Authors:
E. Garcia
1
and
N. Montes
2
Affiliations:
1
Ford Spain, Spain
;
2
University CEU Cardenal Herrera, Spain
Keyword(s):
Energy Saving, Predictive Control, Velocity Control, Robot Arm, Manufacturing Lines.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Energy Efficiency and Green Manufacturing
;
Industrial Automation and Robotics
;
Industrial Engineering
;
Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics
Abstract:
The present study analyzes how to re-balance a real world manufacturing line for energy saving by means
of machine velocity reduction. Without loss of generality, the paper is focused in Industrial Robot (IR) lines
where the velocity of each robot is properly tuned using a predictive control technique. It predicts the IR
idle time for the next cycle based on the model line knowledge, the mini-term sub cycle time measurements
and simulation techniques. The proposed predictive control technique is tested off-line, using a real world
welding line model located at Factory Ford, Almussafes (Valencia). Also an estimation of the stored energy
is computed by means of an experimental test developed in a real welding unit. A discussion on how to
implement it in a real line is done at the end of the paper.