Researchers and industry collaborate to solve automation challenges
21 Aug 2024
Small and large industrial companies have challenges in the ongoing major technological transition. When industrial robots and operators are to collaborate in new ways, the human perspective needs to be included from the start. Eight manufacturing companies are participating in a newly launched transdisciplinary research project aimed at developing human-centric AI solutions.
The team behind the research project PROWIL: eight industrial companies and researchers in production technology and Work-Integrated learning at University West. Photo: University West.
Small and large industrial companies have challenges in the ongoing major technological transition. When industrial robots and operators are to collaborate in new ways, the human perspective needs to be included from the start. Eight manufacturing companies are participating in a newly launched transdisciplinary research project aimed at developing human-centric AI solutions.
Regardless of industry and company size, many industrial players find it difficult and time-consuming to implement new technology in production. When technological development is slowed down for various reasons, companies risk losing competitiveness. Researchers at University West, together with manufacturing companies from various industrial sectors, are investigating how AI and automation can be used to handle new products and production goals more effectively.
– Simply put, the PROWIL project is about adapting novel technology to humans instead of adapting humans to technology. Here, we need to work interdisciplinary (between research subjects) and transdisciplinary (joint with external partners) so our research team consists of researchers from both production technology and Work Integrated learning, as well as close collaboration with our partner companies, explains Kristina Eriksson, Associate Professor in Production Systems at University West.
Eight industrial companies are participating
An important aspect of the project is that it is carried out in close collaboration with industrial companies from various sectors. The participating companies are ANVA KSG, GKN Aerospace, Inwoco, MiMsafe, Saab Group Surveillance, Saab Group Aeronautics, Ultramare, and Volvo Buses.
– During the spring, we visited most of the companies to identify their challenges, what automation and smart solutions they are currently working with, and what their future plans look like. In the ongoing project phase we are jointly creating various cases that we will delve into. For example, implementing smart automation for worktasks that are currently performed manually, says Kristina Eriksson.
The goal is to build two industrial sizes demonstrators at University West automation lab in the project's final phase, where smart automated process solutions can be showcased.
– In addition to researchers working closely with the partner companies, three doctoral students are participating in the project, and several students are conducting theses in, for example, automation or and management together with the manufacturing companies. Overall, it is about coordinating technological development with industrial organization and management, says Kristina Eriksson.
More flexible robots
– To achieve smart automation with humans at the center, entirely new methods are needed to describe a robot's tasks, says Fredrik Danielsson, Professor of Automation at University West. We must abandon current practices of fixed programmed behaviors and instead introduce solutions where the robot is more flexible and can make its own decisions with the help of AI.
One of the companies participating in the research project is Saab Group Aeronautics in Linköping:
– We have some challenges with the products often being produced at too low a pace to justify their own automation solution. It often results in quite complicated solutions, explains Per-Anders Björk, Chief Industrialization Engineer at Saab Group Aeronautics.
– We chose to participate in this project for several reasons. We want to be able to justify and implement automation more easily, and also get help justifying purely collaborative work tasks. We hope to create a more flexible automation solution that adapts to the current situation, such as in case of material shortages or other disruptions. We also hope to gain a better understanding of how we can specify equipment requirements in upcoming projects, says Per-Anders Björk.
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The PROWIL research project is the first major interdisciplinary project within the University West's research environment Primus, where production technology and Industrial Work-Integrated Learning collaborate to better help Swedish industry meet the challenges of tomorrow. The project spans four years and is funded by the Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen).