SBIR Phase II: Development of Intelligent Materials Handling Systems and Software

协作运动控制公司的这个小型企业创新研究二期项目将导致智能材料处理系统的发展，这种系统可以补充使用它们的人类工人的身体和感官能力。这项技术将把机器人控制的各个方面，特别是与计算机的接口，引入到广泛使用的“手动辅助设备”中，到目前为止，这种设备几乎完全是机械的。在第一阶段研究成果的部分基础上，协同运动控制公司正在与物料处理行业的一家主要制造商建立产品开发关系。由此产生的顶轨辅助装置将提供简单有效的动力辅助，并提供符合人体工程学和生产力的好处。然而，这些设备将不提供任务级可编程性。第二阶段的研究将为新型辅助设备增加任务级别的可编程性。核心机器人组件将进一步开发，并将使虚拟导向表面的实现成为可能。商业应用包括汽车装配、纺织厂、食品和饮料行业，以及许多其他材料处理行业，在这些行业中，人类工人是必不可少的，但需要物理协助和计算机接口。

This Small Business Innovatione Research Phase II project from Collaborative Motion Control, Inc. will result in the development of Intelligent Materials Handling systems of a type that complements the physical and sensory capabilities of the human workers who use them. This technology will bring aspects of robotic control, particularly the interface to computers, to the widely used "manual assist devices" which until now have been almost exclusively mechanical. Building in part on Phase I research results, Collaborative Motion Control is entering into a product development relationship with a major manufacturer in the materials handling industry. The resulting overhead-rail assist devices will offer simple and effective power-assist and provide ergonomic and productivity benefits. However these devices will not offer task-level programmability. Phase II research will add task-level programmability to the new class of assist devices. Core cobotic components will be further developed and will make possible the implementation of virtual guiding surfaces. Commercial applications include automobile assembly, textile mills, food and beverage industry, and the many other segments of the materials handling industry in which human workers are essential, yet physical assistance and computer interface are needed.