SMErobot

"SMErobot" is an Integrated Project within the 6th Framework Programme of the EC to create a new family of SME-suitable robots and to exploit its potentials for competitive SME manufacturing. The project started March 1 2005.Nilsson, K.; Johansson, R.; Robertsson, A.; Bischoff, R.; Brogårdh, T.; Hägele, M.: Productive robots and the SMErobot™ project. "Third Swedish Workshop on Autonomous Robotics" Stockholm, September 1-2, 2005.]

Research results and public presentation

From June 10 - 13 2008 the research project presented automation solutions for smal and medium manufacturing at the Automatica trade fair in Munich. Among others the following research results (Project end: February 2009) were shown: [SMErobot at Automatica flyer, [http://www.smerobot.org/10_public_relations/download/PR_SMErobot_Automatica_flyer.pdf] ]

* A new parallel kinematik robot machine for industrial Parallelkinematik für industielle use (f. i. foundry) [New parallel kinematic, [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_D1.pdf] ]
* A SMART Robot for every for every shop floor (f. i. forming) [SMART robot for every shop floor, [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_D2.pdf] ]
* A robot as worker's third hand (all purpose) [Worker's thrid hand, [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_WorkersThirdHand.pdf] ]
* A Woodworking assistant (for small and medium-sizedcrafts [Woodworking assistant, [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_D4.pdf] ]
* A “Plug-and-Produce”- table robot for classroom use [Tabke robot for classroom use [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_DesktopTau.pdf] ]
* A Life cycle costing tool [LCC-tool, [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_LCC-Tool.pdf] ] as well as
* A training tool called "SMErobot toolbox" [SMErobot toolbox, [http://www.smerobot.org/14_automatica/download/SMErobot_DataSheet_Toolbox.pdf] ]

Innovations

Existing automation technologies have been developed for capital-intensive large-volume manufacturing, resulting in costly and complex systems, which typically cannot be used in an SME context. Therefore, manufacturing SMEs are today caught in an ‘automation trap’: they must either opt for current and inappropriate automation solutions or compete on the basis of lowest wages. Armbruster, Heidi; Kirner, Eva; Kinkel, Stefen: Neue Kundengruppen für Industrieroboter - Wo liegen unausgeschöpfte Anwendungspotenziale für Roboter im deutschen Verarbeitenden Gewerbe?. In: "Mitteilungen aus der Produktionserhebung".Nr. 38, März 2006, Karlsruhe, Fraunhofer ISI]

The research and development in SMErobot is geared towards creating the following technical innovations: [SMErobot website, http://www.smerobot.org/02_overview/#innovations]

1. Robot capable of understanding human-like instructions (by voice, gesture, graphics) Bierfreund, B.: Entlernen und Neulernen: Herausforderungen bei der Entwicklung einer neuen Generation von Industrierobotern für kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen (KMU). In: "Zeitschrift ARBEIT"2008]

2. Safe and productive human-aware space-sharing robot (cooperative, no fences) Haddadin,S.; Albu-Schaeffer, A.; Hirzinger, G.: Safe Physical Human-Robot Interaction: Measurements, Analysis and New Insights. In: Proceedings of the "13th International Symposium of Robotics Research (ISRR2007)"Hiroshima, Japan, November 26-29, 2007]

3. Three-day-deployable integrated robot system (modular plug-and-produce components) Naumann. M., Wegener K., Schraft, R. D.: Control Architecture for Robot Cells to Enable Plug and Produce. In: Proceedings of the 2007 "IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation", ICRA 07, page 287-292, Rom, April 2007]

Implementation

The demonstrations of fully functional prototypes will be set up in different SME-manufacturing branches (plastics & rubber, small-batch foundry, metal parts fabrication, etc.), together with SME-end-users and SME-system-integrators, partly from the new Member States. Training and education will be conducted at all levels from researcher to end-users. [SMErobot website, http://www.smerobot.org/02_overview/#implementation]

External reports

* The Economist (19.06.2008 [The Economist 19.06.2008, [http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11575170] ] )
* das Handelsblatt (29.05.2008 [Das Handelsblatt 29.05.2008, [http://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/mittelstand_aktuell/automaten-fahren-eine-geisterschicht;1435460] ] )
* Süddeutsche Zeitung (13.06.2008, S.13, 14.05.2008, S.29 and 28.05.2008)
* Metalunvers (Spain) (02.06.2008 [Metalunvers, [http://www.metalunivers.com/Tecnica/Noticias/Noticia.asp?ID=21941] ] )
* Industires et Technologies (France) [Industries et technologies, [http://www.industrie-technologies.com/article/page_article.cfm?nrub=1069&idoc=140820&navartrech=1] ]
* Ny Teknik (Sweden) (04.06.2008 [Ny Teknik 04.06.2008, [http://www.nyteknik.se/special/automation/article365402.ece?stjarna=1] ] , 11.06.2008 [Ny Teknik 11.06.2008, [http://www.nyteknik.se/special/automation/article368338.ece?stjarna=1] ] and 12.06.2008 [Ny Teknik 12.06.2008, [http://www.nyteknik.se/special/automation/article368982.ece] ] )

Sources

External links

* http://www.smerobot.org
* http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP6_PROJ&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=PROJ&QUERY=011b4f38d6c8:a635:7cc45907&RCN=74847
* http://www.smerobot-tools.com/