Setting up complex automation systems requires an intelligent combination of several different hardware and software components. Although research and development manage to achieve a constant improvement of the available components in several segments, the heterogeneity of the solutions as well as the missing standard restrain a simple cost-effective overall solution. This is especially the case for service robotics and adaptive production lines. Ideally, service robots should be easily integrated in new environments and should be able to handle new tasks autonomously whereas a fast process changeover should be possible for production lines.
In this project a standardizable software-architecture is being developed. It is based on intelligent mechanisms for the dynamic integration of different components. This infrastructure should enable the programming and operation of automation systems in dynamic alterable application fields in a highly autonomous manner. Enabling plug and play in this application field is therefore the main goal of the project. Plug and play in this context involves the autonomous integration of components such as processors, sensors, actuators as well as the integration of software modules that implement the functionality of automation systems. As a result, the systems are more flexible and changeable, which enables a better adaptability to changes in production workflows and requirements or modules and their capabilities. To allow for fast construction and adjustments of complex automation systems, appropriate tools are being developed.
To evaluate the concepts and tools and show the feasibility of the approach, the setup of two demonstrators is planned. The first demonstrator will be a service robot for house cleaning and home automation. Tasks of the robot will include for example cleaning of offices, waste disposal, setting up of a table and many more.
The second demonstrator will be an alterable factory. The production line should be able to autonomously adapt to changes like adding new components or failure of components. It should demonstrate the flexibility of the system and enable the automated production of product variations reducing the need for manual configuration / reconfiguration of the system and thus cut down on process changeover time.
The three main areas we are working on at fortiss are:
June 2011 - May 2014
fortiss GmbH - An-Institut der Technischen Universität München
Guerickestraße 25 | 80805 München | Deutschland
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