Case study: Optical inspection using a cobot

Automated inspections using cobots usually have two advantages: they are objective and often cheaper. (As CEO of a startup in the field of image processing, I often experience that objectivity is desired: Supplier says "Part i.O.", customer says "Part n.O." - then both agree on fixed parameters and we program the software accordingly). In this video, there is another reason: work safety. Because here springs of tie rods have to be tested, which is obviously not completely harmless.

The solution

In this particular case, a Universal Robots 10e with a depth camera is used. Depth cameras cost little, by the way. Software has been developed for this to recognize features and to detect the position and orientation of the end of the tie rod. Also used is a grinding tool to prepare a smooth surface and a phased array ultrasonic sensor to perform the inspection. The system allows the operator to prepare the end of the tie rod, perform the inspection and detect small cracks anywhere along the length of the tie rod - all from a safe distance.

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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/ robotics project Boost-Bot. He advises robotics companies and investors on market (entry)/ business development and funding/subsidies. The standard book on cobots is also written by Guido Bruch (however, the book is already 2 years old and therefore not quite up to date). More about him can be found here.