Industrial applications with cooperating robots for the flexible assembly

This article discusses the key features of cooperating robotic cells in the automotive assembly, highlighting the key elements in the engineers’ decision-making process, while designing and implementing an assembly line for the Body In White. The main issues, affecting the performance of cooperating robotic cells, are discussed with the aid of a case study, where two different scenarios are compared. The first scenario uses a conventional fixture-based configuration of a robotic cell for performing a welding operation, while the second features the use of cooperating robots. The cases are compared with the aid of a simulation platform, and future potential developments are also discussed.