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Robotic solutions in the manufacturing technology center. Image source: Manufacturing Technology Center
In response to reports of the adoption of robotics and automation in the UK, UKIVA’s Neil Sandhu and Allan Anderson believe that vision brings similar benefits to productivity
A report entitled "Robots and Automation: New Perspectives" highlights how accelerating the adoption of industrial automation and robotics can significantly increase the productivity of the British manufacturing industry.
According to a report recently released by the Manufacturing Technology Center in Coventry, UK and the Industrial Policy Research Center of Loughborough University, the United Kingdom ranks 24th in the world in terms of robot density among manufacturing companies, so productivity lags behind.
As part of the broad recommendations for initiatives to solve various problems, it calls for special emphasis on the adoption of automation and robotics by SMEs. It can also be said that increasing the adoption of machine vision in the manufacturing industry will also bring significant benefits.
Machine vision faces many challenges similar to the robotics technology highlighted in the report. It is not only an enabling technology that plays an obvious role in supplementing the use of robotics, but also has a wider range of uses in the vision-driven automation of the manufacturing process and the ultimate realization of Industry 4.0 and smart factories. future. The scope of machine vision covers a wide range of markets, from electronics to food and beverages, to transportation, to sports and entertainment.
In recent years, the emergence of collaborative robots (cobots) and the rapid development of 3D image processing have paved the way for more applications of vision and robotics, whether it is the use of robots to present components for inspection, or the use of vision-guided robots or positioning robots to handle Objects. The huge advancement in the visual robot interface has made this process easier.
With the continuous improvement of camera resolution and advanced image processing, vision-guided robot systems have become more sensitive and powerful, enabling robots to recognize shapes, textures, and 3D objects faster and more accurately. They bring versatility to pick and place, machine management, assembly and complex bin picking. Using vision can make intelligent, real-time decisions on behalf of automated systems. These advancements mean less manual intervention, greatly improved productivity and fewer product recalls.
Although vision can enhance the role of robotics in automation, it can also play an important role in itself. This may be a quality control check in the manufacturing process, but it is also possible to link visual measurements directly to statistical process control methods. By analyzing measurement trends, it is possible to intervene to adjust the process before producing any product that is out of tolerance.
In addition, the vision system can capture more information than any other aspect of the production line and generate more data than other sensors. For example, a line scan camera with a 16k sensor runs at a line speed of 120kHz and generates data at a rate of 2GB/s. Big data analysis technologies can be used to process these types of data volumes, and these technologies will be reflected in the future smart factories under the Industry 4.0 umbrella.
Communication between all parts and machines is a key requirement of Industry 4.0 to realize data transmission and sharing. The continuous development of the machine vision companion specification of the platform-independent OPC UA open standard for machine-to-machine communication provides a way to incorporate vision into the Industry 4.0 approach. There is also an OPC UA robot supporting specification.
Machine vision is established and versatile, with a large number of building blocks. However, it is this versatility that contributes to the misunderstanding that it is a kind of black art that can only be handled by visual experts.
Just like the robotic world, skills need to be developed and further educated in various markets to demonstrate the possibilities of using vision. In order to solve this problem, various measures need to be taken. One small step is the emergence of out-of-the-box vision solutions designed to meet specific application requirements, such as label inspection or PCB assembly inspection, and even out-of-the-box 3D vision guided trash bin picking solutions.
Although the effort to demystify visual technology is important, another approach is to use the understanding of visual functions and how to use them as part of the engineering skill set so that future engineers can have "visual awareness".
UKIVA members often report that although British universities offer many computer vision courses, it is difficult to recruit new engineers with the right combination of vision knowledge and engineering skills to enter the industry. In an ideal world, there would be a formal vision apprenticeship run by an independent organization that could provide an alternative way to enter the industry for those without a college education. These visual apprentices will stand out from their training, equipped with the skills needed to enter the industry.
However, finding a way to establish, manage, and fund such a vision-dedicated project remains a major challenge. Some help can be obtained through PPMA Best, an independent charitable trust funded by the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association.
PPMA Best aims to encourage young people to enter the engineering field of processing, packaging, robotics, automation and industrial vision supply industries and develop their careers through education, training and support. Some UKIVA members use the resources provided by PPMA Best to introduce visual technology as a potential career path to school students through a one-day seminar in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). These STEM days were composed of 10th grade students from multiple schools and were warmly welcomed. Many students expressed interest in participating in follow-up work experience internships.
In addition, one of UKIVA's main goals is to promote the use of machine vision technology throughout the industry and education.
In the face of the reality of Brexit and the labor and skill shortage of the entire industry after the pandemic, machine vision and automation can provide real-world solutions, but this requires investment. The government provides assistance by March 31, 2023 through the Super Deduction Program (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/super-deduction), which aims to encourage companies to invest in productivity-enhancing plant and machinery assets, thereby Will help them grow. The plan allows companies to reduce tax bills by up to 25 pence for every pound invested. The broader goals of improving education and expanding vision skills require greater investment in infrastructure.
Neil Sandhu and Allan Anderson are the chairman and vice chairman of the British Industrial Vision Association, respectively.
According to a new report issued by experts from the Coventry Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) and the Loughborough University Industrial Policy Research Center, accelerating the adoption of industrial automation and robotics can significantly increase productivity.
Robotics and automation: New perspectives indicate that the slow adoption of robotics by British manufacturers and their reluctance to invest in automation have resulted in minimal productivity gains in the country in recent years.
The report provides opinions and suggestions from experts from a wide range of fields, calling for a re-emphasis on the need to increase productivity through the use of automation. Manufacturers, research institutions, equipment suppliers and the UK government work together to help companies improve their productivity through intelligent use of automation. Performance. The report also emphasized the importance of providing independent advice to new users, especially in the supply chain of SMEs.
In the foreword of the report, MTC CEO Dr. Clive Hickman said: “Although the UK has traditionally been the world’s manufacturing leader, our productivity has been surpassed by other countries. If ignored, this gap will Continue to expand. It is necessary to address the opportunities available in the manufacturing industry to restore the best and provide progress for businesses across the UK.
Mike Wilson, MTC's chief automation officer, said that the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the UK's extended supply chain, which has made people realize the need to increase the flexibility of the UK's manufacturing industry by increasing local content and returning production capacity.
He said: "A significant expansion of manufacturing capacity cannot be achieved using current methods. These methods are mainly based on manual labor and outdated equipment. The Made Smarter Review points out that the application of automation and robotics in British industry may contribute in the next ten years. 183.6 billion pounds. The solution is available and proven. The challenge in the UK is to adopt and educate the financial community to make them understand and support investment.
The report calls for more support for British companies to help them adopt at all stages, from identifying opportunities, obtaining labor support, selecting suppliers, ensuring they have the right skills and implementing solutions. It also calls for the sharing of knowledge across industries and automated supply chains to develop, demonstrate, test and reduce the risk of affordable and deployable automation, targeting those British manufacturers that have underinvested in the past.
There is also a need for better training, especially short-term courses, which will not allow key personnel to leave the company for a long time.
The report also called for special emphasis on the adoption of automation and robotics by small and medium-sized enterprises, possibly through the expansion of the "smart manufacturing" program. It also recommends the establishment of a stronger network, especially for robotics and automation, to encourage more cooperation and exchanges, share knowledge and expertise, and represent the industry to other parties including the British government.
The Manufacturing Technology Center aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university research and the development of manufacturing solutions. The report can be downloaded here: https://www.the-mtc.org/media/bdba0ls0/automation-and-robotics-research-...
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