Name of demonstration

Robotized inspection system for high-temperature electric arc furnaces (EAF)

Main objective

The proposed solution is expected to address human safety-related challenges in the steel industry, by proposing the automation of a demanding process that is currently performed by humans:

• High temperature robotized inspection system

 

• Remote control robotic operations assisted by human decision and supervision system
• AR human operator support for maintenance tasks

Short description

The Robs4Steel proposes the robotization of visual inspection in the refractory of the furnace after every tapping of liquid steel, allowing to human operators to remotely guide the robot around the furnace refractories so to ensure their safety.

Owner of the demonstrator

CASP

Responsible person

George Papanikolopoulos, CASP

 

Konstantinos Smyrniotakis, STOMANA

NACE

C24.1 - Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro-alloys

Keywords

Robotics, Motion Planning, human-robot collaboration, wearables, Augmented Reality.

Benefits for the users

The Robs4steel solution is an easy-to-use system for controlling remotely industrial robots that are operating in hazardous environments. In the system could be integrated advanced vision sensors, various robotic platforms and different user interfaces (table, AR, VR).

Innovation

Robs4steel addresses human safety-related challenges in the steel industry, by proposing the automation of a demanding process that is currently performed by humans. The physical existence of human workers around the furnace currently is counted up to 10 times and with the Robs4steel system, this could be reduced down to 1. Moreover, the easy teleoperation of the robots increases their overall utilization of more tasks.

Risks and limitations

The application area, which is hazardous workplaces, is primarily responsible for Robs4steel's limitations and risks. To function in challenging environments, high-quality, long-lasting hardware is needed.

Technology readiness level

6 - Safety approved sensors and systems are commercially available

Sectors of application

Steel Industry: Inspection of the furnaces with the easy teleoperation of high payload industrial robot, Steel Industry: Robotized sampling of the tapped metal.

Potential sectors of application

Robs4steel solution could be applied in every sector that requires the teleoperation of a robotic system for ensuring the safety of human workers. Industries with hazardous environments such apart from Steel Industry are the Mining Industry, Construction industry etc.

Patents / Licenses / Copyrights

Hardware / Software

Hardware:

Industrial Robot (no specific vendor)

Android Tablet or AR/VR Headset

Industrial PC

Software:

Robs4Steel Human Interface (Android, AR/VR)

Robs4Steel Robot Controller