EUROPEAN ROBOTICS CHALLENGES HAS KNOWN ULMA AND IK4-TEKNIKER AS THE FIRST FINALIST IN THE COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT PROJECT
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ULMA Handling Systems collaborates with IK4-TEKNIKER (research center) in order to achieve human-machine collaborative environment in the new revolution INDUSTRY 4.0 which is focused on eliminating fences in the workplace. The project has been chosen as the best by EUROC among the 5 finalists from the 15 participants.
ULMA Handling Systems and IK4-TEKNIKER are collaborating on a human-machine project with INDUSTRY 4.0 seal in EUROC (European Robotics Challenges), where they have been proclaimed as finalist with the best consortium (RSAII) to develop “FLECOOP“ project: “Flexible robotized unitary picking in collaborative environments for order preparation or picking in Distribution Centers“. Recognized companies, such as Airbus and Peugeot Citroen are among the five companies that have been named as finalists along with ULMA-IK4-TEKNIKER.
Currently all of them are immersed in the second phase of the program and two of the projects will continue with the third and last phase, where they will have to develop physically the proposed prototype, being proclaimed the best project in December 2016.
The challenge is getting an automatic unitary picking prototype in person-machine collaborative environment for order preparation in Distribution Centers. Nowadays the 90% of the orders are prepared by warehouse staff, which is a strenuous and monotonous task and it does not add value to the product.
The main idea is to provide a hybrid order picking approach, in which robots and humans share the same working space, combining high automation, monitoring the working area and guaranteeing safety. The detection of objects that manipulates the robot is performed by 2D and 3D visions, allowing automatic handling for pick & place operations.
The project will allow evaluating the viability, acceptance and efficiency of this new working concept, human-machine collaborative environment without physical fences. So there will be an error and cost reduction in the picking process, space reduction compared to traditional robotic solutions, working conditions improvement, etc.