Market study on adaptive robots for flexible manufacturing systems

In this paper the technological scenario for the industrial implementation of flexible and adaptive robotic systems, as developed in the EU-project ARFLEX, is described. Based on a literature study and two questionnaires conducted among the European enterprises, the market demands of such robotic systems are analyzed and their most promising applications are identified. The market studies show that small batch size production and frequent production line changes are common in the industrial production and that therefore flexible and adaptive robotic systems have a big potential on the future industrial market. Among others, assembling operations were identified as promising key applications for such systems.