Building the industrial robots of the future
30-11-2017
Automation and industrial robotics
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IK4-TEKNIKER led a European alliance to create robotic solutions that will collaborate efficiently and safely in industrial manufacturing centres.
European project FourByThree officially reaches its end today. During the last three years, a consortium of 17 partners has worked together to design, build and test pioneering robotic solutions able to collaborate safely and efficiently with human operators in industrial manufacturing companies.
FourByThree succeeded in its goal to develop both hardware and software technologies that are suitable to be used in collaboration with human operators, safe and efficient, as well as easy to program and use. Thanks to the modular approach of the project, most of its results can be integrated with other robotic solutions that already exist in the market or are being developed. FourByThree solutions will be made available through an online platform.
“FourByThree has contributed to making the challenging vision of humans and robots working hand in hand in manufacturing activities a reality in the near future”, said project coordinator Iñaki Maurtua.
FourByThree responded to the demand that robots used in industry do not only provide accuracy and efficiency, but are also able to ensure safety when collaboration between operator and robot is required, even when the workspace is shared. Hardware and software solutions emerging from FourByThree have been tested in four pilot scenarios, focusing on different industrial processes: assembly, machine tending, welding, riveting and deburring.
The project had a total budget of 6.9 million euros and was partly funded by the EU within the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020. The partners that made up the consortium were research centres, industrial and technological companies and universities, coordinated by Spain-based Research Centre IK4-TEKNIKER.
In the case of the Basque Country, four companies were involved. The project leader, technological centre IK4-TEKNIKER, provided its knowledge in programming and control and human-robot collaboration. Komat, an engineering company specializing in robotics, was responsible for their integration. Alfa hosted one of the four pilot experiences with the new technology, which was implemented in their Precision Casting (APC) business unit. Donostia-based Prosumerlab was responsible for disseminating the project.