Low Cost Automation in everyday teaching

Control robots with gloves and gestures

HTBLuVA Salzburg

Students from the Higher Technical Federal Teaching and Research Institute (HTBLuVA) in Salzburg have implemented what sounds like science fiction as part of their diploma thesis. They developed a mobile robot system with a gripping hand that can be intuitively controlled with gestures. This is enabled by a glove that uses sensors to translate the user's gestures into movements for the robot and its gripper. This allows handling tasks to be carried out remotely with the robot. This prototype for teleoperations shows how such a system can be implemented. For the control system, students rely on a PLC from B&R. A robolink from igus^® serves as a robot arm.

(German video)

Workshops and training

Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women

Automation is a global issue, which is why robotics is also taught at Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women in Bhimavaram (India) with several Robolink^® robot arms. igus^® Robot Control received particular praise. It was used, among other things, to program pick-and-place solutions. Finally, an LDR (light-dependent resistor) was integrated, which recognises colours. This formed the basis for further product sorting.

Robot update for apprentices

Rüti vocational school, Switzerland

The Rüti vocational school has replaced its ageing robots with modern technology. Seven robolink DPs, two of which have a linear axis, are now in use in the training laboratory. The students learn, for example, how to use robots to stock a CNC machine and automate the transport of parts through pick-and-place processes. 

Double articulated arm robots

KIT Karlsruhe

As part of a research project, it was examined how two robots can increase the speed of a process on the one hand and how the forces of two robots can be combined to generate a short-term increase in force. Particular attention had to be paid to the synchronous design of the robots.
Work was carried out with two robolink® RL-DP 5, which were able to handle more complex tasks by "working together" and are significantly more cost-effective compared to a similarly powerful industrial robot.

NimbRo-OP2 X humanoid education and research robot

University of Bonn

In cooperation with the University of Bonn and Automated Intelligent Systems, a humanoid open-source robot was developed in 2014.
The robot developed for educational and research purposes is based on ROS.
The robot celebrated great successes at RoboCup, winning the first RoboCup Design Award in 2015, and winning in several categories in 2016 and 2017. It was also awarded the first International Harting Open Source Prize in 2016. All individual parts of the robot were produced by igus® using a 3D printer.

(German video)

automated 3D F.I.A.R.

FH Bielefeld

An exceptional bachelor's thesis was implemented at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences with the help of an igus® robolink^® RL-DP.
An automated 3D Four In A Row. After a lot of planning, craftwork and programming, the first draft was ready. A lot of testing and revisions had to be done before it worked properly. 
The robot was equipped with a suction gripper and brings the gaming pieces into the correct position.

Industry 4.0 demonstrator

A model factory developed by FH Aachen

An igus^® room linear robot was selected for the application to ensure practical implementation and an industry-relevant training process. An open-source web shop solution was used for data management and business process diagram. A suitable adapter and a service expansion gave rise to an Industry 4.0-compatible application that implements the entire process: from storage, to ordering, to financial services, to production so that it can accommodate multiple clients. Only proven protocols are used for communication. Hierarchical communication was implemented at the production level as well. It distinguishes between real time and non-real time and meets the relevant IT security standards.

VW Golf production simulation

Model factory (scale: 1:18)

In the Volkswagen AG training workshop in Wolfsburg, trainees from various departments work on a VW Golf vehicle delivery simulation at a 1:18 scale. 

The “Smart Factory”, which consists of twelve individual stations, has two production lines running in parallel. Golf production is simulated, starting at the press plant, then passing through body construction, paint shop, marriage, assembly, and vehicle delivery.

The guides were constructed with drylin® WR10 pillow blocks which run on individual WS-10 rails. The movement was driven by an Apiro® rack gear and controlled with a NEMA17 stepper motor. The factory simulation project was successfully implemented with a D1 motor control system.