application Archives - Robotics Academy

Omron mobile robot at Kodin Terra

Satakunta Co-Op commissioned Robotics Academy students to program a customer service robot for their newly renovated hardware store, Kodin Terra Pori. The aim of the project was to design and implement an application for a mobile robot that would allow a customer to specify a product. The mobile robot would then guide the customer to the new physical shelf location of the product.

The choice was made to use the Omron LD-90, an Autonomous Intelligent Vehicle or AIV, and build an application around its specifications. The LD-90 is ideal for routine internal logistics, such as moving materials.

The mobile robot charts its environment and can then navigate independently around the charted area. The robot can be programmed to communicate with specified waypoints and has laser sensors that allow it to circumvent people, furniture or other obstacles. These features were ideal for the project at hand.

The project provider clearly stated their wish for a simple and clean look to the user interface. In response, students created a landing page, a product search page, and a help page. In addition, a display was added that listed, in real time, where the robot was currently headed as well as the time it would arrive there.

In order to facilitate all of these features, students chose JavaScript as the programming language, Node.js as the JavaScript environment for server, MongoDB database building and Git for version control.

To provide customers with a familiar user interface, Omron was fitted with a Samsung tablet in a tablet stand. The application was loaded onto the tablet and through the menu, customers were able to choose their product category (e.g. laminate flooring) which would trigger Omron to calculate a path to the item.

Summary
The project taught the students programming of the Omron mobile robot, including how to chart areas, creation of user interfaces and project management.

Automation

Machine vision as an industrial tool

Our client, Boliden Harjavalta’s main products are copper, nickel, gold and silver. Boliden’s nickel smelter is the only one in Western Europe. Boliden produces high quality nickel matte using the latest technology in the industry.

The Robotics Academy students were commissioned to explore the possibilities of using machine vision in the Boliden process. Boliden was interested in the concentration of various components of the slag after the smelting process and hoped to use machine vision to simplify and speed up the process.

A machine vision system is one where computer imaging is used for industrial purposes. The system consists of a light source, an object to be photographed, a camera, a computer, and an image processing program that interprets the image automatically. Machine vision systems perform precisely pre-programmed tasks and are primarily used when optical inspection should be fast, accurate, round the clock and consistently repeatable. Machine vision can be used to perform tasks that are impossible for human vision by using wavelengths that cannot be detected by the human eye. In this assignment, a conveyor belt cared slag under the system to identify the customer-defined concentrations.

When using a smart camera, all image processing and counting is done in the camera itself. We chose to use Cognex’s In-Sight application, but the slowness of this camera was a disadvantage because the items had to be pictured on a fast conveyor belt. Due to scheduling concerns, Robotics Academy students were not able to continue their research further, however, it is possible to continue the project with another software and a different camera solution in the future. We recommend considering Halco software, which could handle all intellectual observation and computing, as well as speed up image processing.

Summary

In our project, we learned how to take advantage of different camera and light options. The overall benefits were mutual. The students’ gained knowledge and were able to give the customer the information they sought. With the help of additional instruction, we can better utilize machine vision in future projects.

Programming

Application for Health and Well-being Professionals

At the Satakunnan University of Applied Sciences, the health and well-being degree area needed an interactive teaching application that would allow students to get familiar with patient databases and patient management plans.

Currently, students fill out patient information and patient management plans on paper forms, a practice that is becoming obsolete and impractical. A request was submitted to the students of Robotics Academy to create such an application.

The basis for the application came from graduate student Anu Elon’s thesis. The idea to implement a platform-independent application that would bolster theoretical learning with real-world simulations was applauded.

With the final application, healthcare students can simulate care situations, monitor patient care, make care plans, and record patient information in the database. The app is connected to Satakunta University of Applied Sciences’ internal information system, through which the students are able to log in to the application with their own school IDs.

For Academy students, this was a chance to explore and add new skills to their knowledge bank, using a wide range of programming languages and new programming methods. The application’s program code was commented and documented due to the fact that the software will not be maintained by the Robotics Academy. Future functionality will be added to the application.

The following programs were learned in order to complete the project:

JavaScript (programming language), React (JavaScript library user interface), Node.js (JavaScript environment server), Express (Framework node.js), MongoDB (database construction), Git (version control), Bitbucket (web-based Version Management Archive Service) and Figma (Visual User Interface).

Summary

The objectives of the assignment were achieved, with the end result being a workable and clear application. Ease of acces for future contributors to continue development on the application. Students improved their programming, customer service and project management skills.