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APRIL

Multipurpose robotics for handling of deformable materials in manufacturing processes

Field
European
Date
01/04/2020 - 31/07/2023
Industry
  • INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES/ CONSUMER GOODS/ GARMENTS
Budget
7926391,25
Funded by

European Commission - H2020

Website
Video

PROJECT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

APRIL aims to implement and deploy market-oriented, low-cost, multi-purpose robots that support semi-automated tasks in production lines of manufactures using flexible or deformable materials in industries of any size or domain. APRIL will use fine manipulation and innovative computer vision technology, using information from different modular sensors. APRIL will provide innovative sensor and computer vision technology that will allow detecting slippage, estimating weight, dynamic center of mass or regulating gripping forces while handling deformable objects of different types (e.g. paper, chicken breast, shoe insoles, viscoelastic textile materials, cables, etc.). A multi-purpose hands-on approach in combination with different sensors, which will connect all robots to a cloud-based knowledge base containing the information needed to perform the different jobs. The overall goal of the APRIL project is to prototype low-cost, agile, market-oriented and easily reusable multi-purpose autonomous robots that will handle, assemble or process different soft and flexible products/materials in a production line environment.

APRIL aims to implement and deploy market-oriented, low-cost, multi-purpose robots that support semi-automated tasks in production lines of manufactures using flexible or deformable materials in industries of any size or domain. APRIL will use fine manipulation and innovative computer vision technology, using information from different modular sensors. APRIL will provide innovative sensor and computer vision technology that will allow detecting slippage, estimating weight, dynamic center of mass or regulating gripping forces while handling deformable objects of different types (e.g. paper, chicken breast, shoe insoles, viscoelastic textile materials, cables, etc.). A multi-purpose hands-on approach in combination with different sensors, which will connect all robots to a cloud-based knowledge base containing the information needed to perform the different jobs. The overall goal of the APRIL project is to prototype low-cost, agile, market-oriented and easily reusable multi-purpose autonomous robots that will handle, assemble or process different soft and flexible products/materials in a production line environment.

Impact

Robots integrated into the manufacturing processes will operate in several critical steps affecting production, packaging and quality assurance at the various manufacturers involved as pilot sites. On the one hand, the introduction of the APRIL system will lead to an increase in safety and health conditions related to working environments. On the other hand, APRIL will enable an increase in productivity and the quality of end products, which will lead to greater competitiveness of European industry.

Success stories

The APRIL system will be implemented in six different use case demonstrators across Europe.

Entities

INESCOP / SHADOW (UK) / PRENSILIA (IT) / ITT (IT) / TREE TECHNOLOGY (ES) / KONTOR46 (IT) / OSAI (IT) / ASINCAR (ES) / DFKI (GE) / INCM (PT) / SILVERLINE (TR) / LUKASIEWICZ (PL) / UPM (ES) / THE BIOROBOTICS INSTITUTE SANT´ANNA (IT)

Contact information

Francias Aran Ais
R&D&I Coordinator

INESCOP

Technological capabilities

Robotics
Collaborative robots