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Reconfigurable handling system

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Abstract

The demand for more versatile assembly and handling systems to facilitate customized production is gaining in importance, especially with regard to the constantly-increasing cost pressure, to expansion of the range of product versions and the shortening of innovation cycles. As a cost-effective approach for frequently changing assembly tasks, a novel manipulation concept has been developed by combining given robot technologies. This new handling system has a modular and adaptable layout, which consists of several mobile arms to manipulate the object in six-dimensional Cartesian space. After grasping, when the arms are attached to the object, the mechanical architecture is similar to parallel manipulators or cooperating robots. As the mounting and gripping points of the arms can easily be changed, the manipulator can be reconfigured so as to match the user’s preferences and needs. In addition to the kinematic adaption the regarding task, the hardware and new functions can be reconfigured as well. Contact elements, measurement and assembly devices as well as testing modules can easily be in integrated in the concept. A modular automatic control concept combined with a self-optimizing planning tool helps the user to find the optimal configuration and realize it in an economic way.

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Acknowledgments

As parts of this work are within the scope of the excellence cluster “Integrative Production Technology for high-wage Countries (EXC 128)”, the authors thank the German Research Foundation for its support. This project is part of the sub-category “ICD D-3.2: Flexible Assembly Systems for Selfoptimising Automation” and is realized at RWTH Aachen Technical University in Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), Chair of Assembly Systems, RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 19, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Rainer Müller, Martin Esser, Markus Janßen & Matthias Vette

  2. Department of Mechanism Theory and Dynamics of Machines (IGM), RWTH Aachen University, Eilfschornsteinstraße 18, 52062, Aachen, Germany

    Burkhard Corves, Mathias Hüsing & Martin Riedel

Authors
  1. Rainer Müller
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  2. Martin Esser
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  3. Markus Janßen
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  4. Matthias Vette
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  5. Burkhard Corves
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  6. Mathias Hüsing
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  7. Martin Riedel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Vette.

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Müller, R., Esser, M., Janßen, M. et al. Reconfigurable handling system. Prod. Eng. Res. Devel. 5, 453–461 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-011-0321-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-011-0321-2

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