Where full automation of production or assembly lines is only economically feasible to a limited extent, sub-processes are to be separated out and divided between humans and robots - this is one vision of Industry 4.0. Accordingly, autonomously operating 'cobots' - i.e. robots that are used in the immediate vicinity of humans - are to take over ergonomically unfavorable or monotonous tasks, for example as lifting or positioning aids for loads. As a result, the physical strain on humans will decrease, the process will become more efficient and, last but not least, the hand-in-hand work of humans and robots will reduce space requirements and increase flexibility.

One conceivable application of the collaborative gripper: The robot with a 'Co-act Gripper' guides a motor adapter to a motor block, positions it and holds it in position during the screwing process.

© Schunk

According to Schunk, the gripper uses specially developed gripping strategies and force measuring jaws in the fingers to adjust its behavior in real time to whether the workpiece or possibly a human hand is being gripped. The basis for this is the DIN EN ISO 10218 safety guideline for industrial robots, and aspects of the future DIN EN-ISO 20218 (Safety requirements for industrial robots) have already been taken into account.

In addition, Schunk wants to turn the gripper into a means of communication between the system control and the operator. LED lights and a corresponding color system will indicate whether the system is ready for operation and whether the correct workpiece has been gripped. The plans go even further: similar to humans, who usually combine several senses to assess a situation, grippers will in future combine information from several sensor sources and derive the most accurate picture of reality possible - according to the vision of the experts from Lauffen.

Using OPC UA interfaces, the collaborative grippers will also be able to communicate with the robot and the higher-level plant control system and transmit all relevant process and environmental data to the control and production systems.

Schunk now intends to develop a certified co-act gripper system based on the results of the technology demonstrator. It will be some time before the standard program is launched on the market. However, the company is already in a position to design customized HRC grippers for specific applications. An interdisciplinary 'Co-act Team' has been formed in Lauffen specifically for this purpose, with specialists from the areas of design, product management, assembly and sales trained specifically for this purpose.