2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Interdisciplinary Senior Design Project to Develop a Teaching Tool: Cobot Integrated Robotic Cell Learning Module

Presented at Project-Based and Experiential Learning in Manufacturing

The desired current set of skills required of modern engineers and technologists has been steadily expanding. In addition to familiarity with production grade industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots) and automation methods are increasingly becoming essential tools in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of complex systems. In this paper, an inter-disciplinary design project towards the development of a Cobot Integration Learning Module is presented.
The Engineering Technology Department at XXXX University offers several courses that allow students to interact with robotic and machine vision systems. With many courses focusing on each individual component of production, an opportunity exists to combine several elements to simulate a real-world example of an automated work cell. Students need more skills in programming Cobots and integrating multiple machines into a production process to create innovations in the mechanical, electrical, and industrial fields.
The objective of this project is to develop a small-scale automated work cell that
integrates manufacturing machinery into a single integrated learning module. The primary goal of the system is to provide students in the Engineering Technology department with hands-on experience in integrating multiple machines into a single system. The project was inspired by the need to introduce students to small-scale industrialization for artisan companies with budget constraints.
A learning module that was agreed upon was to obtain manufacturing components that were already familiar to students undergoing practical education by machining a Delrin workpiece. This includes a conveyor belt for the transportation of the part, a machine vision camera and photoelectric sensor array for part detection and quality assurance, a 6-degree-offreedom collaborative robot for part transfer, and a CNC for milling operations. The final results demonstrate the possibilities of utilizing readily available commercial products to achieve a desired task.
Furthermore, the work cell's modular design makes it portable, allowing for simple deconstruction and transportation to nearby high schools to generate interest in STEM education among prospective students. Overall, the project aims to provide students with a baseline in how to develop an automated system. The work cell has the potential to be a cost-effective solution for small-scale production with a greater degree of optimization and improvements over time.
Students in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial fields along with many others can learn many new skills from multi-disciplinary projects such as the design and development of a robotic cell. Such projects show students how to use different types of technology and demonstrate how advanced technology can be used in an actual application. This project teaches future engineers and technologists various advanced skills that can be used in their careers. Overall, many different fields of engineering can benefit from this application, enabling the development of skill and knowledge in many different engineering aspects and processes.

Authors

Dr. Yalcin Ertekin Drexel University [biography]

Yalcin Ertekin, Ph.D., CMfgE, CQE is a clinical professor in the College of Engineering, Department of Engineering Leadership and Society at Drexel University, Philadelphia, and serves as the Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Studies for the Engineering Technology program. He received his BS degree from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey, an MSc in Production Management from the University of Istanbul, an MS in Engineering Management, and an MS and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla. Dr. Ertekin has also been a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), awarded by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) since 2001, and a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) awarded by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) since 2004. In addition to positions in the automotive industry, Dr. Ertekin has held faculty positions at Western Kentucky University and Trine University. In 2010, he joined Drexel University's College of Engineering as an associate clinical professor. He has been instrumental in course development and the assessment and improvement of the Engineering Technology (ET) curriculum, including integrated laboratories, project-based learning, and practicum-based assessment. Dr. Ertekin serves as the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (S058). Involved in research, Ertekin has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), private foundations, and industry. His research has focused on the improvement of manufacturing laboratories and curricula and the adoption of process simulation into machining and additive manufacturing practices. His areas of expertise are in CAD/CAM, manufacturing processes, machine and process design with CAE methods, additive and subtractive manufacturing, quality control and lean manufacturing.
Dr. Richard Y Chiou Drexel University [biography]

Dr. Richard Chiou is Professor within the Engineering Technology Department at Drexel University College of Engineering, Philadelphia, USA. He received his Ph.D. degree in the G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Prof. Tzu-liang Bill Tseng University of Texas at El Paso [biography]

Dr. Bill Tseng is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering (IMSE) at UTEP. He is also a Director of the Research Institute for Manufacturing & Engineering Systems (RIMES), the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) host institute at UTEP. He received his two MSIE degrees (MFG & DS/OR) from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iowa. Dr. Tseng is also a Certified Manufacturing Engineer from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Dr. Tseng’s research area covers artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, advanced quality engineering technology, additive manufacturing, and systems engineering. Over the years, he has served more than 11 million dollars as a principal investigator sponsored by NSF, DOE, NIST, USDT, DoEd, KSEF, and industries like LMCO, Honeywell, GM, and Tyco Inc. Dr. Tseng delivered research results to many refereed journals such as IEEE Transactions, IIE Transactions, International Journal of Production Research, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, Expert Systems with Applications and other conferences (117 refereed journal articles and 193 refereed conference proceedings). He is currently serving as an editor of the Journal of Computer Standards & Interfaces (CSI), an associate editor of the Asia Pacific Management Review (APMR), and an editor on boards of the International Journal of Data Mining, Modeling and Management (JDMMM) and the American Journal of Industrial and Business Management (AJIBM). He is currently a senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and Society of Manufacturing Engineers and a former chair of the Manufacturing Engineering Division of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). He is also actively involved in several consortia activities.

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