Cooperative robotics powered by AI and data for flexible production cells

The high-mix low-volume (HMLV) market scenario requires constant changes in jobs, materials and machines. This implies the need to build highly flexible and intelligent manufacturing environments, that allow a fast adaption of processes and systems to changing conditions, assuring high product quality with lower production costs and energy consumption. This urges manufacturing industries to re-define their production processes for competitiveness and sustainability. Most of the manufactured components have joints, so welding technologies are identified at European level as key enabling technologies for the development of innovative and sustainable manufacturing processes. Among welding technologies, arc-based accounted for 36% of the total in 2020, highlighting its relevance for major European industries.

Traditionally robots have been used in mass production industries performing repetitive tasks at acceptable cost and quality levels, sacrificing flexibility for productivity. The cooperation of multiple robots powered with IA and Data technologies offers new operational capabilities in terms of manoeuvrability and manipulability in several industrial processes. COROB proposes the development of a smart cooperative multi-robotic system for flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing to cover HMLV industrial production needs in the current technological context of Industry 5.0. The system will be human-centered and will integrate advancements in robotics, inspection, monitoring, control and AI developed by consortium partners and 15 external third parties through an Open call. The flexible solution will be validated in 2 semi-industrial pilots for automotive sector (Multi-robot cooperative arc welding) and toolmaking industry (Multi-robot cooperative WAAM (wire arc additive manufacturing) for repairing). It will contribute to resilience, resource saving, circular economy, cost savings and digital supply chain, fostering European industrial competitiveness.