Title: Human industrial robot collaboration - development and application of simulation software

Authors: Fredrik Ore; Lars Hanson; Niclas Delfs; Magnus Wiktorsson

Addresses: School of Innovation Design and Engineering, Mälardalen University, 631 05 Eskilstuna, Sweden; Scania CV AB, TER, Buildnig 062, 151 87 Södertälje, Sweden ' School of Engineering Science, University of Skövde, 541 28 Skövde, Sweden; Department of Product and Production Development, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Scania CV AB, TEID, Buildnig 062, 151 87 Södertälje, Sweden ' Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre, Chalmers Science Park, 412 88 Göteborg, Sweden ' School of InnovationDesign and Engineering, Mälardalen University, 631 05 Eskilstuna, Sweden

Abstract: Human industrial robot collaboration (HIRC) aims to combine the benefits of industrial robots with humans in production environments. This is a growing research field where most work focuses on the safety aspects, while little research is performed on simulation and visualisation. The aim of this paper is to present demonstrator software for simulation, visualisation and evaluation of human industrial robot collaboration. Two simulation software products were combined to reach this goal. The new tool was then applied to two industrial assembly cases where productivity and biomechanical loads on humans were calculated. The resulting demonstrator software simulates and visualises human industrial robot collaboration. The quantitative output from the simulation makes it possible to compare HIRC, manual and robotic assembly stations in terms of productivity and ergonomics.

Keywords: human robot collaboration; HRC; collaborative assembly; industrial robots; robotic assembly; human-machine interaction; HMI; digital human modelling; DHM; visualisation; simulation; workstation design; ergonomics; productivity; biomechanical loads; biomechanics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2015.075362

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2015 Vol.5 No.2, pp.164 - 185

Received: 22 Apr 2015
Accepted: 03 Dec 2015
Published online: 16 Mar 2016 *

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