In recent years we have attended the arrival of new concepts that are redefining automation in today’s industry. These concepts will lead to even more changes in the near future. The combination of intelligence and artificial vision, mobile and collaborative robotics are the key to this new industry that is being forged.
There has been much talk about the connected industry and how the introduction of new technologies is enabling improvements in productivity and efficiency. Autonomous robotics is allowing greater flexibility when reconfiguring lines, since it does not need infrastructure (such as cables or magnets) to follow a fixed path. This is the case of new autonomous AGVs, capable of moving intelligently through a plant using scanners to map the area and thus move freely.
Open source software is also introducing into the industrial world, in which ROS, and even open hardware, stands out in the field of robotics. This trend, based on community development, allows us to move forward more quickly and share experiences on a global level.
In the field of collaborative robotics, we will soon see its maximum potential, since it allows to take advantage of the repetitiveness of a robot and the flexibility that a human being provides. This advance is translated into an unprecedented optimization in which new human-robot interfaces will be added and this will allow communication between them in a natural way for humans, through gestures, voice and augmented reality.
In collaborative robotics new human-robot interfaces will be added to allow an effective and safe communication through gestures, voice and augmented reality
For all this, we can say that robotics is at a time when new possibilities are already glimpsed, but that will surely exceed all our expectations. It is for this reason that Sharework emerges as a strategic project for reaching the next level in the field of Human Robot collaboration.
The project will develop a software and hardware modular system capable of understanding the environment and human actions through knowledge and sensors, future state predictions, smart data processing, augmented reality and gesture and speech recognition technology in order to make the robot overcome human barriers and ensure a more effective cooperation.
Sharework emerges as a strategic project for reaching the next level in the field of Human Robot Collaboration
The technology developed during the project will be demonstrated in applications for the railway, automotive, metal and capital goods, key industries in which the adoption of collaborative robotics’ solutions are needed for increasing productivity, reducing human stress and supporting workers, that will ultimately contribute to strengthen the European industry.
PEPA SEDÓ, Eurecat’s Robotics and Automation Unit Director
