supports up to three external temperature sensors, with all of the data being transmitted for further processing via an EnDat 3 interface. The on-board microcontroller can perform initial analysis up to 64 orders. For more detailed analysis, the serial data can be sent to downstream electronics, allowing OEMs to customise their analyses based on timing, triggers, speed ranges and measured axes, and to monitor the data for any changes over time. By collecting data over an extended period, users can also gauge a machine’s remaining service life. https://www.heidenhain.com WZL’s large mobile robot – nicknamed Snowake – could pave the way to more exible production lines of the future Encoder with built-in vibration analysis avoids downtime Heidenhain’s combined rotary encoder and vibration analyser helps to avoid unexpected machine failures
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