Modular Human–Robot Applications in the Digital Shopfloor Based on IEC-61499

Abstract

This chapter presents the results of the conception effort done under Daedalus to transfer the technological results of IEC-61499 into the industrial domain of Human–Robot collaboration, with the aim of deploying the concept of mutualism in next-generation continuously adaptive Human–Machine interactions, where operators and robots mutually complement their physical, intellectual and sensorial capacities to achieve optimized quality of the working environment, while increasing manufacturing performance and flexibility. The architecture proposed envisions a future scenario where Human–Machine distributed automation is orchestrated through the IEC-61499 formalism, to empower worker-centred cooperation and to capitalize on both worker’s and robot’s strengths to improve synergistically their integrated effort.