Description du projet
Révolutionner la fabrication des véhicules électriques
Le projet iPROCELL, financé par l’UE, change la donne dans la recherche d’une solution aux défis auxquels est confronté le marché de la fabrication de véhicules électriques (VE). À la différence de la fabrication manuelle et de l’assemblage sur ligne de production complète, qui sont à la fois coûteux et inefficaces, iPROCELL entend proposer une innovation mondiale qui porte sur une cellule d’assemblage final entièrement automatisée. Cette conception permet d’obtenir un encombrement 12 fois inférieur à celui des lignes de production traditionnelles. En outre, l’intégration d’une technologie de préhension de pointe permet d’assembler des petits lots de manière rentable. Les implications du projet iPROCELL vont bien au-delà du marché des VE. Le prototype a suscité un vif intérêt de la part de secteurs tels que celui de l’ameublement et de l’électroménager. Au cours de la deuxième phase imminente du projet, l’accent sera mis sur la finalisation de la technologie existante avant son lancement sur le marché.
Objectif
iPROCELL has been developed to meet an identified need to improve for economies of scale within the electric vehicle (EV) production market. The new market we are developing is a world first, sitting between manual manufacturing and full production line assembly. Neither existing solutions are cost effective with the current levels of EVs being produced.
Our solution is a fully automated final assembly cell, with 3 autonomous robots situated around a central industry build location. Our main innovation is our method of assembly, the 3 robots work symbiotically to assemble modules into finished products. This design provides a footprint that is 12 times smaller than traditional production lines. We have incorporated our state of the art gripper technology for fully adaptable programmable robotic heads that can accommodate 12 different design options, allowing assembly of small batches in a cost effective manner. Our modular format allows fully flexible manufacturing, appealing to the increasing customer demand for evermore customised products.
The high flexibility required to accommodate small series customised products alongside the commercial need to run a cost effective practice is challenging a number of manufacturing industries. When demonstrating the prototype at the Hannover Messe 2015, we received significant interest from a number of industries beyond the EV market including furniture and domestic appliances construction opening further opportunities for us to capitalise on.
Forecasted to have a global worth of €184 bn by 2020, the automation solutions industry is growing. During this Phase 2 project we intend to finalised our existing technology ahead of market launch, in order to achieve this we need to: refine the subsystems and software; develop gripper and sensor systems; obtain the relevant standards; build a demonstrator unit and trial in a commercial setting. This will enable us to launch iPROCELL to market in 2020.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- social sciencessocial geographytransportelectric vehicles
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- social sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomation
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robots
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.2.1.2. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Nanotechnologies Main Programme
- H2020-EU.2.1.5. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing
- H2020-EU.2.1.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
Régime de financement
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinateur
58809 NEUENRADE
Allemagne
L’entreprise s’est définie comme une PME (petite et moyenne entreprise) au moment de la signature de la convention de subvention.