UAS Technikum Wien conducts research on automated programming for industry

Robot-driven production is an important topic for the future, both for the manufacturing industry and for research. Establishing research fields such as artificial intelligence and collaborative robots meet here to take over tasks that are tedious or dangerous for humans. With a view to the socially profitable and resource-saving use of these technologies, intelligent robot-driven production systems must be programmed for all situations safely, quickly and reliably.

However, both technical research institutions (UAS Technikum Wien, Fraunhofer Austria and Joanneum Research) and domestic industrial companies (Eberle Automatische Systeme GmbH & Co KG, Henkel Central Eastern Europe Operations GmbH, TDK Electronics GmbH & Co OG, Franz Josef Mayer GmbH) have found that many users of robotic applications do not have sufficient expertise in the field of “programming” and that familiarization with this complex subject is extremely time-consuming.

Simple application without programming know-how

The project “SAMY” (Semi-automatic Modification of Control Programs of Industrially Deployed Collaborative Robot Systems), which was funded by the FFG, led by Fraunhofer Austria and concluded on December 31, 2022, was therefore intended to make it easier for users to handle sophisticated robot systems. With SAMY, the research consortium was able to make complex programming much easier: “With the help of developed frameworks, an idea can be translated into robot codes without much technical knowledge,” explains Wilfried Wöber, head of the Digital Manufacturing, Automation & Robotics competence area. By automating the programming of industrial robot-based production systems, they will in future be able to automatically execute a process plan based on the respective customer’s wishes.

However, that alone was not enough for the consortium: The intelligent production system should even be able to recognize new machines and automatically adapt production to them. So if a robot fails, another robot can take over the task in question, regardless of the manufacturer.

Industrial use in the starting blocks

The consortium’s research teams are now working on extensions to make SAMY suitable for broad industrial use. “To this end, we are looking for industrial users for follow-up projects,” says Wilfried Wöber, calling on interested parties to contact him directly.

The two-day practical seminar “Industrial Digital Twin”, which will take place on September 25 and 26 at the Technikum Wien Academy, is also about the future-oriented transformation of companies into the digital age. In an “Industrial Digital Twin”, an existing production plant is simulated by a virtual instance. This “digital twin” allows real-time data analysis and is used for process monitoring or testing more efficient processes in production.

Registrations are possible via the Technikum Wien Academy website:
Digital Twin | Technikum Wien Academy (technikum-wien.at)

Project partner “SAMY“

Fraunhofer Austria Research Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (lead partner)
Joanneum Research Research Company Ltd.
Eberle Automatic Systems GmbH & Co KG
Henkel Central Eastern Europe GmbH
TDK Electronics GmbH & Co OG
Franz Josef Mayer GmbH
SSI Schäfer Automation GmbH

Contact:

UAS Technikum Vienna
Wilfried Wöber, MSc
Interim head of the competence area Digital Manufacturing, Automation & Robotics;
Senior Lecturer/Researcher; Responsible for the research area Automation & Robotics

The project “SAMY” (Semi-automatic Modification of Control Programs of Industrially Deployed Collaborative Robot Systems), funded by the FFG and led by Fraunhofer Austria, which will be completed on December 31, 2022, is intended to make it easier for users* to handle sophisticated robot systems.