22-december-2022
INDTECH 4.0 PROJECT
Motofil led the consortium of companies (Neadvance, Stellantis, University of Beira Interior and Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto) in the INDTECH-SP1 project.
At the beginning of the last quarter of the year, an event was held regarding the INDTECH 4.0 project, whose objective is the development of innovative technologies in the context of Industry 4.0/Factories of the Future (FoF), with the aim of promoting efficiency and flexibility of production processes.
Motofil was present in this event having an important role in the consortium of companies that includes Neadvance, Stellantis, Universidade da Beira Interior and Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, in the INDTECH-SP1 project. This project main focus is the development of solutions and collaborative technologies (human/machine collaboration), for application to conventional robotic systems, i.e., systems that work autonomously ("guided" or "stand alone" systems).
Once the main objective of this project is defined, other adjacent objectives and R&D goals arise. One of the objectives is to adapt conventional robotic systems (designed to operate in isolation) into safe and certified robotic systems, namely when applied in industrial environments where there is a high density of unpredictable elements (movement of machines and operators in concentrated space), where the loads handled are significant and where the layouts, or handling elements, are particularly complex and unstructured. The INDTECH-SP1 project aims to develop vision components, biosensors and other sensors for monitoring spaces and operators in the action environment of robotic systems.
This project also aims to develop systems for three-dimensional capture of objects in the monitoring of collaborative spaces, based on three-dimensional image acquisition techniques: 3D stereoscopic, ToF and structured light. Also in the computer vision component, we aim to develop algorithms for matching 2D images, using artificial intelligence techniques rather than traditional template matching, improve static 2D registration algorithms and point cloud, and proceed to 3D reconstruction and posture determination of the environment and objects using deep learning techniques - temporal and convolutional networks.
Besides this, the INDTECH-SP1 project also seeks to explore how the influence of the operator's actions can impact the performance of the machine (robotic arm) through the exploration of Autonomic Computing techniques. Another central point of this project is to ensure the safety certification of the new developed robotic systems, to ensure their operational application and their potential for economic valorization.
Motofil played a very important role in this event, since we developed the mechanical and automation projects, having manufactured and integrated robots and Grippers in Tracks for handling large pieces. André Correia, Motofil's project manager, highlights here "the involvement of Stellantis as the host company of this event, having received **the prototypes for demonstration purposes and provided its support throughout the** project."
When asked about the results of this project, André mentions that "the project has been successfully completed and demonstrated, with 2 cells being integrated into our partner (Stellantis) and are in full operation." André also adds that "it is with great pride that we highlight all the commitment and work developed over these years by all our consortium partners."
/ N/D