To read this content please select one of the options below:

Sensorless localization of a minimally-actuated robotic system for automated pallet de-strapping

Nour El-Hoda Khalifeh (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Rudy Youssef (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Farah Fadel (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Roy Khalil (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Elie Shammas (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Naseem Daher (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Imad H. Elhajj (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon)
Thomas Irrenhauser (Projekt Innovation und Industrie 4.0, BMW AG, Munchen, Germany)
Michael N. Niedermeier (Projekt Innovation und Industrie 4.0, BMW AG, Munchen, Germany)
Christian Poss (Projekt Innovation und Industrie 4.0, BMW AG, Munchen, Germany)

Assembly Automation

ISSN: 0144-5154

Article publication date: 18 October 2021

Issue publication date: 24 November 2021

195

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the design and prototyping of a smart automation solution for de-strapping plastic bonding straps on shipping pallets, which are loaded with multiple containers secured by a top-cover as they move on a conveyor belt.

Design/methodology/approach

The adopted design methodology to have the system perform its function entails using the least number of sensors and actuators to arrive at an economic solution from a system design viewpoint. Two prototypes of the robotic structure are designed and built, one in a research laboratory and another in an industrial plant, to perform localized cutting and grabbing of the plastic straps, with the help of a custom-designed passive localizing structure. The proposed structure is engineered to locate the plastic straps using one degree of freedom (DOF) only. An additional strap removal mechanism is designed to collect the straps and prevent them from interfering with the conveyor.

Findings

The functionality of the system is validated by performing full-process tests on the developed prototypes in a laboratory setting and under real-life operating conditions at BMW Group facilities. Testing showed that the proposed localization system meets the specified requirements and can be generalized and adapted to other industrial processes with similar requirements.

Practical implications

The proposed automated system for de-strapping pallets can be deployed in assembly or manufacturing facilities that receive parts in standard shipping pallets that are used worldwide.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first mechanically smart system that is used for the automated removal of straps from shipping pallets used in assembly facilities. The two main novelties of the proposed design are the robustness of the strap localization without the need for computer vision and a large number of DOF, and the critical placement and choice of the cutting and gripping tools to minimize the number of needed actuators.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by BMW Group, Projekt Innovation und Industrie 4.0, Logistics Robotics Department, M..unchen, Germany. It was supported by the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

Citation

Khalifeh, N.E.-H., Youssef, R., Fadel, F., Khalil, R., Shammas, E., Daher, N., Elhajj, I.H., Irrenhauser, T., Niedermeier, M.N. and Poss, C. (2021), "Sensorless localization of a minimally-actuated robotic system for automated pallet de-strapping", Assembly Automation, Vol. 41 No. 6, pp. 681-696. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-04-2021-0039

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles