A Smart and Flexible Automation System for High Value Cake Manufacturing

该项目的目的是调查、研究和开发一种新的智能和灵活的蛋糕及其零部件和装饰品的物料搬运自动化系统。该系统将包括各种传感器、软件算法和机电一体化硬件，以创造更高效和一致的自主生产方式。该项目中的一个主要挑战将是创造一种新的处理和操纵系统，该系统将能够应对蛋糕糖衣和装饰材料的困难属性。这些可能是软的、粘性的、易碎的和软软的，所有这些特征对于自动机械手系统来说是非常困难的。这个项目的最初好处将是(A)蛋糕制造公司，因为该项目将提高其效率，降低其成本，并增加其盈利能力，(B)大学，它将扩大其在该领域的知识和专业知识，能够提供知识交流，并为两名研究人员提供就业和经验，以及(C)为英国的另一个工业伙伴提供一个机会，以增强其经验和知识，同时为任务的成功贡献其现有的专业知识。从操纵难以处理的材料的系统设计中获得的知识将进一步惠及整个英国工业。这一知识不仅在食品行业，而且在服装制造等领域都应该具有普遍适用性。开发的系统将是模块化的，这样设计的元素，如硬件、软件和传感，将被一系列公司使用。

The aim of the project is to investigate, research, and develop a new smart and flexible material handling automation system for cakes, their components and decorations. This system will comprise various sensors, software algorithms, and mechatronic hardware in order to create a more efficient and consistent autonomous production method. A major challenge within the project will be the creation of a novel handling and manipulation system that will be able to cope with the difficult attributes of the cake icing and decorative materials. These can be soft, sticky, brittle, and floppy, all of these characteristics are very difficult for automated manipulator systems to handle.The initial benefits of this project will be to (a) the cake manufacturing company in that the project will increase its efficiency, reduce its costs, and increase its profitability, (b) the University in that it will expand its knowledge and expertise in this field, be able to provide knowledge exchange, and provide employment and experience for two researchers, and (c) provide the other UK industrial partner with an opportunity to enhance its experience and knowledge while contributing its existing expertise to the success of the task.Further benefits to UK industry in general will result from the knowledge gained from the design of the system to manipulate the difficult to handle materials. This knowledge should have general applicability not only in the food industry but also in areas such as clothing manufacture. The developed system will be modular such that elements of the design, e.g. hardware, software, and sensing, will be useable by a range of companies.