Collaborative Robots Applications

Abstract

Collaborative robots are a key element to achieve manufacturing competitiveness and flexibility, especially if they are able to interact and collaborate with humans in a shared workspace. The paradigm for robot usage has changed from an idea in which robots work in a repetitive and automated mode to a scenario in which robots collaborate with humans. This means taking the best of each partner, human and robot, by exploring the cognitive and dexterity capabilities of humans (focus on value-added tasks) and the capacity of robots to produce repetitive work and provide assistance. Humans should be able to cognitively and physically interact with robots using gestures, touch commands and task demonstration. Robots should be able to navigate autonomously on the factory floor to pick up the required parts and tools and prepare kits.

Topics

  • Human-robot collaboration/interaction

  • Physical human-robot interaction

  • Cognitive human-robot interaction

  • Robot autonomy

  • Human/obstacle-robot Collision avoidance

  • Human-robot interfaces for fast robot system setup

  • Grasping

  • Assembly and precision assembly

  • Robot navigation

  • New robot applications in advanced manufacturing

Organizers

  • Pedro Neto, UCoimbra, Portugal

  • José Lima, CeDRI-IPB/INESC TEC, Portugal