Focus of our research:
- Technology Transfer and Robustification
- Relevant connections to industry 4.0
- Potential of machine learning along the entire value chain
Robots of the future must become increasingly intelligent and adapt autonomously to unknown situations. Here, an unknown situation can for example be caused by a human working collaboratively with the robot. Furthermore, the trend of increasing automation with decreasing batch sizes introduces variances and uncertainties in workpieces and the environment.
In the field of human-robot collaboration we investigate strategies for planning and collaboration, as well as the possibilities of novel assistance systems in industrial robotic applications. Here, our focus is on the two collaboration types “Speed and Separation Monitoring” and “Power and Force Limiting”. Our research activities primarily address the planning, control and optimization of robot motion, taking into account the interrelationships with the topics of safety, human-machine interface and ergonomics.
With the goal of user-friendly and robust automation solutions for setups with increasing uncertainty, we explore the potential of combining classical robotic approaches with novel methods of machine learning. An important part of this is the transfer from simulation to physical systems while taking into account the requirements of industrial applications. Of course, the connectivity of machines and sensors as well as the transparency of information also play an important role.
The cooperation with the ABB AG in the framework of the cooperation professorship Robotic Systems is an important component of the practical and industrial orientation of our research topics.
Two doctoral theses in the two subject areas “Human-Robot Collaboration” and “Robot Learning for Industrial Applications” are currently in the planning phase.
