Sponsor:

Red River Army Depot

Research Team:

Earnest W. Fant, Nebil Buyurgan

Universities Involved:

University of Arkansas

Start Date:

06/01/09

End Date:

05/31/10

Summary:

This project investigates the capability of performing robotic kitting which includes the task of counting the number of components picked, placing each component within a specified space in a box pallet until a kit is formed, and to develop the specifications for a robotic kitting work cell which will include the material handling of components going into and kit pallet leaving the work cell.
Introduction

The Rubber Products Division, RRAD, reprocesses subassemblies and components for track vehicles by removing old rubber and adding new rubber to track products. After the old rubber is removed, the basic metallic components must be determined to conform to specifications and be inspected after each process until all processing has been completed and product restored to a new product state. The next step in the logistics supply chain is the collection of various specified components and the appropriate number of each to form a kit of a much larger assembly and stored in box pallet for shipping/transport.

Project Motivation

To assess the capability of performing robotic kitting which includes the task of counting the number of components picked and placed, and placing each component within a specified space in a box pallet until a kit is formed.

Research Objective:

To develop the specifications for a robotic kitting work cell which will include the material handling of components going into and kit pallet leaving the work cell. Because kit components have different size and weight, there must the investigation as to the development of a universal gripper for a robotic arm to account for a range of sizes and weights.
The use of non-contact measurement/verification using machine vision was understood by the personnel of the Rubber Product Division. The where, how and in what conditions which make this technology most useable and useful were employed on other products which were not considered by this study. The concept of robotic kitting was applied to three new robotic work cells which involve a robotic arm unloading pallets and loading/unloading three molding presses. The other robotic arm performed the grinding process and palletized good parts when inspected by a machine vision system.