A. ROBOTICS

B. AUTOMATION AND SMART MANUFACTURING

Automation Training Kits

Internet of Things

Smart Factory

C. SMART HOME

UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLE

Introduction

Unmanned Surface Vehicle - USV is known as a modern vehicle which assists people in discovering water environment. It can either be remotely controlled or operate automatically to fulfill different tasks.

UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLE (USV)

Application:

Nowadays, USV is used all around the world in a variety of fields such as:

  • Researching and monitoring the environment.
  • Water sampling
  • Map drawing
  • Patrol and scout
  • Transferring information or carrying device.
  • Can be weaponized and used for various purposes in the military.
  •  In addition, USV can be combined with AUV, ROV and UAV to form an automatic system for multiple purposes both in the air and water.

Current version of research : >>

NAVIGATION

Introduction:

AHRS (Attitude and Heading Reference System) is an estimate of the angles of roll, pitch, yaw of self-propelled robots with high accuracy and updating speed. Using AHRS and accelerometer sensors, Inertial Navigation System (INS) is able to locate the robot with high accuracy at the beginning but the INS drift is greater with time.Combining Global Positioning System (GPS) with INS system increases the quality in many aspects such as accuracy, speed update, ...

Navigation algorithms

VIAM-NAVI, finished product

Application:

  • Positioning on the ground, surface, under water.
  • Lead the way for self-propelled vehicles
  • Provides input data needed for advanced control applications such as positioning, balance,…

Current research:>>

REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER VEHICLE (ROV)

Introduction:

ROV is an underwater vehicle remotely controlled by cables and thrusters, varied in shape and size. ROV is regarded as a modern tool that enables people to explore the underwater world, perform many tasks at depths that humans can not reach. It can work under water for long periods, in harsh environment. Often there is a video camera, carrying sensors and hand-held machines, serving a variety of tasks for military and civil purposes.

Application:

  • Set up / remove mines, torpedoes
  • Collaborate with human in the battle
  • Patrol, security and rescue
  • Oil and gas field exploration, mineral
  • Close and open the valves, pipeline repair installation, rig maintenance
  • Digging, installing, checking underwater cable condition
  • Collecting information, geography, marine biology
  • Underwater archeology, exploration of shipwreck

Current research>>

AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE (AUV)

Introduction:

The AUV can be considered as an improved version of the ROV, which is a highly autonomous unmanned vehicle for underwater applications.Mostly of the torpedo type with propulsion and steering, self-controlled.Can work under water for long periods of time, depending on the source of energy.AUV is equipped with sensor devices, serving a variety of tasks for military and civil purposes.

Application:

  • Mapping the seabed
  • Survey and monitoring by region
  • Surface geological exploration, gathering information about the mines and minerals
  • Detect, destroy the target underwater, demining
  • Information gathering, monitoring and reconnaissance
  • Submarine warfare, survey and identification
  • Transmission of information and locate underwater
  • Amphibious warfare
  • Attack and defense support
  • Special tasks (torpedoes, lay mines...)

Current research >>

MANIPULATOR APPLICATION

Introduction:

The need for robots is increasing in complex manufacturing processes that contribute to increased productivity, reduced costs, improved quality and accuracy, and reduced risk when people work at dangerous environment.The design of robotic systems operating without human intervention is becoming more and more popular, especially in the era of rapid development of computer vision today.

Application:

  • Folding & sort objects on the dynamic conveyor
  • Welding of complex objects
  • Spray paint for the product
  • Replace workers in hazardous environments and continuous operation

Current resrearch >>

Flexible Manufacturing System

 

Figure 1: Flexible Manufacturing System

Figure 2:Flexible Manufacturing System

Watch video :

 

 

Object Classification System

Content implementation:

  • Combining equipment in industrial automation such as cylinder, solenoid valve, conveyor, rotary handle, picking handle ... into the product classification model. Especially the picking mechanism is made of two axes X, Y is the visme attached to the stepper motor and the Z axis is the travel cylinder and the pick up cylinder.
  • Using module motion controller of PLC S7-1200 to control position for two X and Y axis motors and one rotary platform.
  • Use Matlab to capture and identify the chess pieces, then process and transmit PLC position parameters in x, y coordinates so that the station can position the chess piece to the desired position automatically.
  • Monitor, read status and manual mode to control effects on remote devices via Webserver written on HTML, CSS, Jquery and Javascript.

 

Figure 1: Object Classification System

Figure 2:Function control system:

Watch video:

HEATING TANK

Temperature control and level control are widely concerned nowadays, especially in industry and agriculture. In the factories that specialize in producing chemical and beverage, the requirements concerning liquid’s temperature and volume (or level) are very strict. Therefore, researching a appropriate solution for this problem would be a tremendous help to quality management as well as production optimization.

Our model consists of a controlling tank and a storage tank. After being pumped into the controlling tank, the liquid is periodically heated using heater resistor. A pump is controlled by PLC and inverter to pump the required amount of liquid into the storage tank. The model also uses a PID controller to control the tank temperature. Additionally, the model is equipped with HMI interface, SCADA interface, LAN based web server, IOT-intergrated database to supervise the system

 

Under development:

  • Combine with other systems to form a large-scale production line
  • Integrate a chiller into the output pump,...
  • Widen the controller’s temperature range to adapt to different kinds of industrial systems

Watch video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsuISeBP0y

FILLING SYSTEM

Our filling model is built based on the design of the filling systems used in beverage, chemical factories,...

Operation: A bottle is brought into the system and carried along the conveyor -> the sensors detect the bottle and stop the conveyor -> the system fills the bottle with water from the storage tank -> the amount of water is measured by a flow sensor -> when the bottle is full, the system stop pumping out water, the conveyor moves again and a new filling process begin

Feature:

  • Direct control using HMI screen
  • Remote supervisory control through the use of SCADA and WebServer
  • Storage tank’s temperature can be controlled using PID controller
  • IFM sensors with I/O Link communication
  • Precisely controlled conveyor using RS-Servo
  • Product classification system using camera

Watch video at:

 

CLASSIFICATION AND STORING SYSTEM

The classification of products according to the characteristics of the products is very popular in the industry such as classification of substandard products, according to color, height, ... so that products with similar characteristics can be arranged. In this model, the material and height characteristics are used to classify products.

Operating procedure: The product is put on the conveyor belt -> the height sensor will measure the height -> the metal sensor will recognize whether the material is metal -> If it is metal and set the height, the cylinder will push then the product will pick up the product tray into the hands on the second floor warehouse (store has 2 floors: 1st floor: nonmetals, 2nd floor: metal) -> If the product is metal but not the correct height, the product will go out of the conveyor ->  non-metallic sensor -> If the product is non-metal and the correct height, the cylinder pushes the product to the tray and then the picker takes the product away

Feature

  • Control via HMI screen
  • IFM sensors wth IO-Link communication
  • Stable Gripper
  • Conveyor control with inverter

Watch video at:

Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of information from a computer into a real-world environment, in which the insertion of images into the user's vision is dominant. AR technology improves the worker's ability to increase productivity, it provides a safe environment and enhances job satisfaction of workers.

Application of AR:

  • Installation
  • Maintenance and repair.
  • Technician training.
  • Quality control.

Augmented reality demo with inverter

 

IOT PLATFORM

MANUFACTURING EXCECUTION SYSTEM

WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

COMPUTERIZED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

MACHINE MONITORING SYSTEM