Collaborative robots in industrial manufacturing: a case study of tolerated assembly

Present industrial trends show how the market is increasingly moving towards mass customisation and thus towards medium and small batch production. In this scenario, collaborative robots can help companies improve their flexibility and responsiveness to customer demands. This paper presents the development of a collaborative assembly station with the focus on feasibility evaluation and reconfigurability of the layout. This application is based on a case study brought by a manufacturing company, investigated and tested at the i-Labs Industry laboratory. The design of the station is discussed in detail and results are presented along with future innovations.