On completion of this module along with previous knowledge gained, the student should have a very good understanding of the theory, equipment and implementation methods of modern automation systems and should be able to work autonomously in such an environment.
Robotics
Specifications of industrial robots: degrees of freedom, co-ordinate systems, repeatability, accuracy, control resolution, working envelope, payload, tool centre point etc. Robot types: Cartesian, cylindrical, spherical, SCARA. Selection of drive and effectors and sensors.Control of robotic devices, path planning, incremental control, continuous path, servo control, closed loop systems. Mobile robotics: applications & positioning strategies. Automatically Guided Vehicles (AGVs). Overview of flexible manufacturing robot work cells and vision guided robotic motion.
Automated Materials Handling
Materials handling equipment types and numerical analysis: conveyors, indexers, walking beams, bowl feeders, orienting mechanism, indexing mechanisms, transfer mechanisms. Materials retrieval systems.
Production Operations
Analysis and description of automated production line schemes: in-line, segmented in-line and rotary. Design for manufacturing, automated assembly design rules and methods. Flexible manufacturing systems. CE marking of equipment, risk assessments, safety controls & interlocks.
Manufacturing Networks, Data Capture & Processing
Hierarchy of networks in manufacturing information systems and automation network types. Part tracking, automatic data capture, barcode technologies, RFID technology and information processing in manufacturing.
Introduction to Industrial Vision Systems
Solid-state image sensors, basic optical and lighting techniques, image acquisition hardware, image processing and feature extraction, application areas and case studies.
The module will be delivered by weekly in person lectures and practical laboratory sessions.
Additional online resources will be made available to further supplement the students learning.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 70 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 30 |