Innovative robots that have no guards now work with Volkswagen employees
VW has for the first time set up industrial robots to operate together with human employees on a production line with no protection shield in-between the robot arm and the human employees.
The light arm has been used to put glow plugs inside the cylinder heads at the German Volkswagen company. Universal Robots (a manufacturer of robots) have provided 6 axis robotic arm and an inbuilt safety mode to meet the current EN ISO 10218 regulations.
Therefore allowing it to operate safely around employees without requiring any mechanical guards. Installing the robots took place over a 2 year time period in partnership with Faude Automatisierungstechnik, who created a gripper that suits safety needs of ISO/TS 15066, a regulation that covers partnerships with robots that have limitations for pressures as well as impact forces which may result in accidents.
Formerly workers concentrating on the engine production line would have to bend down to put the glow plugs inside the small cylinder head drill holes. Currently, the light UR5 robot accumulates the fragile glow plugs and inserts them inside the difficult to access holes. A worker subsequently puts the glow plugs in position along with insulating the cylinder head, when preparing for the upcoming production step.
The robot works as a helper, therefore allowing the employees to execute the tasks at a healthier vertical position. Also workers can keep an eye on the procedure and therefore can get involved rapidly if required.
The product manager at VW states that with the robots not having the guard it allows their staff to do the job jointly together with the robot. Therefore the robot becomes a production assistant; therefore releasing staff from uncomfortable jobs.
The German VW plant is the biggest in the world. Each day about six thousand staff members make about seven thousand diesel and petrol engines, in more than three hundred and seventy types. The three to sixteen cylinder engines are set up in numerous designs and makes of the VW group.
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