Wiley Holcombe

Design of a fresh meat packing robot for working in washdown environment

The benefits of robotics are evident in many industries. However, the food processing industry has not been able to realize this benefit due to the limitations imposed by the operating environment. The demanding environment in the handling of fresh meat products typically includes a daily wash with high pressure as well as highly corrosive cleaning agents. This paper described the development of a robot specifically built for handling fresh meat products in such environment. The selection of materials for washdown working conditions, as well as the unique coaxial shaft design, was specified. Based on the specific motion, the system kinematics and dynamics were formulated. The simulation results provided the optimal motions to minimize the centrifugal force on the meat (grasper). The dynamic model also yielded the speed and torque relationship, which helped to provide the criteria for motor selection and the verification of the applicability of the selected motors. A functional prototype has been built and is under evaluation.

An Advanced AGVS Control System: An Example of Integrated Design and Control

The Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) has attracted increased attention over the past decade from both the material handling user community and from academics, primarily due to its flexibility. From an academic perspective, the key challenges addressed have been 1) measuring or understanding AGVS performance and 2) extending its flexibility. Georgia Tech Material Handling Research Center programs, in this regard, have included: • Development of an integrated path layout, fleet sizing and evaluation, and simulation tool, known as the AGVS Engineering Design Workstation, or AGVS EWS [1,2]. This tool is intended to be used by industrial engineers planning AGVS applications. • Development of new guidance technologies incorporated in a software-guided vehicle which does not follow either a wire or stripe on the floor [3]. The vehicle still follows a prescribed path, but this is specified in software rather than by a continuous marker on the floor.