Bin Picking - picking objects from a box by a 3D camera navigated robot

The Bin-Picking robotic workplace

The idea of a Bin-Picking robotic workplace is not so new. First attempts appeared already in the mid-80's of the past century. Since its emergence it however went through several development phases, hand in hand with the development of digital image processing from optical sensors. At present the 3D industrial cameras can recognize even various shapes of objects, glossy or dirty products, and can, for instance, distinguish between right and left variants of one product. By a continuous improvement of the robots themselves, as well as especially the SW optical sensors (e.g., 3D industrial cameras), the work cycle time shortened to approximately 10 seconds, which allows optimization and efficiency of the manufacturing process.

Robotic workplace

How does the Bin-Picking application work?

In simple terms, it is a localization of a particular product randomly placed in a box (container), its subsequent picking and placing in a predetermined area (into a machine, on a pallet, etc.). The correctness of the performed task is secured by cooperation of a 3D camera system, connected to PC, with a software processing 3D images and thus allowing a faultless analysis of the object and its following manipulation. Everything is carried out automatically without the neccessity of human intervention and in most cases until the complete emptying of the container or box.

Blumenbecker came up with its own SW for the Bin-Picking application

The potential Bin-Picking application users were at first discouraged by the fact that it is not possible to empty the box completely, or at least almost completely, especially in the cases when removing the objects (semi-finished products) of complicated shapes, moreover often wedged into each other, was problematic and the risk of a collision quite high.
The Blumenbecker Prag s.r.o. company has developed its own SW for a significanty better identification of the individual objects placed in the box in an unoriented way. Principally, two laser beams projected into the scene are used during the identification. The final image of the scene inside the box is a result of the SW superposition of the thus formed scene pictures (two laser beams). Determining the relevant object for selection in one work cycle is then much more precise, as well as the probability of a 100% object picking of the box. In situations, when right during the object being picked out from the box (object placed in an unoriented way) the robot is not capable of gripping the object to place it precisely into a predefined position (for instance inserting a semi-finished product into an NC machine) it is neccessary to remove the picked object onto an auxiliary work area where the 3D camera can already positively identify the picked object (its shape, left/right variant, etc.) and then convey the coordinates to the robot’s arm. From the auxiliary work area (now already in an oriented way) the object is then placed by the robot into the predetermined position, for instance in an NC machine. The time of the object picking does extend to approximately 15 seconds, but compared to the time delays created by collisions and their solving this period is in most cases absolutely sufficient.

Industrial automation and application of robots

The Blumenbecker Prag s.r.o. company is included in the internationally operating German group of companies Blumenbecker Holding that focuses on industrial automation of technological processes, regulated drives, robotic workplace supplies (manipulation, welding, glueing, machining, etc.). In the field of robotics the company focuses on sophisticated robotic workplaces, e.g., complex applications for Bin-Picking, that is, simply said, guiding the robot’s arm by an industrial camera. This application has, considering its wide range of use in various industrial fields and a relatively short payback time, a bright future ahead.
More information about the Blumenbecker Prag s.r.o. company can be found at www.blumenbecker.cz.