Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

AQUIAS – Inclusion through robotics

Human-robot collaboration scenarios for severely disabled production workers

© Robert Bosch GmbH

Experts

“In AQUIAS, we want to learn from people with severe disabilities so we can improve human-robot interaction. What we’re doing allows us to take a much closer look at just what requirements a manufacturing assistant has to fulfill.” Bosch project manager Wolfgang Pomrehn.
© Robert Bosch GmbH

Experts

“Using the APAS assistant within the AQUIAS project gives us the chance to increase our cost effectiveness, since it lets us cover more of the production process than we can today. We also want to offer our employees attractive tasks when working together with the mobile manufacturing assistant.” Thomas Wenzler, managing director of ISAK gGmbH.
© Ludmilla Parsyak, Fraunhofer IAO

Human-robot collaboration

Wie kann die Mensch-Roboter-Kooperation speziell für schwerbehinderte Personen genutzt werden? Der Bosch-Roboter »APAS assistant« verspricht Teilhabe an Arbeit, aber auch Lernpotenzial.
© Ludmilla Parsyak, Fraunhofer IAO

Human-robot collaboration

Mit seinem Greifarm zieht der APAS assistant die Werkteile des Mitarbeiters zu sich, bearbeitet sie und schiebt sie danach wieder zurück. So gleicht er die unterschiedliche Reichweite der schwerbehinderten Mitarbeitenden beim Greifen aus.
© Ludmilla Parsyak, Fraunhofer IAO

Human-robot collaboration

Der Roboterarm kann über ein mobiles Touchpad programmiert und gesteuert werden.
© Ludmilla Parsyak, Fraunhofer IAO

Human-robot collaboration

Die Sensorhaut des Roboters erkennt, wenn sich ein Mensch im Nahbereich befindet. Die Maschine stoppt, bevor es zu einer Berührung kommt.
© Ludmilla Parsyak, Fraunhofer IAO

Human-robot collaboration

Der Arbeitsplatz passt sich flexibel an die jeweilige Arbeitssituation als auch an die individuellen Bedarfe der Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter an. So kann der Roboterarm sich auch im laufenden Betrieb flexibel an die veränderte Tischhöhe anpassen.

Challenge

Robots are already becoming widely established in German factories. Furthermore, highly advanced sensors in robots are eliminating the need for safety barriers, thus enabling companies to completely reorganize production work. But how can they distribute the work between humans and robots so as to ensure that the people don’t lose out on the desirable tasks? In the AQUIAS project, researchers are developing scenarios to explore how to find the right balance between ensuring that work is performed cost-effectively and that the tasks assigned to humans are rewarding. 

Method

In the first of two pilot schemes, Robert Bosch GmbH’s “APAS assistant” – a mobile manufacturing assistant – is being put to work at ISAK gGmbH, a company that gives assembly line jobs to people with all kinds of severe disabilities. For the second pilot scheme, Robert Bosch GmbH is using its APAS assistant to test various ways of dividing tasks between people and robots within the organization.  

Result

The insights gained from the pilot schemes provide guidance and the experience required to plan and implement human-robot collaboration setups. Simulating workplaces with virtual reality technology makes it possible to offer virtual tours and to incorporate user feedback into organizing work processes and the workplace. By conducting a quick check, companies can perform a holistic assessment of their scenarios for future human-robot collaboration to make sure they are cost-effective as well as appealing to employees.