Image-based 3D-surveillance in man-robot-cooperation

Abstract

In today's industrial production, men and robots usually work separately from each another to avoid accidents. Thus, there are two types of manufacturing: the automated and the manual one. Both have its advantages and disadvantages. If it would be possible to overcome the separation of man and robot, the accuracy and speed of robots could be combined with the flexibility and reliability of human workers. The main concern of this cooperation is the safety of the worker. A system based on digital image analysis has been developed, which supervises the working area to avoid collisions between robot and man.