Innovative Training Solution for the Installation of Collaborative Robotics in Manufacturing Sectors Erasmus Project

Project Title

Innovative Training Solution for the Installation of Collaborative Robotics in Manufacturing Sectors

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

During this year 2020, 1.7 M of industrial robots will be installed worldwide, being Asia the biggest market followed by Europe[1]. During the last year, the number of installed robots in Asia grew 1% (total 283,080 units) while in Europe it increased by 14% (75,650 units more) when the annual average growth rate is of 13%[1] since 2013 Manufacturing sectors represent the 14% of the EU’s GDP [2] and involve more than 30 million workers [3]. In order to improve or maintain these numbers, Collaborative Robotics seem like the perfect tool for the European manufacturing sectors. Other emerging countries are being competitive due to their younger, cheaper and bigger workforce while European labour force is ageing and facing work-related disorders, which is has turned out costly for healthcare systems
According to the World Economic Forum, during 2022, 133 M job positions will be created while and 65 M will be aton risk of dissappearing. The continuous training of workers will be key in order to have achieve a smooth transition in terms of employability and new jobs in EU[4] In order to take advantage of robots’ productivity it is needed more human resources.

Collaborative Robotics will foster the employee training and adaptation to Industry 4.0 while improving his health and work conditions. Only ISO-TS 15066 regulates Collaborative Robotics. In these contexts, TOURINGS proposes a training course totally aligned with the mentioned standard, addressing: I) safety requirements for the human-robot interaction, II) ergonomic assessment in human-robot interaction, III) installation of collaborative robotics in the assembly line, and IV) design of different robot modules and behaviours to address the production line needs
TOURINGS aims to develop a liquid education approach, ”when the world is constantly changing, education should be fast enough to add to it” [5]. This approach will address a highly-interconnected training covering all the aspects related to Collaborative Robotics, its installation, design, human interaction, use and digital measurement

TOURINGS will consider different features of Collaborative Robotics; technical aspects, human-robot interaction, installation in the assembly line or robot design aspects. Collaborative Robotics make assembly lines more flexible, but it is important to install them without disrupting the balance of the production line. TOURINGS will address cycle times and process reengineering in the assembly line, it will cover ergonomics assessment of the human-robot interaction by following the ISO/TS 15066, Human Digital models and Human Digital Simulations along with the RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) method. The project will also cover technical aspects in different robots’ module and behaviour design or workstation design
TOURINGS consists of six entities covering Higher Education and Vocational Education and Traning institutions, Research Centres and a National Standardisation Body, introducing different expertise related to Collaborative Robotics, teaching, human resources management, assembly line management, ICT tools and Project Management. This collaboration is addressed to significant labour and societal challenges like work-related musculoeskeletal disorders (WMSDs) or lack of knowledge of human-robot interaction

TOURINGS will perform the following activities
-Comparative analyses, questionnaires, real life study cases and a report of the current situation and potential evolution of Collaborative Robotics within European Manufacturing Sectors
-Development of an Educational Philosophy and Joint Curriculum related to the target groups needs. It will be the basis for the development of knowledge, skills and competences included in the learning content
-Development of interactive training materials and assessment methods
-6 transnational meetings and 5 multiplier events (1 per country)
-The development of the Blueprint and the implementation of its action plan
-Management and implementation tasks, Quality & Risk Management tasks, Dissemination and Promotion activities

TOURINGS will bring innovative didactic training content and tools to enable Manufacturing companies in the participation of the ISO/TC 15066 development due to its alignment. The training course will also foster Collaborative Robotics as new creative language. The project results and activities developed will help the partners raise awareness among policy makers about the weight of aligning educational programmes with societal needs and deploying these concepts in educational and labour policies

[1]https://ifr.org/downloads/press2018/Executive%20Summary%20WR%2019%20Industrial%20Robots.pdf
[2]https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.ZS?end=2018&location=EU&start=2006
[3]https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/10086.pdf
[4]http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf
[5]Bauman, Z. (2006) Education in Liquid Modernity

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 443845 Eur

Project Coordinator

HOCHSCHULE KARLSRUHE-TECHNIK UND WIRTSCHAFT & Country: DE

Project Partners

• ASOCIACION EMPRESARIAL DE INVESTIGACION CENTRO TECNOLOGICO DEL MUEBLE Y LA MADERA DE LA REGION DE MURCIA
• OU IMECC
• INSTITUT MINES TELECOM BUSINESS SCHOOL
• KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
• UNINFO ASSOCIAZIONE