Students at RoboAI Academy had the opportunity to create solutions for an interesting automation need. The need arose during the company's packaging process, where errors occasionally occurred in manually packed supply packages, and the company wanted a solution that could be easily modified and replicated. The project group developed two different prototypes, both of which feature Arduino-controlled LED lights that assist the packer in selecting the right components for the accessory bags according to the order.
A simple solution was sought to fight the errors
Favorit Tuote Oy designs and manufactures plastic products, and its services include product assembly, contract manufacturing, and advanced development. The company wanted to find an inexpensive and easily replicable way to ensure that all the necessary parts are packed and included in the accessory packages (Picture 1). The project group first considered using a combination of sensors and scales as a solution and explored various options for implementing the system. The idea of using machine vision for quality assurance also came up in the first meeting, so that was also investigated at the beginning.
Sensors as a solution
Due to time constraints, it was decided to focus on a sensor-based solution for the project, and machine vision was therefore left out. The project team researched different types of sensors and decided to use ultrasonic sensors. This resulted in two different implementations: in one, the sensors and LED lights were attached to an aluminium profile, and in the other, the sensors and LED lights were placed in component boxes. In both solutions, the system is controlled by Arduino: the ultrasonic sensors detect movement on the production line, and the LED lights indicate whether a particular component has been picked or left unpicked (Picture 2).
Learning and concrete results
In this project, students were able to develop their automation skills from many different perspectives. The project group studied how to use Arduino, deepened their knowledge of programming and sensor technology, quality control, and professional communication. They also became familiar with 3D design and printing, as well as budgeting and scheduling. Continuous and easy communication with the company ensured that the design process ran smoothly and cooperation was seamless. In terms of the project objectives, both prototypes met the targets, and two functional solutions were presented to the company, which can be further developed into a system suitable for production use.
Thank you Favorit Tuote for a very good and educating project topic!
More information about this and other RoboAI Academy projects:
Chief Researcher and Principal Lecturer
Mirka Leino
tel. 044 710 3182
mirka.leino@samk.fi
Researcher and Lecturer
Janika Tommiska
tel. 044 710 6332
janika.tommiska@samk.fi
