Automotive Kitting and Assembly Line Automation

AccuPickCase Study

Kitting and Assembly Line Automation

Customer

The customer is a renowned European automotive parts manufacturer. Their production line is dedicated exclusively to manufacturing air conditioners for a leading German carmaker.

Challenge

Fully Automated Kitting and Assembly Line with Limited Space and Complex Assembly Parts

The customer wanted a solution for setting up a fully automated kitting and assembly line. However, they faced challenges in arranging numerous robot arms in a limited workspace due to the bulky vibrating mechanisms and 2D vision systems, which typically require ample space.

Additionally, the customer had to handle a large number of intricate assembly parts, necessitating extensive custom mechanical design work and fine-tuning of the 2D vision system. The project demanded precise coordination among multiple robots on separate conveyors to execute ready-to-pick tasks simultaneously and swiftly.

Solution

AccuPick Streamlines Assembly Line Process and Optimizes Space Utilization

We seamlessly integrated three vision scanners with a single robot controller capable of parallel processing, optimizing space utilization while efficiently handling multiple component types on separate conveyors. Our solution transformed the assembly line process by eliminating the need for additional equipment, occupying just 1 sqm of space.

Equipped with AccuPick, Solomon’s AI-based 3D bin picking software, and SolScan, a structured light scanner, our solution excelled at accurately recognizing intricate objects. The robot could now effectively identify the correct pick-point among complex overlapping objects, meeting stringent tolerance requirements of less than 1 mm. This precise performance ensured flawless placement of the components.

Combining a high-speed structured light scanner with advanced AI algorithms, our smart bin picking system significantly reduced the cycle time to under 5 seconds for each component. The quick recognition capabilities, taking less than 2 seconds per part, contributed to this impressive efficiency.

Additionally, our multi-functional gripper design further streamlined operations by handling 2-3 different components simultaneously and accurately placing them in their designated assembly spot, enabling the robot to easily execute pick-and-place tasks, resulting in a further reduction of cycle time.

AccuPick 3D interface on a desktop monitor and a snapshot of the kitting and assembly lines in an automotive factory with a row of SolScan industrial 3D cameras and an ABB robot picking arm

Outcome

Optimized space utilization, occupying just 1 sqm of space for a fully automated assembly line
The vision system accurately recognized intricate objects and achieved precise component placement, meeting tolerance requirements of less than 1 mm
Reduced cycle time to under 5 seconds per component through quick recognition and multi-functional gripper design, improving overall efficiency and productivity

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