CRAFT; Cross sectoral Robotic Applications For productivity Transformation

该项目将在适应性强、可重构的机器人和支持数字制造技术方面进行创新，以在小批量生产中制造和组装一系列产品的过程中实现生产率的阶段性变化。它将侧重于建筑产品制造，但结果也将适用于其他制造业。到目前为止，机器人还没有在这些环境中使用，因为不可能在不同的产品运行之间轻松地重新配置它们，导致利用率低，阻碍了证明自动化投资所需的生产率提高。然而，最近机器人技术的进步意味着创新的时机已经成熟。机器人必须具有适应性，并与数字设计和管理能力相关联，以实现重新配置，重新设计制造流程/供应链，以优化整体生产力。因此，该项目将开发一种可重构的机器人解决方案，用于建筑产品的制造和装配，并与数字建筑信息模型（BIM）相关联。作为一个用例，它将采用钢铁制造和机电（M&E）设备的供应链，其中零件是工厂制造的，然后在临时“飞行工厂”的建筑工地附近组装。成功实施将导致供应链生产力提高30%。它将为英国公司（包括中小企业）创造一个新的市场，为建筑提供机器人和相关的数字解决方案。该项目解决方案将适用于更广泛的制造部门，其中以低批量生产多种产品类型的能力是关键。

The project will innovate in adaptable, reconfigurable robotic and supporting digital manufacturing technology to deliver a step change in productivity in processes that manufacture & assemble a range of products in small production lots. It will focus on construction product manufacture but outcomes will also be applicable to other manufacturing sectors. Robots have not, to date, been used in these contexts as it has not been possible to easily reconfigure them between different product runs leading to low utilisation, preventing the productivity gains needed to justify investment in automation. However, recent advances in robotics mean that the time is ripe for innovation. Robots must be adaptable and linked to digital design & management capabilities to enable reconfiguration, with manufacturing processes/supply chains reengineered to optimise overall productivity. The project will therefore develop a reconfigurable robotic solution for construction product manufacture and assembly that links to digital Building Information Modelling (BIM). As a use case it will take supply chains for steel fabrication, and mechanical and electrical (M&E) equipment in which parts are factory-manufactured, then assembled near to a construction site in a temporary ‘flying factory’. Successful implementation will lead to a 30% improvement in supply chain productivity. It will create a new market for UK companies (including an SME) providing robotic and related digital solutions for construction. The project solution will be applicable to wider manufacturing sectors where the ability to manufacture multiple product types in low lot sizes is key.