Nowadays it is impossible to imagine industry without robots. Safety laser scanners mostly safeguard dangerous areas and protect people from collisions. But optical sensors have their limitations, for instance when plastic surfaces, dust or smoke obstruct their line of sight. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new, high-frequency radar scanner that cuts through these obstacles. It can monitor its environment in a 360-degree radius, making it ideal for safety applications wherever people and robots work together.
Increasing connectivity of production systems in “smart” industry 4.0 operations is driving the interaction between people and machines. The trend is moving towards industrial robots that operate without protective barriers. A prerequisite for this level of co-working is that people must not be endangered at any time – but that is precisely the Achilles’ heel of collaboration between people and robots. Currently, laser scanners are used to monitor the danger zone around machinery, and to stop the machine as soon as a person enters the zone. However, optical sensors do not always achieve reliable results under changing light conditions. They also do not work if smoke, dust or fog limits visibility.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF have developed a compact modular 360-degree radar scanner that is superior to optical sensors in many respects. This makes it a perfect choice for safety applications for human-machine collaboration. The radar works with millimeter waves that are reflected by the objects to be observed, such as people (see box: Radar with 360-degree vision). Transmitted and received signals are processed and evaluated using numerical algorithms. Based on the calculations, it is possible to determine the distance, position and speed of the objects. If several radar units are used, an object’s location in the room can also be determined as can the direction in which it is moving.
“Our radar is not focused on one point. Instead, it sends out millimeter waves in a club shape. Unlike a laser scanner, the signals are reflected even when visibility is obstructed by an object,” explains IAF scientist Christian Zech. The laser scanner can reliably measure the distance and the position of a target – a person, for instance – only if the target is working in an unobstructed line of sight. However, IAF’s 360-degree radar can penetrate optically opaque material (see box), which means it can identify the employee even if there are boxes, cardboard walls or other obstacles in the way.
High-frequency board technology for cost-effective systems
Previous millimeter wave radar systems – based on waveguides – are bulky and expensive. IAF’s scanner has a diameter of only 20 centimeters and is 70 centimeters high. The high-frequency module featuring indium gallium arsenide semiconductor technology is no larger than a pack of cigarettes and is located in the base of the scanner. “These days, millimeter wave applications are dominated by waveguides that are extremely expensive to produce. Thanks to a cost-effective mounting and interconnection technology as well as specially developed circuit boards, we can replace the wave guides with our high-frequency module that has been integrated onto a board measuring just 78 x 42 x 28 millimeters,” says Zech. The high-frequency module, which is the key component of the radar scanner, was developed by IAF researchers in close collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institutes for Reliability and Microintegration IZM and for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA.
In addition to the signal processor, the complete system comprises a transmitting and receiving antenna with a dielectric – that is, electric non-conducting – lens. A self-turning mirror affixed at a 45 degree angle deflects the millimeter waves, guides them, and evaluates the entire room. Thanks to the use of a dielectric antenna, the angle of aperture can be freely selected. That means nearby objects as small as a centimeter in size can be detected as easily as large surfes that are far away. The system‘s range of operation is dependent on the application and can be up to several hundred meters.
The scanner includes an Ethernet interface and is therefore suitable for industry 4.0 applications.
Precise distance measurement
In order to evaluate the measurement accuracy and reliability of the 360-degree radar, the researchers carried out hundreds of measurements in the lab. Maximum deviation from the mean was less than a micrometer; standard deviation was 0.3 micrometers.
The researchers will present a system demonstrator at Hannover Messe (Hall 2, Booth C16/C22) from April 25-29, 2016 and again at the SENSOR+TEST in Nuremberg (Hall 5, Booth 5-248) from May 10-12, 2016.
Learn more: Radar with 360° vision
The Latest on: Industry 4.0
via Google News
The Latest on: Industry 4.0
- What educational model does Vietnam need in the 4.0 era?on December 1, 2019 at 4:11 am
Vietnamese education is struggling to find an educational philosophy. In the context of the 4.0 industry era, education cannot operate with 1.0 technology. In the digital age, classrooms must not ...
- Calumet Area Industrial Commission luncheon to discuss 'Manufacturing 4.0 and Beyond'on November 30, 2019 at 7:30 am
Allen will discuss "Manufacturing 4.0 and Beyond" at the luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Beverly ... "Allen is an entrepreneur and technology strategist who most recently concentrated on ...
- Displaced by Industry 4.0on November 29, 2019 at 5:51 pm
The second one saw the start of mass production and assembly lines using electricity. And the third, computers and automation. We are now in the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, which ...
- Taking steps to advance Thailand's Industry 4.0 ambitions: The Nation contributoron November 29, 2019 at 4:36 pm
In his commentary, the writer says that seeing ride-hailing versus traditional taxi industry as an "either/or" choice is limiting. BANGKOK (THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) -The announcement by the ...
- FOA to adopt industry 4.0 technology in agricultureon November 29, 2019 at 3:32 am
JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 29 Nov – The Farmers’ Organisation Authority (FOA) aims to adopt agriculture technology that is in tandem with developments in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). Its ...
- South Korea forges close ties with SEA amid ‘Industry 4.0’on November 24, 2019 at 7:10 am
He went on to say, “Using free trade to expand commerce, fostering small and medium-sized enterprises for an inclusive economy, and promoting green growth, such as an eco-friendly bio-industry – these ...
- Industry 4.0 in Life Sciences: A “5C” Point of Viewon November 21, 2019 at 7:35 am
McKinsey & Company describes Industry 4.0 as the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector that is being driven by four disruptions: the astonishing rise in data volumes, ...
- Everything You Need to Know About the Right Data Strategy for IoT and Industry 4.0on November 20, 2019 at 11:32 pm
What really is this new era we’re approaching so rapidly? Enter Industry 4.0. Stay put as I walk you through the exciting changes catalyzed by artificial intelligence (AI), Internet-of-Things (IoT), ...
- Global Industry 4.0 Market Analysis 2019 – Dynamics, Trends, Revenue, Regional Segmented, Outlook & Forecast Till 2025on November 20, 2019 at 10:05 pm
The report of the Global Industry 4.0 Market for the years 2019 to 2025 starts from the basics such as an overview of the market profile. Technologies, as well as applications that play a key role in ...
- Nokia paves way for Industry 4.0 with more than 120 private wireless network customerson November 20, 2019 at 4:27 pm
Nokia paves way for Industry 4.0 with more than 120 private wireless network customers 19 November 2019 Espoo, Finland — Nokia today announced that it has deployed private wireless networks for more ...
via Bing News