Development of a human-centered CPPS framework for robotic micro-assembly

This study aims at discussing a robotic framework that allows the implementation of a Cyber-Physical Production System (CPPS) for the automated micro-/nano-manipulation, considering the human role from its very first conception. For the electronic manufacturing domain, the CPPS deployment represents a powerful environment for achieving a more efficient production with higher throughputs while reaching sustainable objectives. The specific use case concerns the PCB and FPCB assembly operations, performing precise positioning - both, rigid micro components and flexible macro ones. The manufacturing line is defined by a) precise robot manipulators for a complete automated operation, and b) a collaborative robot able to work hand-to-hand with human operators. We also propose a model to set different metrics to monitor the performance of the system. Challenges faced during the development of the framework in this specific case arise from i) the high accuracy required along a large range of motion, ii) the ability for the manipulation of the components, iii) the involvement of humans during manufacturing tasks, and iv) the manufacturing necessity for a smarter, more adaptable and scalable system.