Robotic automation for smart manufacturing processes

随着工业4.0的到来，工业机器人成为先进制造业的关键要素。它们提供了空间灵活性，长距离，多自由度以及以低成本快速完成重复性任务的能力。航运、汽车、航空航天、石油和天然气等制造业已经开始使用机器人装卸、交付和组装零件。通过与计算机数控机器和人类合作，机器人可以提高制造和装配的效率。此次与GN公司（GNC）合作的目标是开发一个智能机器人平台，以自动化制造过程，用镁圆柱体和钻孔部件粘合和组装陶瓷部件。创新之处在于开发机器人最佳刀具路径生成、电机控制、基于人工智能的机器视觉检测、传感系统和钻孔颤振稳定性的技术。第一个潜在的成果将是一个最佳的轨迹生成算法，以尽量减少机器人的残余振动与足够的速度。第二个潜在的成果将是一个气动装配系统，设计使用力传感器的组装。第三个潜在成果将是机器视觉算法固有的深度学习技术，用于零件对准和检测。最后的结果将是最佳的加工参数，以避免钻削颤振。该项目将培训HQP在机器人，制造和机电一体化加拿大的未来产业。这一目标可以通过技术开发、与GNC的密切互动以及技术转让来实现。该项目的完整性将有助于探索未来的商业化路径。拟议研究的技术转让将加速阿尔伯塔和加拿大制造业的自动化，有效利用人力并提高产出。

With the advent of Industry 4.0, industrial robots are the critical elements of advanced manufacturing. They provide the benefits of space flexibility, long reach, multiple degrees of freedom, and the ability to quickly complete repetitive tasks at a low cost. Manufacturing industries for shipping, automotive, aerospace, and oil and gas have begun to use robots to load and unload, deliver, and assemble parts. By collaborating with Computer Numerical Control machines and humans, robots can improve efficiency in manufacturing and assembling. The goal of this partnership with GN Corporation (GNC) is the development of a smart robotic platform to automate manufacturing processes for gluing and assembling ceramic components with magnesium cylinders and drilling parts. The novelties lie in technologies to develop a robot's optimal tool path generations, motor control, artificial intelligence-based machine vision inspection, sensory system, and drilling chatter stability. The first potential outcome will be an optimal trajectory generation algorithm to minimize the robot's residual vibration with a sufficient speed. The second potential outcome will be a pneumatic assembly system designed by using a force sensor for the assembly. The third potential outcome will be machine vision algorithm inherent deep learning technology for part alignment and inspection. The last outcome will be optimal machining parameters to avoid drilling chatter. This project will train HQP in robotics, manufacturing, and mechatronics for Canada's future industries. The goal can be achieved through the efforts of technology development, close interactions with GNC, and technology transfers. The completeness of this project will help explore future commercialization paths. The technology transfer of the proposed research will accelerate automation in manufacturing industries in Alberta and Canada, making efficient use of manpower and improving output.