Multipurpose Robotic Manufacturing Cell

Continental Automotive Systems seeks to incorporate collaborative robots, designed to work side by side with human workers, into its existing assembly lines to increase plant efficiency and effectiveness. The design team was charged with designing and constructing a mounting frame for use in a collaborative manufacturing cell that can be integrated into current Continental assembly lines, where components are manually transferred from one stage to another. The team’s collaborative manufacturing cell consists of a robotic arm, a MicroRAX frame, multiple pneumatic grippers, and a proximity sensor for safety. The manufacturing cell automatically transfers components from one location on the assembly line to another. The frame was designed so that the robotic arm could attach multiple grippers, which allows the manufacturing cell to transfer multiple components at once. The implementation of a collaborative assembly line robot will improve productivity, save space, and reduce cost.