Productivity Driven Dynamic Task Allocation in Human–Robot-Collaboration for Assembly Processes

Abstract

AbstractThe numerous challenges, such as mass customisation, globalisation and digitalisation, pose major challenges for Industry 4.0 in the industrial environment. Smart collaborative robotics, which has been identified as a key technology, still lags behind expectations. The synergies that arise from combining strengths of humans and robots offer many possibilities for adapting work systems to the new challenges. An ergonomic and economic consideration of HRC still reveals potential for improvement in order to promote the widespread use of collaborative robots. While the technology is primarily intended to support humans ergonomically, new stresses arise, such as a forced posture, monotonous work or the feeling of machine-determined work. In addition to the ergonomic burdens, the currently applicable safety standards still severely restrict the economic use of collaborative robots at the present time. This paper describes an approach that enhances developed methods considering ergonomic optimisation by combining it with economic improvement of human–robot collaborations by means of semi-autonomous group work. Based on the ergonomic and economic criterias within a work system, the task allocation of a workplace will be adjusted. Productivity describes the relationship between output and input. Productivity could be increased by reducing the input or by increasing the output. This method aims to increase output by dynamically allocating work tasks based on productivity. By comparing actual and target times, individual assembly processes are taken over by the robot or handed over to the human. The method is intended to help cushion the impact on productivity in the event of a resource failure through dynamic task allocation. In addition to optimising output, the aspects of semi-autonomous group work should also increase employee motivation. In summary, it can be said that the developed method should contribute to the ergonomic and economic use (e2use) of collaborative robots in assembly.KeywordsHuman–robot-collaborationDynamic task allocationProductivity