Highlights at the trade fair automatica 2023
The RM Institute will be demonstrating the concept of the Flexible Production Network (FPN), which consists of several variable workstations, at the automatica trade fair from 27 to 30 June 2023. This year's focus of the institute is the project "Factory of the Future - Extended" (FoF-X), as part of DLR's cross-programme initiative for the use of intelligent robot systems in the digitalised production of the future.
The solution approach developed consists of reconfigurable robot systems, human-robot collaboration, the autonomous execution of production processes, and digital images of systems and products that allow intelligent and flexible control. This principle has been confirmed as trend-setting in recent years and is currently being further developed by seven DLR institutes.
The DLR robot arm SARA is the central element of the modular stations. Depending on the requirements, the system can configure itself independently with regard to the position of the components and the appropriate tools. Difficult assembly tasks can be programmed skill-based or intuitively by demonstration thanks to the special force sensors and control of the robot arm. The execution succeeds sensitively, quickly and precisely. In addition, the autonomous and mobile system AIMM takes care of the logistics between the stations and demonstrates its ability to independently solve even complex handling tasks.
In this way, DLR is using its many years of experience in collaborative, sensitive and adaptable robotics to further strengthen Germany's leading role as a technology location, both in research and in international competition.
Furthermore, the institute is showing, among other things, the humanoid robot Agile Justin as a demonstrator for learning-based dexterous manipulation with multi-fingered hands. For example, it uses a combined planning of in-hand manipulation and full-body movements to efficiently solve pick-and-place tasks.
The German Aerospace Center stands for successful technology transfer, which is driven and promoted in particular by spin-offs of start-ups. The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics plays a key role here, producing a new company almost every year and transferring newly developed technologies from research to industry. This is also the case with the company Leverage Robotics, which has developed a solution approach to make the production of the future more flexible and efficient through the use of lightweight robots. To this end, they are developing highly flexible and intelligent plug & produce robot cells for fast set-up times in multitasking applications. The trade fair automatica is the largest automation trade fair in Europe and will take place from 27 to 30 June 2023 at Messe München. The Institute's stand can be found in Hall B4 at stand number 320.