Collaborative robots (cobots), designed to work with human operators, are increasingly being adopted by SMEs due to their flexibility, ease of use, and ability to enhance productivity and safety. This thesis explores the connection between automation and SME adaptability, concentrating on the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies the programming of a robotic system realized in collaboration with Sinta, an Italian robotics company leader in the sector. Specifically, it focuses on the integration of Techman collaborative robots with the Flexibowl feeding system. The research centers on evaluating the latest API libraries released for TMflow, a versatile programming environment provided by Techman Robots which allows the implementation of customized tools to be integrated. By examining the capabilities and limitations of the API libraries, the thesis identifies the most effective approach for creating a user-friendly GUI. This interface would allow operators to configure and program the coordinated movement of the Techman robot and Flexibowl system by simply inputting relevant data, motion parameters, and vision settings — avoiding the necessity for manual coding. The successful implementation of this GUI not only enhances the service offerings of Sinta, but also empowers SMEs to adopt advanced robotics with greater independence and efficiency. By reducing the reliance on specialized technicians for setup and reconfiguration tasks, the solution contributes to make the production environment more agile and responsive. This thesis details the research and development process undertaken to achieve these goals, including the theoretical foundations of collaborative robotics and programming languages. It also provides a comprehensive description of the GUI implementation process, along with an analysis of the results and suggestions for future improvements. The work ultimately aims to support the broader adoption of collaborative robotics in small industrial applications, thereby enhancing the operational capabilities of SMEs in a competitive global market.
I robot collaborativi (cobots), progettati per lavorare al fianco degli impiegati, sono adottati dalle PMI in maniera crescente grazie alla loro flessibilità, facilità di utilizzo e capacità di migliorare la produttività e la sicurezza sul posto di lavoro. La seguente tesi si pone l’obiettivo di indagare la connessione tra automazione e adattabilità delle PMI, concentrandosi sullo sviluppo di un’interfaccia grafica utente (GUI) per semplificare la programmazione di un sistema robotico, realizzata in collaborazione con Sinta, un’azienda di robotica italiana leader nel settore. Nello specifico, si focalizza sull’integrazione di un robot collaborativo Techman con un sistema di alimentazione denominato Flexibowl.La ricerca è centrata sullo studio delle recenti librerie API rilasciate per TMflow, un ambiente di programmazione versatile sviluppato da Techman Robots, che permettono l’implementazione di componenti customizzati integrabili. Analizzando le possibilità e i limiti delle librerie API, la tesi identifica l’approccio più efficace per realizzare una GUI user-friendly. Questa interfaccia consentirebbe all’operatore di configurare e programmare la coordinazione del robot Techman con il dispositivo Flexibowl semplicemente fornendo come input parametri di movimento e impostazioni per la visione - evitando la necessità di codificarla manualmente. L’implementazione della GUI permette di potenziare il servizio offerto da Sinta e supportare l’indipendenza nell’adozione di sistemi robotici avanzati. Riducendo l’esigenza di dipendere da tecnici specializzati per operazioni di setup e riconfigurazione, la soluzione contribuisce a rendere l’ambiente produttivo più reattivo. Questa tesi descrive la ricerca intrapresa al fine di raggiungere questi obiettivi, comprendendo i fondamenti teorici riguardanti la robotica collaborativa e i linguaggi di programmazione utilizzati. Inoltre, offre una presentazione globale del processo di sviluppo della GUI, insieme ad un’analisi dei risultati e a indicazioni su potenziali miglioramenti futuri. In ultimo, il progetto mira a supportare un’adozione più diffusa della robotica collaborativa in applicazioni industriali di piccole dimensioni, aumentando le capacità operazionali delle PMI in un mercato globale competitivo.
Flexible configuration: a user-friendly interface for robotic systems
GUIDA, MARIO
2023/2024
Abstract
Collaborative robots (cobots), designed to work with human operators, are increasingly being adopted by SMEs due to their flexibility, ease of use, and ability to enhance productivity and safety. This thesis explores the connection between automation and SME adaptability, concentrating on the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies the programming of a robotic system realized in collaboration with Sinta, an Italian robotics company leader in the sector. Specifically, it focuses on the integration of Techman collaborative robots with the Flexibowl feeding system. The research centers on evaluating the latest API libraries released for TMflow, a versatile programming environment provided by Techman Robots which allows the implementation of customized tools to be integrated. By examining the capabilities and limitations of the API libraries, the thesis identifies the most effective approach for creating a user-friendly GUI. This interface would allow operators to configure and program the coordinated movement of the Techman robot and Flexibowl system by simply inputting relevant data, motion parameters, and vision settings — avoiding the necessity for manual coding. The successful implementation of this GUI not only enhances the service offerings of Sinta, but also empowers SMEs to adopt advanced robotics with greater independence and efficiency. By reducing the reliance on specialized technicians for setup and reconfiguration tasks, the solution contributes to make the production environment more agile and responsive. This thesis details the research and development process undertaken to achieve these goals, including the theoretical foundations of collaborative robotics and programming languages. It also provides a comprehensive description of the GUI implementation process, along with an analysis of the results and suggestions for future improvements. The work ultimately aims to support the broader adoption of collaborative robotics in small industrial applications, thereby enhancing the operational capabilities of SMEs in a competitive global market.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/226929