Jahresbericht 2012 - Biba - Universität Bremen

gRegional funded Research – RoboScanOnline questionnaire concerning robotic logisticsRoboScan’12 is part of the “Robo-Scan“ series of studies initiated in 2007.The aim of these studies is to gainnew insights on the market for roboticlogistics. Research and developmentof new technologies shall be promotedfor more efficient global logisticnetworks.For this report, logisticians,technology providers, consultants andresearch institutions were questioned.Because of a similar questionnaire andevaluation, the results can be comparedto prior results. This year’s study wasconducted from April until mid-Augustas an online-survey. It was accessible viathe knowledge platform www.studie.robotik-logistik.de and focused on “intuitiverobotic programming”.Slow development but high investmentneedsMeanwhile almost half (47 per cent)of all logistics companies surveyed areusing robotic solutions, whereas in 2007only 41 per cent used robotic solutions.As was the case in 2007, logistic companieswho do not use robotic solutions,suitable solutions have yet to be found.The study reveals furthermore thatmore than 75 per cent of logisticiansplan to implement one or more roboticsolution within the next five years. Morethan half of the participating logisticiansexpressed a high need for investments.Important criteria for the implementationof robotic solutions are adaptabilityto changing parameters, ease of integrationwith existing technology and easeof use.A possible pioneer: intuitive roboticprogrammingRegarding the focus of this study, 81per cent of its participants, for whomintuitive robotic programming is important,rated the influence of intuitiverobotic programming on their decisionto deploy robotic solutions with araised to strong influence. The groupof logisticians rated this issue with a100 per cent importance. Therefore,logistics companies rely on intuitiverobotic programming as an influentialfactor for deploying robotic solutions.This technology especially displays theneed for a maximized ease in usingrobotic solutions: 71 per cent of thelogistics companies can imagine anupgrade of existing robotic solutionswith intuitive robotic solutions.Communication needed!Many participants named acceptanceand diffusion of new ideas as animportant point. This holds also true forproblems regarding the deployment ofrobotic solutions with intuitive roboticprogramming: too unknown on themarket, need for clarification and referencesfor a cutback of obstacles.In order to promote technologiessuch as intuitive robotic programming,a successful mediation of referenceprojects and the exchange of experiencesin the application of roboticlogistics is needed. Furthermore, resultsshow that improved communicationbetween customers and vendors isessential: group comparisons showvery different views points throughoutthe market.RoboScan’12 was sponsored by theKieserling Foundation and conductedin co-operation with ISEIC PfeffermannConsulting. The journal “Logistik fürUnternehmen” (Logistics for Business)was published by Springer-VDI-Verlagas the media partner. Apart from ashort report in German and English, anextensive study report (“RoboScan’12- Study results regarding the onlinequestionnaireconcerning roboticlogistics”) was also published by theSpringer-VDI-Verlag and is availablethrough BIBA.Information box for intuitive roboticprogramming“Intuitive robotic programming”describes the simple adaption of a roboticsystem to altered conditions. The necessaryinformation can be generated by anuntrained employee who can specify newmovements via intuitive programmingprocesses. The machine code is automaticallygenerated by the system.Ann-Kathrin Rohde33