Advanced task planning and control in the semi-automatic sorting of recyclabe material
FP4 — Training and Mobility of Researchers
- Duration
- 1997-01-01 → 1998-12-31
- EU contribution
- —
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- RGI
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Project objective
Research objectives and content Due to the continually rising intake of waste and the further reduction of the capacity of dumps, many countries of the European Community have been seeking solutions for the disposal of waste since the early 70's. During this process, especially in recent years, a variety of collection and reduction systems were developed. Yet, recycling of wasted materials seems to be the most effective way to solve this challenging problem. In general, for technical reasons, it is necessary to sort the material by group during the recycling process. Currently, this sorting is done manually on so-called reading conveyor belts. Unfortunately. this method allows for increasing physical and hygienic burdens on the personnel. This results in a higher rate of absence due to illness, a higher turnover among the employees, and low motivation. At the 1996 Hannover Industry Convention, the FhG-IPA (Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technique and Automation, Stuttgart, Germany) presented a robotic cell for sorting recyclable material, constituted by two transport conveyor belts and one climbing conveyor belt, a Scara SR 80 E robot, and a human-machine interface. This cell is only semi-automatic", because the material is identified and localized by the service personnel by means of a touch-screen system. In order to improve the system performance, enhance the degree of automation of the cell, and allow its use within different collection and sorting systems, many theoretical and practical aspects have to be developed. Based on a task-based model of the system, an improved task-planner will be designed and, accordingly, advanced control algorithms will be implemented, and the needed improvements in the sensorial features of the cell will be studied. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) The applicant will have the opportunity of implementing her research work through the experimental equipment available at the advanced robotics lab of the chosen host institution, enlarging her know-how by dealing with sensor technology and real-time programming issues. Furthermore, challenging problems of practical interest will be faced, arising in service robotics. Links with industry / industrial relevance The presented project will contribute to the development of a project of common interest sponsored by the Ministry of Economy of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, and managed by the Fraunhofer IPA. Six German companies participate to this project, among which a company dealing with waste sorting systems (Zehner Abfallsortieranlagen Heilbronn), a recycling center (WRZ Horger GmbH & Co. KG, Sontheim/Brenz), and a machine manufacturer (Maschinenfabrik Bezner GmbH & Co. KG, Ravensburg)."
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union