A Collaborative Robot-Assisted Manufacturing Assembly Process

Abstract

An effective human-robot collaborative process results in the reduction of the operator's workload, promoting a more efficient, productive, safer and less error-prone working environment. However, the implementation of collaborative robots in industry is still challenging. In this work, we compare manual and robot-assisted assembly processes to evaluate the effectiveness of collaborative robots while featuring different modes of operation (coexistence, cooperation and collaboration). Results indicate an improvement in ergonomic conditions and ease of execution without substantially compromising assembly time. Furthermore, the robot is intuitive to use and guides the user on the proper sequencing of the process.