Raviteja Geesala
Senior Robotics Engineer, Senior Robotics Enginee
Unbox Robotics is a leading warehouse automation technology OEM, specializing in robotics-based fulfilment and distribution technology for small to large e-commerce, retail, and logistics enterprises. Unbox Robotics’ cutting-edge technology solutions accelerate parcel sortation and order fulfilment to facilitate efficient express logistics operations delivering a seamless end-customer experience. Unbox Robotics aims to enable organizations to triumph over global supply chain challenges by revolutionizing intralogistics operations via one-of-its-kind vertical robotic parcel sortation and consolidation, powered by Swarm Intelligence. Unbox Robotics’ USP lies in its ability to scan, sort, and dispatch packages in less than 50-70% physical space against other solutions in the market through its innovative and compact vertical sorting robotic solution. It helps customers ramp up productivity by more than 3X – thereby enhancing the end-customer experience.
Unbox Robotics is partnering with several customers across the globe to elevate its fulfilment operations.
Unbox Robotics has built a first-of-its-kind modular, compact, and on-demand robotics solution to improve the throughput and efficiency of order fulfilment and sorting processes. The team focuses on building systems that enable retail, logistics, and e-commerce companies to automate and improve their operations on-demand, with a reduced footprint and minimal capital investment. Unbox Robotics solutions improve productivity and bring down operational costs. To enable businesses to derive maximum benefit, all solutions are flexible, scalable, and configurable as per the business needs.
CHALLENGE
At the core of the system, is the fleet of autonomous robots, with the multi-robot system promising the following benefits.
- Lesser warehouse footprint
- Higher system throughput
This implies a fleet of robots running in a very compact space with the distance between adjacent robots being as low as 50mm. The robots have a compact base and are tall due to the parcel lifting and dumping mechanism. Stability and control dynamics play a crucial role in ensuring higher directional stability without compromising robot speeds and accelerations. To solve this problem control systems, need to be built and tuned on the robot for the desired performance. Checking the control parameters and tuning them on the robot is a tedious task as well as expensive. Any change in the robot design or any feature addition to the robot controls needs to be changed or existing systems need to be verified.
So, for this activity, a simple software solution would aid the engineers in making quick decisions. Also, understanding the robot dynamics in software is far better than a real-time robot because all the design iterations can be verified immediately on the software model.
SOLUTION
To counter the above issue, we at Unbox Robotics have started using Hexagon MSC Software Adams. Firstly, the robot was modelled in Adams, in which the real-time robot is correlated with the simulation environment.
Figure 1: Robot Model in Adams
Once established, Adams’s functions and controls were used to study the robot model. Using the model, the drive system and lift system are tuned and simulated until the performance of the robot is at its best. After the study confirms that the model is correlated with the real-time robot behaviour, the control system plant integration starts as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Simulation Environment in Adams
Using Adams co-simulation feature in the Adams controls a robot model block is exported into Matlab Simulink, defined as per Figure 3 shown below.
Figure 3: Adams Simulink Block
As shown in Figure 4, the Input and output are defined for the robot block. The Control system block of the robot which is developed in Matlab is connected to this Adams block and co-simulation is established.
Figure 4: Input & Output defined for the block (Figure: 3)
As a result, the two inputs to the Adams block are connected to the control system block and the output from the Adams block is connected back to the control system block for closed-loop control
BENEFITS
The solution that has been discussed above, gave better results and helped in achieving better control parameters and tuning them in a safer, easier, and more efficient manner.
Putting Hexagon MSC Software Adams into use also helped Unbox Robotics make their process more efficient as the damages that were being caused during parameter tuning were eliminated.
Hexagon MSC Adams software is a powerful tool used for multi-body dynamics simulation and analysis. It is widely used in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries to simulate the motion and behaviours of complex mechanical systems.
One of the key benefits of Adams software is its ability to accurately predict the performance of mechanical systems under various operating conditions. This allows engineers and designers to optimize the design of their products and reduce the risk of failure or malfunction.
Adams software also provides a range of advanced simulation capabilities, including flexible body dynamics, control system modeling, and co-simulation with other software tools. These features allow users to create highly accurate models of complex mechanical systems and analyse their behaviour in real-world scenarios.
Another advantage of Adams software is its user-friendly interface and extensive library of pre-built components and models. This makes it easy for users to quickly create and test new designs without having to start from scratch.
Overall, Hexagon MSC Adams software is a powerful tool that can help engineers and designers optimize the performance of their mechanical systems and reduce the risk of failure or malfunction. Its advanced simulation capabilities, user-friendly interface, and extensive library of pre-built components make it an essential tool for anyone working in the field of mechanical engineering.
Publication Date : January, 2023
About Altem Technologies Pvt. Ltd
Altem Technologies is a well-established 3D digital experience company that has been actively contributing to the industry for nearly 15 years. Initially rooted in PLM software and 3D Printing (representing Dassault Systemes India Pvt Ltd and Stratasys India respectively), Altem has successfully transformed into a prominent provider of comprehensive 3D digital solutions. Altem’s 3D Innovation platform offers an extensive array of products catering to various applications, including design, reverse engineering process, asset digitization, prototype manufacturing, life science, healthcare, culture and heritage, and consultancy services, among others. Altem with a diverse clientele spanning automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare, research academia, and more, Altem adeptly addresses the unique requirements of each industry through a combination of expertise and innovation. Our team comprises skilled professionals, including Scientists, Application Engineers, Designers, domain experts, and software specialists, all working collectively to deliver exceptional solutions to our valued customers.
Altem Technologies Pvt Ltd, besides being a major provider of 3D Scanning services in India, is also a leading provider of 3D Printing Services in India with 3D Printing technologies like FDM, Polyjet, DLP, Metal, etc. Altem offers a complete solution around 3D Digitization and Innovation and has emerged as a one-stop-shop for all 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, CAE, PLM, and Life Science needs, offering a wide spectrum of products for engineering and life sciences companies in India.
