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WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN AUTOMATION
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Comau uses AI to enhance battery manufacturing
Turin-based supplier of advanced industrial automation products and systems, Comau, has created an innovative, in-line testing and quality control system that optimises the construction and assembly of batteries. Its range of vision systems of Machine Inspection Recognition Archetypes, or MI.RA, now include its newest solution called MI.RA/Thermography. Designed for industrial-scale battery manufacturing, MI.RA/Thermography uses thermal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to perform non-invasive automated assessment and control of welded joints, to ensure battery integrity and prevent waste. Its non-destructive testing methodology protects cycle times without changing the existing manufacturing layout. Battery packs are made of a large number of individual battery cells that are structurally held and electrically connected by welded joints. High electrical resistance, due to poor joint quality, can create high energy loss and heat generation, thus increasing the joint temperature, creating potential safety issues and reducing efficiency. By automatically assessing surface defects and the electrical resistance of each joint before final assembly, MI.RA/Thermography can save manufacturers time and costs.
“High-precision joining is vital in the assembly and integrity of a battery, and the combined use of infrared vision and artificial intelligence enables Comau to non-invasively identify esthetic, structural and electrical defects directly within the manufacturing process,” said Giovanni Di Stefano, Chief Technology Officer for Electrification at Comau.
The system doesn’t require an additional power source, since it’s based on the in-line acquisition of thermal images that are immediately pre-processed, cropped and analysed via a previously-acquired knowledge-base.
ith the full economic repercussions of a global pandemic still to come, now might
not be considered the most auspicious time to size up significant capital expenditure for your business. But, with the current upheaval and the uncertainty it brings, an investment in automation is exactly what historically
cautious UK manufacturers should be looking at right now. While the future may be less easy to predict than six months ago, it may nevertheless open some unexpected new opportunities. If there is a key takeaway from the events of the past few months, it is the need to adopt a mindset that prepares for the uncharted unpredictability of the “new normal”. The saying “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” has probably never been more apt than it is at the current time. Offering the flexibility to handle sudden and unexpected changes in production, robots are the ideal solution for these unpredictable times. Unlike most insurance policies that get paid for but are rarely
used, robots can provide tangible returns from the outset. A major benefit is their flexibility. Robotic automation on manufacturing and packing lines is programmable – and reprogrammable, enabling them to handle changes in the type and quantity of products, with the ability to operate around the clock, if needed. With the growing simplicity afforded by developments in
programming technology that enable even the least experienced operator to quickly get to grips with using and configuring a robot, investing in robotic automation can be key to achieving a production line that can be quickly adjusted to changing circumstances. Today, the higher the level of automation in a factory (and the less
reliant it is on manual operations), the better-positioned it will be for whatever lies ahead to meet variable levels of demand. Ultimately, the company that prepares for tomorrow will be the one most likely to succeed tomorrow. There is already plenty of compelling evidence proving why integrating robotic automation makes increasing sense for manufacturing stability in the future. As more manufacturers make a switch to robots to help meet their challenges, this evidence is set to become even stronger and more compelling.
Nigel Platt LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | September 2020
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