Method for the evaluation of layout options for a human-robot collaboration.

During times of flexible production, the human-robot collaboration has the potential for flexible automation within the assembly process. Optimization of manual assembly workstations focuses on the workspace layout in particular. The storage boxes are placed within the grasping area of the human in order to save time. Regarding an application in a human-robot collaboration, there are several criteria for finding the appropriate layout for an assembly task. This paper describes identified criteria regarding the layout which have an influence on an efficient collaboration. These criteria include amongst others the movement lengths of human and the robot, the freedom of movement of the human depending on the robot's position, and the flexibility of the robot to perform a certain action. These criteria are used for an evaluation method in order to find the most fitting layout for the assembly task being considered. For the evaluation, the user provides inputs such as the percentages of various defined operating modes or defines the criteria, which should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]