The R2M project was born, led by SMARTPM in collaboration with AFM CLUSTER, focused on seeking the best integration of automation technologies and intelligent robotics.
For some years, robotics has been considered a key area in technological progress and development. Countries and companies that have a large implementation of robots achieve high levels of competitiveness and productivity in comparison to their competitors. In the most developed countries, investments in robotic technologies have grown significantly and well above other sectors.
In this context,the R2M project was born, “Flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing systems based on robot-machine collaboration”, led by SMARTPM and in which AFM CLUSTER is part of a consortium in which leading companies of the machine tool sector, such as, Fagor Automation (together with the companies belonging to the cluster Fagor Arrasate, Soraluce, Juaristi, Aldakin and Virtualware) also participate.
Five areas of application
The R2M project is aligned with the RIS3 Smart Industry strategy defined in the framework of PCTI 2030. In this framework, there are five key application areas focused on specific links in the manufacturing value chain, and the R2M project is oriented towards “Sustainable, flexible and zero-defects production processes” and “Smart connected machines”.
R2M’s strategic objective, within the key technological areas, is to seek the best integration of both automation and intelligent robotics technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The project addresses the research of manufacturing systems based on robot-machine collaboration, with the aim of offering flexible and reconfigurable solutions. It also seeks to offer a value proposition for the customer to have multifunctional manufacturing systems, resilient and with the possibilities of future-evolution, without incurring costly re-engineering investments.
Changes in the paradigm of the robot-human relationship
One of the highlights of the project is the radical change in the paradigm of the robot-machine relationship. The emergence of Cobots enables the execution of collaborative tasks between human-robots in a safe way, sharing the same space without the need for the physical barriers.
The R2M project has been financed by the Basque Government, through the SPRI through the strategic R&D&I support program Hazitek, to improve the competitiveness of companies, during the period 2021-23.