Smart Assembly 4.0
Research Project, 2016 – 2021

The objective of the project “Smart Assembly 4.0” is to realize the idea of the autonomous, self-optimizing robotized assembly factory, which maximizes quality and throughput, maintaining flexibility and reducing cost, by a sensing, thinking and acting strategy.

The main result will be the “Smart Assembly 4.0” system software for sorting and self-adjusting equipment which improves quality without tightening tolerances.

The concept uses information about individual parts (sensing) to select the best combination, to optimize (thinking) and to adjust locators, clamps, welds, sequences and robot paths (acting).

The smart system uses product and process knowledge in an interlinked approach where the conditions for each individual product are optimized to reach highest quality with a limited resource consumption.

The result will be demonstrated with a virtual assembly line from the automotive industry, but the result is general and can be adapted to many manufacturing companies.

To reach the goal, expertise in machine learning, control theory, geometry assurance, path planning, automation and scanning are combined. Methods and algorithms need to be developed within each disciplines in (WP1) Scanning, Geometry Data Capture and Analysis, (WP2) Geometry Assurance of Complex Assembled Products, (WP3) Automatic Robot Programming and Equipment Utilization, (WP4) Learning and Adaption, and as well tightly integrated on a system level in (WP0) System Level and Demonstrator.

Participants