Robotic simulation technique for validating a working process on composite components: A case study

Automation plays a key role in the realisation of the Factory 4.0 and technological research, combined with the use of innovative materials, contributes to the improvement of products in terms of functional, technical and production quality. Within this context, the so-called Digital Twin allows to reproduce the real behaviour of a production system in a virtual environment, giving the possibility to numerically perform the desired analysis. Human-robot interaction (HRI) is increasing in those workplaces where the manual activity is not safe nor efficient in terms of performance (e.g. cycle time) and it is characterised by several levels of interaction (cooperation, collaboration and coexistence). The aim of this paper is to propose a numerical procedure that, based on the simulation, allows verifying the process feasibility, validating the interaction between human and robot and programming the logic controller to be implemented on the real robot. A case study about assembling of composite components of an aircraft fuselage panel is proposed. The use of the robot allows to speed up the processes of drilling and sealing, leaving to human less dangerous operations.