After more than two years of R&D, thes demonstratorfinalized finalizeds of the ColRobot project for theaerospace industry, for Thales Alenia Space, and automotive, for Renault, were unveiled in January 2019. Cedemonstrators demonstratorrobotic roboticss will to bring flexibility, safety, mobility, and interactivity to operators in the factory of the future.
A €4 million European project involving 11 partners and coordinated by Arts et Métiers, ColRobot combines the latest European technological innovations in robotics in the fields of assembly processes in the automotive and aerospace industries to create an integrated collaborative mobile robotics system.
Arts et Métiers, a leading technology institution that trains engineers for the industry of the future, has put the expertise of its researchers and students in robotics at the service of this ambitious European project for the factory of the future.
Applications for the automotive and aerospace industries.
Competitiveness in the automotive and aerospace sectors depends largely on productivity, flexibility, and agility in responding to market demands. Robots are a key element in meeting this competitive need, particularly if they are able to collaborate with humans in a shared workspace. To this end, ColRobot aims to become the manufacturing assistant of the future that will transform automotive and satellite assembly operations by integrating a number of detection systems and machine learning-based software into two fully functional collaborative robotic systems, consisting of a robotic arm mounted on a mobile platform. ColRobot is developing a robotic system that is:
- Flexible for autonomous preparation of screw kits, screwing, assembly, and operator assistance for mounting;
- Safe, to enable the robot to work alongside humans in the factory;
- Mobile, to enable the robot to move between the spare parts warehouse and the workstation according to manufacturing requirements;
- Interactive, using sensors that measure muscle activity, enabling cooperation with humans through the recognition of intuitive and natural gestures, as well as touch and/or voice commands.
First cobot integrated into clean room at Thalès Alénia Space
Two years of research and development were required to integrate a collaborative mobile robot into the satellite clean room at Thales Alénia Space (Cannes site). In collaboration with the CITC, AKEO+, the University of Coimbra, and Technaid, Arts et Métiers its expertise in the in-depth analysis of human-robot interaction and the integration of part-handling technologies and cobot mobility management at a high level of industrial maturity. The manufacturing processes and risks associated with robotic interaction were also analyzed in detail to inform the design of robotic prototypes, in order to avoid any risk to operators working with or alongside the robot. ColRobot provides a comprehensive definition of requirements for industrial aerospace use cases where robots are operated.A mobile robot assists operators in the meticulous and tedious work of preparing screw kits. The robot also acts as a "third hand" by providing the operator with kits, tools, and parts. It also holds "heavy" parts while the operator assembles them on the satellite.
The Renault demonstrator unveiled at the end of January in Porto
Unveiled on January 22 in Porto, Portugal, the cobot designed for the automotive industry, particularly for Renault, offers numerous advantages by helping to reduce or even eliminate repetitive and non-ergonomic operations, particularly during assembly.Capable of entering and moving around a utility vehicle on its own, the ColRobot performs assembly tasks (screwing, tightening) with a high degree of precision. ColRobot has demonstrated its ability to perform screwing operations considered non-ergonomic for operators at a cycle time suitable for an automotive production line. Easy to program and implement, this cobot allows operators to focus on other activities such as quality control. According to Olivier Gibaru, ColRobot project coordinator and university professor at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille: "ColRobot will improve working conditions for operators in factories, making them more competitive. We have reached the final demonstration phase of the project with a high level of industrial maturity and are eager to continue integrating our technologies so that the factories of tomorrow can benefit from the flexibility, agility, and safety offered by these cobots."
Discover the mobile and collaborative robotic demonstrators developed as part of the European project on Thursday, March 14, at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille.
Registration required
From 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Arts et Métiers Campus Arts et Métiers Lille
8, boulevard Louis XIV
59000 Lille
