Flexible sensor concept and an efficient integrated sensing controlling for an efficient human-robot collaboration using 3D local global sensing systems

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Aquib Rashid - , Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Ibrahim Alnaser - , Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Mohamad Bdiwi - , Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)
  • Steffen Ihlenfeldt - , Chair of Machine Tools Development and Adaptive Controls, Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Author)

Abstract

Human-robot collaboration with traditional industrial robots is a cardinal step towards agile manufacturing and re-manufacturing processes. These processes require constant human presence, which results in lower operational efficiency based on current industrial collision avoidance systems. The work proposes a novel local and global sensing framework, which discusses a flexible sensor concept comprising a single 2D or 3D LiDAR while formulating occlusion due to the robot body. Moreover, this work extends the previous local global sensing methodology to incorporate local (co-moving) 3D sensors on the robot body. The local 3D camera faces toward the robot occlusion area, resulted from the robot body in front of a single global 3D LiDAR. Apart from the sensor concept, this work also proposes an efficient method to estimate sensitivity and reactivity of sensing and control sub-systems The proposed methodologies are tested with a heavy-duty industrial robot along with a 3D LiDAR and camera. The integrated local global sensing methods allow high robot speeds resulting in process efficiency while ensuring human safety and sensor flexibility.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1028411
JournalFrontiers in robotics and AI
Volume10
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • collision avoidance, distance sensors, human–robot collaboration, intrusion distance, sensor concept