Framework for Armature-Based 3D Shape Reconstruction of Sensorized Soft Robots in eXtended Reality

Soft robots are typically intended to operate in highly unpredictable and unstructured environments. Although their soft bodies help them to passively conform to their environment, the execution of specific tasks within such environments often requires the help of an operator that supervises the interaction between the robot and its environment...

Reference Network and Localization Architecture for Smart Manufacturing Based on 5G

5G promises to shift Industry 4.0 to the next level by allowing flexible production. However, many communication standards are used throughout a production site, which will stay so in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, localization of assets will be equally valuable in order to get to a higher level of automation. This paper proposes a...

A Conversational User Interface for Instructional Maintenance Reports

Maintaining a complex system, such as a modern production line, is a knowledge-intensive task. Many firms use maintenance reports as a decision support tool. However, reports are often poor quality and tedious to compile. A Conversational User Interface (CUI) could streamline the reporting process by validating the user's input, eliciting...

5G++ FlexiCell: 5G location-based context-aware agile manufacturing

Manufacturing machines need to be retooled approximately 15 times per week and in the future even more often because of decreasing batch sizes and increasing short-cyclic demands. Collaborative robots promise to offer a versatile automation approach for priorly manual tasks in small and medium-sized enterprises. However, their configuration...

A Human-Centered Design Procedure for Conceptualization Using Virtual Reality Prototyping Applied in an Inflight Lavatory

For designing large-scale products like an airplane, engaging end-users in the concept phase is difficult. However, early user evaluation is important to choose the path which fits the user’s needs best. In particular, comfort-related assessments are difficult to conduct with digital models that are shown on a desktop PC application. Digital...

Virtual Reality Tool for Human-Machine Interface Evaluation and Development (VRHEAD)

Higher levels of vehicle automation come with new challenges for designing safe systems. The Human Machine-Interface (HMI) plays a key role in mediating the interaction between the human driver and vehicle automation. By providing the driver with appropriate feedback, the HMI has the potential to increase mode awareness and situational...

Effective close-range accuracy comparison of microsoft hololens generation one and two using vuforia imagetargets

This paper analyzes the effective accuracy for close-range operations for the first and the second generation of Microsoft HoloLens in combination with Vuforia Image Targets in a black-box approach. The implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) on optical see-through (OST), head-mounted devices (HMDs) has been proven viable for a variety of...

Sustainable human-robot co-production for the bicycle industry

Bicycle production has not changed much over the last 100 years, it is still performed mainly by manual labor in mass production. During the global pandemic, the demand for ecologically friendly and customized transport has increased. Hence, customers start to impose the same requirements on bikes as on cars: they want more customized...

Using Virtual Reality for scenario-based Responsible Research and Innovation approach for Human Robot Co-production

This paper proposes to use Virtual Reality scenarios to explore the reaction of stakeholders within an innovation process in the context of the introduction of robots working in close collaboration with users. The goal is to design the system upfront in such a way, that it is not perceived as a threat to the worker or his/her job. Within the...

Mirrorlabs - Creating accessible Digital Twins of robotic production environment with Mixed Reality

How to visualize recorded production data in Virtual Reality? How to use state of the art Augmented Reality displays that can show robot data? This paper introduces an opensource ICT framework approach for combining Unity-based Mixed Reality applications with robotic production equipment using ROS Industrial. This publication gives details on...

Comparing Human Factors for Augmented Reality Supported Single-User and Collaborative Repair Operations of Industrial Robots

In order to support the decision-making process of industry on how to implement Augmented Reality (AR) in production, this article wants to provide guidance through a set of comparative user studies. The results are obtained from the feedback of 160 participants who performed the same repair task on a switch cabinet of an industrial robot....

Computer Supported Collaborative Work in Ultra Personalized Products and Services

How does individualized production look like? This paper proposes a generic<br/>vision of a smart factory which is able to produce so-called ultra personalized products(UPPS) in a batch size of one. This means that each customer is able to configure his or her personal product perfectly adjusted to the needs on base of personal data like...

Portable Rapid Visual Workflow Simulation Tool for Human Robot Coproduction

Within the European Factory-in-a-day project, the aim is to improve communication between automation integrator and factory owner, in their analysis of feasibility and appropriateness of automating a manual task. A visualisation tool with preconfigured workflows and working principles, with specific focus on efficient human-robot coproduction...