Robotics & Automation
The research area
Robotics and automation engineering enable the autonomous operation of machines and facilities. Thus, research in robotics and automation engineering helps reducing the negative impact that monotonous and health damaging tasks have on humans, and contributes to a reduction of energy consumption and an increase in cost effectiveness of industrial processes.
The focus of the robotics and automation engineering research area is on developing sophisticated applications that exceed today's industrial standard. In an interdisciplinary team, experienced and innovative engineers focus on developing tools for intuitive human-machine interaction that meet all necessary safety requirements. This allows for their research to be used not only in an industrial environment, but also in different areas of everyday life.
Focus of the research area
- Use of industrial robots in production and automation
- Assisting and service robots
- Autonomous systems
- Design and programming of (fail safe) controls and visualisations
- Control and regulation of electrical actuators with SPS
- Decentralised automation solutions and communication with different bus systems
Projects in Robotics & Automation
Robo-Mate: Intelligent, flexible exoskeleton
The goal of Robo-Mate is to develop a user-friendly intelligent cooperative light weight wearable human-robotic exoskeleton for manual handling work in order to reduce musculoskeletal diseases in industrial environments. More information
EcoStrippAir: Aircraft Surface Paint Removal System
The ECOSTIPPAIR project is developing an ecological aircraft maintenance system, which will be able to strip various painted/coated surfaces off planes efficiently and gently, without the use of chemicals. The process is up to 85% fully automated. In this way harsh working conditions, which could cause work-related diseases, are avoided over the long term and costly damage to the surface of the aeroplane are avoided. More information
ECHORD: Human-robot collaboration in airplane assembly
Within the framework of the European Project ECHORD, the experiment JILAS (Jig-Less Airplane Assembly in low volume production by enhanced human robot interaction) was performed at the IMS. The research about cooperation of human worker and industrial robot in an airplane fuselage components assembly task was at the core of the project. More information
ARFLEX: Open robot control concept
In the EU project ARFLEX (Adaptive Robots for Flexible Manufacturing Systems), the IMS supported its industry and research partners in the development of a new and open robot control concept. The aim of the new control concept was to simplify the integration of intelligent sensors in robot applications. More information
Micro Delta: Fast and highly precise robot system
The Micro Delta project aimed at developing a fast and highly precise robot system. The robot was designed to significantly outperform the precision and speed of current systems and to be cost-effective at the same time. More information
RAAS: Robot-based assistance system for welding processes
The robot assisted assembly system RAAS was developed to alleviate the assembly of parts that need to be welded together. In this system, the assistant robot grips and positions the parts that need to be connected, afterwards the welds are applied by an experienced welder. More information