Robotics in Future Manufacturing: Going from Individual Robots to Integrated Manufacturing Concepts

Abstract

Industry 4.0 stays for a manufacturing concept which fully exploits the online digital interconnection between all participants in the manufacturing process, from supplier over CAD developer to the production work-floor, including product components and machines. In this context it is expected that robots, which can directly exploit the digital data, will play an increasingly large role. However, automation alone still lacks flexibility in complex manufacturing processes such as the final assembly in automotive industries. Therefore, human-robot collaboration is a currently an alternative of continuously increasing importance. However, today we need to think manufacturing in an integrated way, from the customer interface for ordering personalized products, over planning and robotic logistics, fully automated and interactive work-cells. In this context I will present the goals and current results of the DLR Factory of the Future project. Here, advanced mechatronics meets the newest AI developments.