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2005
Conference Paper
Titel
Automation and robotics
Abstract
Increasingly complex products, processes and shorter product service lives place considerable demands on the flexibility, availability and cost-efficiency of automation solutions. Automation means the execution of automatic operations which are controlled by program commands; measurements are taken automatically during thesse processes, feed back is given and decisions are then made. At the present time, the following development is being observed in the field of automation: methods and knowledge from upstream and adjacent discilpines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, material science, biology and information technology are being integrated more and more frequently. The reason for this is that, in contrast with the above, automated systems utilize all of these disciplines as a basis for their applications. Robotics is considered as a key technology both for future productions and for intelligent products in all spheres of life. With many products, lot sizes are decreasing and the number of variants is rising. Individual customer desires considerably extend requirements associated with the production of quality and the flexibility of future manufacturing technologies. As a result, the factorus of time and cost (associated with the construction or adaptation of production plants for cost-efficient manufacturing) carry considerable weight. Sequence programs and robot trajectories are generated automatically either by CAD systems or product and process data bases. In the near future, through the application of adapted automation solutions, the productivity of a robot will be coupled with the flexibility of man - e.g. in an assembly cell. What it new with this so-called assistance system in industry is that there will be "man/robot" work areas which will be used mutually and tools will exist that will be also utilized by both. Subsequently, there will be an increase in utilization and process flexibility. Manufacturing processes (welding, bonding, reforming, grinding, milling,etc.) need to be carried out in a controlled way with regard to quality. This can be achieved by implementing "in-situ" metrology which, due to work piece miniaturization, must meet additional precision requirements. Service robots for use in the home, for leisure purposes and in fields of entertainment are capable of carrying out an increasing number of functions and improve their functionality and attractive appearance form one generation to the next. Assistance systems are intended to give our aging society more independence, comfort and security. Optimistic visions have been developed which pave the way for robotics to develop robots and which forecast mass markets. Since the start of the 70's, the Fraunhofer IPA has been considered as being a leading R&D partner in robotics and automation. Our current competencies and activities should be seen as being technological platforms for furher guidng robot developments.