Flexible Robotic Solutions, the transformative project with smart, compact and flexible solutions for line purposes

WP6's main objective is to create flexible and adaptive automation solutions for end-of-line processes in the industry, such as packaging and palletizing. These solutions aim to respond to the growing need for "low volume - high mix" productions, where traditional automation, more suitable for high-volume productions with little variability, is not cost-effective.

WP6 proposes to develop and implement:

1. Flexible Robotic Solutions (PPS16 - CompactPack and PPS17 - IrregularPalletizer): o CompactPack: A compact, modular, self-supporting robotic cell that can be easily moved to different production lines. It includes a robotic arm and industrial conveyors, allowing for the automation of tasks such as palletizing, packaging, and case forming. Two different solutions in this concept will be demonstrated, one for CTT and the other for Colep Packaging. o IrregularPalletizer: A specific robotic solution for palletizing irregular products, such as cork boards and wooden blocks, using vision systems and mosaic generation algorithms that work in real time to optimize the stacking of irregular products. A cork board palletizing solution will be demonstrated at WFSCork.

2. Digital Data Management and Monitoring Platform (PPS15): o A platform that allows the acquisition and processing of data from industrial equipment, improving production management and facilitating preventive and predictive maintenance. This platform is part of the Packaging As A Service strategy, offering technological solutions as a service for smaller companies. The monitoring software developed here will be integrated into the cork board palletizing cell developed at PPS17 and will be demonstrated at WFSCork.

3. Mobile Robotics Solutions Integration and Demonstration (PPS29 - AMRs): o Implement towing and pallet handling AMRs (ForkLift) in CTT Expresso and WFSCork demonstrators. Industrial Research activities related to the developments of the PPS29 AMRs are being worked on in WP9.

WP6 is home to Experimental Development activities related to implementation, testing, validation, and demonstration at WFSCork (1 x AMR Tugboat) and CTT Express (1 x AMR Tug and 1 x AMR ForkLift). WP6 aims to increase the competitiveness of companies by making automation more accessible, flexible and adaptable, including for small and medium-sized companies, promoting an innovative business model based on advanced industry 4.0 services and technologies. The project starts from an initial TRL of 3 and aims to achieve a TRL of 7, demonstrating prototypes in real operational environments by the end of 2025.

So far, WP6 is in the prototype construction phase, with all requirements gathering activities, solution concept design and functional system architecture completed for all PPSs. In the last quarter, the integration and testing of the data acquisition and monitoring platform was carried out, as well as the development of the CompactPack solution and the start of the assembly of the needle gripper for the handling of cork boards.

Other activities included the assembly and testing of the towing systems for the AMRs of CTT Expresso and WFSCork, as well as the completion of the mechanical design of an AMR ForkLift for CTT Expresso. 

The PRODUTECH R3 project - Mobilizing Agenda for the Production Technologies Sector for Reindustrialization, is funded by the European Union under the NextGeneration EU program through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP - www.recuperarportugal-gov.pt).

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