Integration of an Artificial Intelligence Based 3D Perception Device into a Human-Robot Collaborative Workstation for Learning Factories

For some time now, in addition to manual workstations, work cells with flexible automation have increasingly been used in learning factory processes. One example of such flexible automation is collaborative robotics, which allows the efficiency of assembly processes with smaller batch sizes to be increased through automation. In this contribution, a human-robot collaborative workstation is presented, which is embedded within a learning factory environment and is used as a demonstrator in training courses for students, instructors, and skilled workers from industry. The workstation is supported by a 3D perception and artificial intelligence device, which enables the human-robot interaction by natural gesture control and anti-collision function and can also be used for quality control of manual work processes. The work concludes with the practical validation of the workstation for application in academic and industrial learning factories to conduct trainings in the application of collaborative robotics, 3D perception and artificial intelligence.