The use of robotic systems in consumer goods industry has increased over recent years. However, food industry has not taken to the robotics technology with the same desire as in other industries due to technical and commercial reasons. Difficulties in matching human speed and flexibility, variable nature of food products, high production volume rates, lack of appropriate end-effectors, high initial investment rate of the so-called systems and low margins in food products are still blocking the range of use of robotics in food industry. In this thesis study, as a contribution to the use of robotic systems in food industry, a secondary packaging robotic system is designed. The system is composed of two basic subsystems: a dual-axis controlled robotic arm and a special-purpose gripper. Mechanical and control systems design of basic subsystems are performed within the scope of the study. During the designing process, instead of using classical design methods, modern computer-aided design and engineering tools are utilized.

This diploma thesis deals with the design of a virtual model of a robotic workplace. Robot and robotic workplaces are researched. Further, the design and safety phases of these workplaces are discussed. A conceptual model of the robotic workplace with robot IRB 4400/60 is designed, which is placed in the machine laboratory C1 of the Institute of Production Machines, Systems and Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Brno University of Technology. The virtual model is created in Process Simulate 13.0. It is designed to manipulate the dice, weld and operate the vertical machine tool.

This diploma thesis is focused on additive manufacturing, especially on technology Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and the implementation of additive manufacturing into existing departments of industry, where current elements of systems are supplemented or directly replaced by new parts produced by these technologies. This thesis solves specific project of manipulation unit for manufacturing line. The main goals of the issue are analysis of current construction design and its deficiency, designing and optimalization of this unit in relation to SLS manufacturing technology, product realization and final evaluating of reached results. Part of the thesis is also design documentation.

This diploma thesis deals with the design of robot machining of three-dimensional objects. Used method is Part to tool, in which robot holds the part in its gripper and with stacionary clamped mill, machines the part. Overally three parts for machining are designed, everyone of them shows the different style of machining. Every machining operations are described in details. For their creation was used program Mastercam. Furthermore is described transfer of the data for industrial robot using program Robotmaster and recomanded algorithm for creation of similar tasks. The design of simplified workplace for demonstrative show of the milling of all the parts is also solved.

The aim of this work was to introduce robot modelling in Microsoft Robotics Studio and to define the essential components and links for creation of robotic arm model. Thanks to gained knowledge has been created working robotic arm model and carried out experiments to lift up objects with various weight. The work consists of introduction to robotics, descriprion of Microsoft Robotis studio features, robotic arm model implementation and experiments to lift up objects.

Line following robots are a practical mechatronics solution in a world that is becoming more and more automated. With added gripping and lifting abilities, a very versatile robot can be created. The goal of this thesis was to create a prototype that could navigate a black line using infrared sensors whilst gripping and lifting a package. A working prototype was built and five different sensor placements were evaluated to assess which was optimal for linefollowing. The results showed that too close placement of the sensors led to a less stable system while more distance between the sensors made a faster and more accurate system. / Linjeföljarrobotar är en praktisk mekatroniklösning i en värld som blir allt mer automatiserad. Med grepp- och lyftförmågor kan en väldigt anpassningsbar robot skapas. Målet med detta arbete var att skapa en prototyp som kunde navigera en svart linje med hjälp av infraröda sensorer medan den greppade och lyfte ett paket. En fungerande prototyp byggdes och fem olika sensorplaceringar utvärderades för att bedöma vilken som var optimal för att följa en linje. Resultatet visade att för nära placering av sensorerna skapade instabilitet. Ett större avstånd mellan sensorerna var att föredra då detta gav ett snabbare och stabilare system.

Autonomous mobile robots are on the rise and are to be expected on the market in about 5-10 years. Several challenges need to be solved for this to happen, and the most crucial ones are to develop versatile and safe robots. The Get a Grip robot is a dynamic force adjustment gripper using inputs from two different sensory systems. The construction of the robot consists of two parallel gripper plates moved by a rack and pinion gear attached to a direct current (DC) motor. Embedded into one of the plates is a Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR) for input of the gripper’s exerted force. Mounted to the other plate is a self constructed Slip sensor used for measuring the occurrence of slip and slip rate. A surrounding crane for mounting of the gripper and lifting was also constructed. The idea of this bachelor’s thesis project is to enable lifting of objects with unknown weight without the gripper exerting more force than necessary. This is something that will be useful in both industrial applications and in household robots in the future. In order to realize the concept two different methods for calculating the gripper’s applied force were tested, one using motor current and the other using a FSR sensor. Through testing it was concluded that the FSR sensor was the method giving better accuracy and consistency. Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controllers were then tested for both setting force references for the gripper using the Slip sensor as input, and controlling the exerted force in the gripper using the FSR as input. The results led to two PID controllers thought to be sufficient as starting points for further testing of the complete system. / Mobila autonoma robotar förväntas vara på marknaden inom de närmaste 5-10 åren. För att det här ska ske är det många utmaningar som behöver lösas och de mest kritiska är att utveckla mångsidiga och säkra robotar. Get a Grip-roboten är en dynamisk kraftanpassande robotklo som tar insignaler från två olika sensorsystem. Konstruktionen består av två parallella plattor som förflyttas av kuggstänger och kugghjul drivna av en DC motor. Inbyggt i en av kloplattorna finns en tryckkänslig kraftsensor (FSR) monterad för att registrera kraften som klon genererar. På den andra kloplattan sitter en egenkonstruerad glidsensor som registrerar om glidning sker och själva glidhastighet. En kran för att montera klon och lyfta den konstruerades även. Idén bakom detta kandidatexamens projektet är att klon ska kunna lyfta ett objekt med okänd vikt utan att använda mer kraft än nödvändigt. Det är något som kommer vara användbart både vid industriella tillämpningar och hos husållsrobotar i framtiden. För att realisera konceptet testades två olika metoder för att estimera kraften klon genererar, den första genom motorströmmen och den andra genom en FSR sensor. Tester genomfördes för båda metoderna och slutsatsen blev att FSR sensorn gav bäst noggrannhet och var mest konsekvent. PID-regulatorn, för bestämning av kraftreferens, med insignal från glidsensorn och PID-regulatorn, för genererad klokraft, med insignal från FSR:n testades separat. Resultatet blev två PID-regulatorer som ansågs tillräckliga för fortsätta tester med båda regulatorerna tillsammans.

