Methodology for manufacturing sustainability evaluation of human-robot collaborations

Abstract

The various challenges of a sustainable industrial production such as demographic change and resource scarcity induce the increasing need of a resource-efficient, eco-friendly, flexible and adaptive production with human-centred and ergonomic suitable working stations and conditions. The novel production approach of human-robot collaboration promises to contribute to meeting these requirements. Nevertheless, for designing and realising concrete applications, a significant evaluation comprising the economic, ecological and social dimensions of sustainability is needed. The paper presents a methodology for such evaluations of human-robot collaboration with respect to their contribution to sustainability. Additionally, the application of the methodology is illustrated by assessing a human-robot collaboration solution in a concrete industrial use case.