Introduction of cyber-physical system in robotized press-brake line for metal industry

Abstract

Bin picking is a typical work, which is easy to automate up to a given complexity of the work-piece dimensions. In case of casted work-pieces, the dimensions are most of the time not accurate enough for an industrial robot to be able to pick it up without additional sensors/intelligence. In this paper we introduce a cyber-physical system, where all sensors, actuators, machines and industrial robot is connected to a local network, where they share information easily with each other. The novelty of the system that the proposed solution is achieved on the software side, with minimum hardware reconfiguration need. We keep the flexibility of the industrial robot, but extend its’ understanding with sensor fusion on a higher decision level, rather than on low robot programming level. The system also allows remote monitoring and supervision of the production plant.