This project aims to build up a soft robotic gripper that mimics human hands and design a closedloop control system. A soft gripper model is established with Finite Element Method (FEM) to describe the relation between air pressure input and gripper deformation. The best soft gripper dimensions are selected according to the FEM model and the gripper is then fabricated with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing method. Closed-loop angle control before the soft gripper touches the object is used to ensure a precise grasp. A camera sensor is used for the acquisition of the bending angle and a pressure regulator is applied to supply the air pressure. A closed-loop experiment platform is built based on a proportional-integral (PI) controller to realize the precise deformation control of the soft gripper. Finally, the grasp of some soft or brittle objects using the soft gripper is performed as a demonstration. / Projektet syftar till att bygga upp en mjuk robotgripare som efterliknar mänskliga händer och utformar ett slutet styrsystem. Mjuk griparmodell är upprättad med Finite element Method (FEM) för att beskriva förhållandet mellan lufttrycksingång och gripar deformation. De bästa mjuka gripdimensionerna väljs enligt FEM-modellen och griparen tillverkas sedan med Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-tryckningsmetod. Vinkelstyrning med sluten slinga innan den mjuka griparen berör objektet används för att säkerställa ett exakt grepp. En kamerasensor används för att erhålla böjningsvinkeln och en tryckregulator appliceras för att tillföra lufttrycket. En experimentplattform med sluten slinga är byggd baserad på en proportionellintegrerad (PI) styrenhet för att realisera den exakta deformationskontrollen för den mjuka griparen. Slutligen utförs grepp om vissa mjuka eller spröda föremål som använder den mjuka griparen som en demonstration.

In today´s interconnected world, our lives are inextricably linked with technology, a trend set to continue. Robots, pivotal to global industry and commerce, have made an significant impact since their inception. This report proposes an approach to enhance robotic functionality by integrating a 3D camera into a gripper´s case. This integration improves robotic functions and refines how robots perform tasks, mirroring human-like capabilities. This paper outlines the design and creation process of the prototype, including considerations for its development. Extensive research was conducted on current grippers, 3D vision systems, and available 3D cameras. Moreover, the design process using CAD tools is shown and explained in detail, followed by the creation of a physical prototype through 3D printing. The study underscores the significance of such advancements in shaping the future of robotics. It emphasizes that the innovative design of these products will play a crucial role in advancing automation technology.

<p dir="ltr">This dissertation presents the findings and research conducted during my Ph.D. study, which focuses on developing grasp policies for modular end-effectors on mobile manipulation platforms operating in cluttered environments. The primary objective of this research is to enhance the performance and accuracy of robotic manipulation systems in complex, real-world scenarios. The work has potential implications for various domains, including the rapidly growing Industry 4.0 and the advancement of autonomous systems in space habitats.</p><p dir="ltr">The dissertation offers a comprehensive literature review, emphasizing the challenges faced by mobile manipulation platforms in cluttered environments and the state-of-the-art techniques for grasping and manipulation. It showcases the development and evaluation of a Modular End-Effector System (MEES) for mobile manipulation platforms, which includes the investigation of object 6D pose estimation techniques, the generation of a deep learning-based grasping dataset for MEES, the development of a suction cup gripper grasping policy (Sim-Suction), the development of a two-finger grasping policy (Sim-Grasp), and the integration of Modular End-Effector System grasping policy (Sim-MEES). The proposed methodology integrates hardware designs, control algorithms, data-driven methods, and large language models to facilitate adaptive grasping strategies that consider the unique constraints and requirements of cluttered environments.</p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, the dissertation discusses future research directions, such as further investigating the Modular End-Effector System grasping policy. This Ph.D. study aims to contribute to the advancement of robotic manipulation technology, ultimately enabling more versatile and robust mobile manipulation platforms capable of effectively interacting with complex environments.</p>