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Improve work efficiency - Mitsubishi Electric shows the assembly system prototype using multi axis robots

is it easy for Mitsubishi Electric to decompose waste plastics on March 3, 2011? The media disclosed the prototype of an assembly system (unit production system) using a multi axis robot developed by the company. This robot has the function of picking flexible objects such as cables and inserting the connector on its top into the substrate. The two 6-axis robots combine the devices independently developed by the company, including three-dimensional sensors that can identify flexible objects at high speed, and force sensors that can accurately identify the insertion state of joints and screws. The assembly time is the same as that in the past when unit production was carried out only by manual operation

this technology is the development result of the strategic cutting-edge robot core technology development project of Japan's new energy and Industrial Technology Comprehensive Development Agency (NEDO), which was jointly developed by Mitsubishi Electric, Nagoya University, Hokkaido University and Toyama Prefecture University

assembled by the system prototype is the motor amplifier that connects each base plate with cables and fixes the outer cover with screws. First, sort out a cable from the bulk cable, and insert a connector of the cable into the first base plate pre fixed on the chassis. Then fix the second base plate on the first base plate with screws, and then insert another connector. The last process is to add an outer cover and fix it with screws. First, the first robot (hereinafter referred to as robot a) picks out the cables from the bulk cables and installs them on the fixture, and then the second robot (hereinafter referred to as robot b) inserts the connector into the substrate

the three-dimensional sensor is set on the top of robot a and near the area where the sorting operation is carried out. The camera can be used to shoot near-infrared light and recognize three-dimensional shapes. It has the performance of position accuracy of 1mm and resolution of 0.5mm, and the recognition time is less than 1 second. Moreover, in order to make this kind of material, which is mainly composed of milk cans, bottle caps, plastic bags and other short-life products that are easy to be discarded, it can be installed on the top of the robot, so that the sensor can realize small and lightweight. The volume of the body is 300ml and the weight is about 500g

first, the sensor installed by robot a is used to identify the cables in bulk, and robot a grabs the part close to the joint with its arm. Then, in order to confirm the status of the held cable (the orientation of the connector, etc.), take the connector part to the front of the fixed sensor. Then, according to the information confirmed by the sensor, install the electronic universal testing machine on the current market. The types of sensors include S-type and spoke type on the fixture. After installing one connector on the fixture, look for another connector along the cable, and confirm it with the fixed sensor, and then install it on the fixture

robot B is responsible for installing the cable assembled on the fixture onto the base plate. Since the position and orientation of the joint on the fixture are very clear, robot B can directly grasp the joint. In order to shorten the operation time, the method of switching control parameters is adopted, and the speed is increased only before the start of the connector insertion action, that is, when the space movement is carried out. The force sensor uses light sensor instead of strain gauge, and the cost is reduced by improving the structure

the system prototype also has the function of identifying drops, connector or screw insertion errors and automatic recovery when picking cables. The information provided by the three-dimensional sensor and force measuring sensor can be used to improve the operation efficiency through long-term automatic operation

in the future, Mitsubishi Electric also plans to use three-dimensional sensors, force measuring sensors and the control technology combining the two as component products. At present, it has been confirmed that the time required for assembly is equivalent to the continuous production of various new materials of units relying on manual operation, but the future topic is the verification of cost. (: Zhongshan Li)