Bin Picking Tire Rubber Compounds Using AI

Customer

The customer is a leading global tire manufacturer specializing in producing high-quality tires for a diverse range of vehicles and applications.

Challenge

Overcoming Lighting and Material Handling Difficulties

The customer faced difficulties handling rubber compounds wrapped in plastic at their tire manufacturing plant. Operating 24/7, the facility experiences fluctuating lighting conditions, especially during sunrise and sunset, which causes glare and reflectivity issues that compromise the accuracy of ordinary vision systems. Additionally, the large and irregularly shaped rubber compounds make precise, collision-free bin picking challenging.

Solution

AI-Driven Precision Bin Picking with AccuPick

AccuPick addressed these challenges by using advanced neural networks to train an AI model on various reflective scenarios, enabling the robot arms to effectively pick rubber compounds despite fluctuating lighting conditions. To manage the irregular shapes of the rubber compounds, AccuPick implemented a virtual bin that recalculated each picking position based on bin angle, preventing collisions. Furthermore, AccuPick’s compatibility with over 30 robot brands and major PLCs facilitated seamless integration into the customer’s existing tire production system, with Solomon’s bin picking software functioning as a supplementary—but essential—tool to relay information to the main controller and oversee the entire process.

Outcome

Seamless integration with existing systems
Effective bin collision avoidance
Enhanced material handling and identification with AI