2024
Authors
Brilhante, M; Rebelo, PM; Oliveira, PM; Sobreira, H; Costa, P;
Publication
ROBOT 2023: SIXTH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS, VOL 1
Abstract
Since creating universally capable robots is challenging for a single manufacturer, a diverse fleet of robots from various manufacturers is utilized. However, these heterogeneous fleets encounter communication and interoperability issues. As a result, there is a growing need for a standardized interface that is capable of communicating, controlling and managing a diverse fleet without these interoperability issues. This paper presents a translation software module capable of controlling an autonomous mobile robot and communicating with a ROS-based robot fleet manager using the VDA5050 Standard and exchanging information via the MQTT communication protocol, aiming at flexibility and control across different robot brands. The effectiveness of the software in controlling a mobile robot via the VDA5050 standard was demonstrated by the results. It accurately analysed data from the Robot Fleet Manager, converted it into VDA 5050 JSON messages and skilfully translated it back into ROS messages. The robot's behavior remained consistent before and after the VDA5050 implementation.
2024
Authors
Rebelo, PM; Lima, J; Soares, SP; Oliveira, PM; Sobreira, H; Costa, P;
Publication
SENSORS
Abstract
The flexibility and versatility associated with autonomous mobile robots (AMR) have facilitated their integration into different types of industries and tasks. However, as the main objective of their implementation on the factory floor is to optimize processes and, consequently, the time associated with them, it is necessary to take into account the environment and congestion to which they are subjected. Localization, on the shop floor and in real time, is an important requirement to optimize the AMRs' trajectory management, thus avoiding livelocks and deadlocks during their movements in partnership with manual forklift operators and logistic trains. Threeof the most commonly used localization techniques in indoor environments (time of flight, angle of arrival, and time difference of arrival), as well as two of the most commonly used indoor localization methods in the industry (ultra-wideband, and ultrasound), are presented and compared in this paper. Furthermore, it identifies and compares three industrial indoor localization solutions: Qorvo, Eliko Kio, and Marvelmind, implemented in an industrial mobile platform, which is the main contribution of this paper. These solutions can be applied to both AMRs and other mobile platforms, such as forklifts and logistic trains. In terms of results, the Marvelmind system, which uses an ultrasound method, was the best solution.
2024
Authors
Caldana, D; Carvalho, R; Rebelo, PM; Silva, MF; Costa, P; Sobreira, H; Cruz, N;
Publication
ROBOT 2023: SIXTH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS, VOL 1
Abstract
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) are seeing an increased introduction in distinct areas of daily life. Recently, their use has expanded to intralogistics, where forklift type AMR are applied in many situations handling pallets and loading/unloading them into trucks. One of the these vehicles requirements, is that they are able to correctly identify the location and status of pallets, so that the forklifts AMR can insert the forks in the right place. Recently, some commercial sensors have appeared in the market for this purpose. Given these considerations, this paper presents a comparison of the performance of two different approaches for pallet detection: using a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sensor and a custom developed application based on Artificial Intelligence algorithms applied to an RGB-D camera, where both the RGB and depth data are used to estimate the position of the pallet pockets.
2024
Authors
Silva, MF; Rebelo, PM; Sobreira, H; Ribeiro, F;
Publication
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION AND INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING: ESTABLISHING BRIDGES FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS, FAIM 2023, VOL 2
Abstract
Logistics chains are being increasingly developed due to several factors, among which the exponential growth of e-commerce. Crossdocking is a logistics strategy used by several companies from varied economic sectors, applied in warehouses and distribution centres. In this context, it is the objective of the CrossLog - Automatic Mixed-Palletizing for Crossdocking Logistics Centers Project, to investigate and study an automated and collaborative crossdocking system, capable of moving and managing the flow of products within the warehouse in the fastest and safest way. In its scope, this paper describes the concept and architecture envisioned for the crossdocking system developed in the scope of the CrossLog Project. One of its main distinguishing characteristics is the use of Autonomous Mobile Robots for performing much of the operations traditionally performed by human operators in today's logistics centres.
2023
Authors
Pereira, D; Matos, D; Rebelo, P; Ribeiro, F; Costa, P; Lima, J;
Publication
ROBOT2022: FIFTH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE: ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS, VOL 2
Abstract
There is an increasing need for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in industrial environments. The capability of autonomous movement and transportation of items in industrial environments provides a significant increase in productivity and efficiency. This need, coupled with the possibility of controlling groups of heterogeneous robots, simultaneously addresses a wide range of tasks with different characteristics in the same environment, further increasing productivity and efficiency. This paper will present an implementation of a system capable of coordinating a fleet of heterogeneous robots with robustness. The implemented system must be able to plan a safe and efficient path for these different robots. To achieve this task, the TEA* (Time Enhanced A*) graph search algorithm will be used to coordinate the paths of the robots, along with a graph decomposition module that will be used to improve the efficiency and safety of this system. The project was implemented using the ROS framework and the Stage simulator. Results validate the proposed approach since the system was able to coordinate a fleet of robots in various different tests efficiently and safely, given the heterogeneity of the robots.
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