A Framework for Realizing Industrial Human-Robot Collaboration through Virtual Simulation

Abstract

Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) could improve manual labor manufacturing processes by relieving workers of inappropriate operations, such as heavy, repetitive, or manual quality inspections. The literature shows that the greatest challenge for large scale implementation of Human-Robot Collaboration is safety, intuitive interfaces and design methods. We present a comprehensive framework that incorporates the use of virtual simulation for the implementation of Human-Robot Collaboration. The proposed framework defines a development process with five major steps, ending up with a virtual simulation model that can provide a foundation for the physical implementation. The framework has been developed using an automotive industrial case.