Concept of a Mixed-Reality Learning Environment for Collaborative Robotics

Abstract

In the course of increasing automation and individualization of products, so-called collaborative robots (Cobots) play an increasingly important role. The systematic automation of manual assembly by adding automation components enables efficiency and cost advantages to be realized without the loss of flexibility. Previous industrial robots are not profitable from an economic point of view, due to the high acquisition costs, small batch sizes, and a high number of product variants. In contrast, collaborative robots can be used more flexibly. They offer the possibility of automating work processes and steps to a greater economy. Employees must be prepared for this change within the framework of training and further education, to develop the necessary skills. This article presents a concept for a mixed-reality learning environment that tackles the challenges identified regarding to HRC. Therefore, existing technologies are examined and evaluated for a usage in context of HRC training.