Co-Robot System
The Co-Robot System was a Semester project cooperated with the german electrical manufactururer Wöhner. The project supposed to improve the existing products and at the same time generate new ideas for the new markets.
Client /
Wöhner
Role /
Semester Project
Agency /
Hfg-Offenbach
Year /
2019
Research & Forschung
Wöhner GmbH & Co. KG is an electrical engineering company that manufactures and sells products for the distribution and control of electrical energy. Wöhner presented itself innovatively from the beginning and was one of the first companies to replace porcelain as an insulating material with plastic.
The goal of this project is to improve the existing product, electic box, of the company with design logic and design methods.
1. The frame is the basic structure of the electric box, it supports the main weigh of the box and protect the electric components inside
2. The electric switches are the main functional part of the box.
3. The documentation files are attached to the facility so that the workers can recordand maintain the facility.
4. The rail system make it simple to install and maintain the components.
5. The radiating vents allows hot air convect inside the box.
Idea & User Scenario
After researching the lattice system and fractal, the basic knowledge of modularity and automation is deeply understood. After careful consideration, the end development of the control cabinet came out with higher performance and lower costs. It consists of two parts: the shelf system and the robot system. The shelf system provides the workstations for the robot, which can climb on the surface of the shelf thanks to the four 3-dimensionally movable legs.
The Co-Robot System allows the techniker to work with assistance of a robotic automation system. The components are gaven as an input to the system.
With real-tiime feedback, the techniker can control the robot through an user iinterface to install or replace the component.
The automation system can transport and install the components without help of human labor, which makes the system safer and more user friendly.
Fire extinguishing system ,emergency system and risk evaluate and detect system are intergrated into the grid system, this keeps it either for the workers or the system itself safe.
Idea & Concept Mapping
The ideas were generated into two directions, traditional and radical. As the sketches showed, the idea coordinate system was built up, and all the ideas locate in the position of the system.
Design & Details
Functional esthetic is an important point for design to generate the idea. Details are the key points for the esthetic. As we can see here, the esthetic form is not only under the rule of the traditional design theories, form follows function, also the elements of elegant culture of Neo Deco and product language of futurism.
With the camera and data chain, the robot will remain connected to the control system, allowing engineers and workers to control the status of the control cabinet behind the screen.
The connection of the shelving system is the focus of the design. With the auto-developing algorithm, you get the minimum surface area from the connection. This improves the structure ideally for the movement of the robot.
The robot is integrated with the camera and support arms. The arms can support the component and then connect the line. In order to further develop the autoinstall system, the aesthetics and functional module of the component should be further designed. But this is not necessary for this project.
