Comau, an Italian engineering company, has announced its contributions to the European Union’s Converging Project, which aims to develop advanced production systems in response to modern manufacturing challenges. The project integrates collaborative robots, autonomous guided vehicles, artificial intelligence, and human operators to create human-centric production systems capable of perceiving, reasoning, adapting, collaborating, and innovating.
During the project’s second review on November 5, 2023, held at the Teaching Factory Competence Center in Patras, Greece, Comau showcased prototypes of its innovative robotic solutions. This event, organized by the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation at the University of Patras, included representatives from the European Commission, including the project officer and two reviewers.
As part of this initiative, Comau has developed two distinct collaborative robotic solutions tailored to address specific industry needs. The first deliverable involves the MyCo collaborative robot, designed for the post-processing of additive manufactured parts. This medium-payload cobot combines human-safe operation with the precision necessary for advanced manufacturing environments.
The second pilot project focuses on the aerospace sector. Comau has created a collaborative remote inspection robot that facilitates non-invasive inspections of aircraft wings, a task traditionally performed manually. This innovative solution, developed within the Aeronautics Open Pilot Line, leverages the capabilities of the MyCo cobot, integrating advanced kinematics and remote-control features. This development not only enhances accuracy and safety during inspections but also reduces maintenance time and optimizes the overall aircraft maintenance lifecycle.
Nicole Clement, Chief Advanced Automation Solutions Officer at Comau, emphasized the project’s significance: “The Converging project reflects a strategic effort to enable next-generation manufacturing by promoting reconfigurability, efficiency, and human-centric automation.”
By harnessing its expertise in robotics and industrial automation, Comau aims to contribute significantly to the technological advancements that will shape the future of manufacturing and maintenance processes. The deployment of these collaborative robots stands to redefine the operational landscape across various industries, highlighting the potential of automation in enhancing productivity and safety.
