Autonomous Mobile Robots in Small Batch Size Production
Rajala, Emmi (2021)
2021
Automaatiotekniikan DI-ohjelma - Master's Programme in Automation Engineering
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2021-11-08
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202110287987
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202110287987
Tiivistelmä
This thesis concentrates on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in small batch size produc-tion. The main objective was to determine sales arguments for autonomous mobile robot usage in production environment. This objective was approached by finding answers to three research questions about deployment aspects, suitable tasks, and current market state.
The research started by studying literature about autonomous mobile robots, and other sub-jects that were strongly linked to the thesis subject. In addition, the results of prior surveys were studied. Four research methods were used for finding answers to the research questions. Those methods were literature review, case study, reference case review and open survey. All the used methods were found to be suitable for this purpose but delimitation to the small batch size manufacturing was proven to be difficult in most of these methods.
By studying mobile robot related standards and other literature, deployment aspects were found and then tested and fulfilled in case study. These two methods were also used for gath-ering a list of benefits and disadvantages. To find suitable tasks for AMRs in production envi-ronment were searched by doing a reference case review. These tasks were then complement-ed by open survey results. Understanding of the current market state was also gained from the open survey results.
The reliability of the collected research data was discussed, and each result were analyzed and validated using suitable qualitative or quantitative methods. Data-driven analysis was per-formed to the literature review results to form categorized and summarized lists of the deploy-ment aspects and AMR benefits and disadvantages. The case study data was analyzed using deductive method. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for the reference case review data to form visual graphs. Same data analysis methods were used also for the open survey data also for graph formation. All the validation was done mainly by comparing the results to literature or to recent surveys.
Even though some results could not be generalized, due to limited data and delimitation dif-ficulties, useful results were able to achieve. The most significant result was the deployment aspects because research concentrating on that field seem to be lacking. The deployment as-pects were dived into the sales and implementation phase. Many of the found advantages like flexibility and fast payback time are commonly known, but some of the disadvantages were not so common. The AMRs are not so plug and play type of products that they are generally marketed to be. Examples of suitable tasks for AMRs were mostly found from automotive and electrical industry and those tasks were mainly production material handling related. The current market seems to be open minded towards AMRs, but the knowledge of AMRs is mainly lack-ing. Sales arguments were then formed by combining the analyzed answers for the research questions. At the end, conclusions are made.
The research started by studying literature about autonomous mobile robots, and other sub-jects that were strongly linked to the thesis subject. In addition, the results of prior surveys were studied. Four research methods were used for finding answers to the research questions. Those methods were literature review, case study, reference case review and open survey. All the used methods were found to be suitable for this purpose but delimitation to the small batch size manufacturing was proven to be difficult in most of these methods.
By studying mobile robot related standards and other literature, deployment aspects were found and then tested and fulfilled in case study. These two methods were also used for gath-ering a list of benefits and disadvantages. To find suitable tasks for AMRs in production envi-ronment were searched by doing a reference case review. These tasks were then complement-ed by open survey results. Understanding of the current market state was also gained from the open survey results.
The reliability of the collected research data was discussed, and each result were analyzed and validated using suitable qualitative or quantitative methods. Data-driven analysis was per-formed to the literature review results to form categorized and summarized lists of the deploy-ment aspects and AMR benefits and disadvantages. The case study data was analyzed using deductive method. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for the reference case review data to form visual graphs. Same data analysis methods were used also for the open survey data also for graph formation. All the validation was done mainly by comparing the results to literature or to recent surveys.
Even though some results could not be generalized, due to limited data and delimitation dif-ficulties, useful results were able to achieve. The most significant result was the deployment aspects because research concentrating on that field seem to be lacking. The deployment as-pects were dived into the sales and implementation phase. Many of the found advantages like flexibility and fast payback time are commonly known, but some of the disadvantages were not so common. The AMRs are not so plug and play type of products that they are generally marketed to be. Examples of suitable tasks for AMRs were mostly found from automotive and electrical industry and those tasks were mainly production material handling related. The current market seems to be open minded towards AMRs, but the knowledge of AMRs is mainly lack-ing. Sales arguments were then formed by combining the analyzed answers for the research questions. At the end, conclusions are made.