Human-machine Collaboration in Virtual Reality for Adaptive Production Engineering

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Abstract

This paper outlines the main steps towards an open and adaptive simulation method for human-robot collaboration (HRC) in production engineering supported by virtual reality (VR). The work is based on the latest software developments in the gaming industry, in addition to the already commercially available hardware that is robust and reliable. This allows to overcome VR limitations of the industrial software provided by manufacturing machine producers and it is based on an open-source community programming approach and also leads to significant advantages such as interfacing with the latest developed hardware for realistic user experience in immersive VR, as well as the possibility to share adaptive algorithms. A practical implementation in Unity is provided as a functional prototype for feasibility tests. However, at the time of this paper, no controlled human-subject studies on the implementation have been noted, in fact, this is solely provided to show preliminary proof of concept. Future work will formally address the questions that are raised in this first run.

Figures

  • Fig. 1. (left) Simulated robot manipulator. The robot manipulator, specifically an ABB IRB 120, is simulated in the virtual reality using Unity. (right) Joint chain. The joints of the virtual robot manipulator are attached to a joint chain in Unity that allows to define the kinematics.
  • Fig. 2. Assembly task as a game. The virtual ABB IRB 120 robot manipulator is presented as an assembly game where students can test their skills as operators. The student controlling the movement wears the head mounted display for VR and holds a controller in their arm. The robot manipulator end effector follows the movement and direction of the controller, adapting to the closest natural movement allowed by its six DOF. Other students can watch the scene from the operator’s perspective on the external monitor.

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CITATION STYLE

APA

de Giorgio, A., Romero, M., Onori, M., & Wang, L. (2017). Human-machine Collaboration in Virtual Reality for Adaptive Production Engineering. In Procedia Manufacturing (Vol. 11, pp. 1279–1287). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.07.255

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