The Robotdalen Day

Citation

(2004), "The Robotdalen Day", Industrial Robot, Vol. 31 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2004.04931aab.008

The Robotdalen Day

The Robotdalen Day

Keywords: Robots, Research

Robotdalen, the major regional innovation and growth project, was officially inaugurated by Per Eriksson, Director General of VINNOVA (Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems), on Wednesday, 10 September. During the Robotdalen Day held in Västerås, Mr Eriksson handed over a symbolic cheque for SEK 10 million to Harry Frank, Process Manager (Plate 4).

Robotdalen is one of the three winners of VINNOVA's Vinnväxt (Win Growth), a recently started programme, the aim of which is to create growth in regions by means of dynamic innovation systems based on co-ordinated efforts and investments by enterprises, research institutes and the public sector.

Plate 4 Harry Frank, Process Manager, received the first round of funding for Robotdalen

Robotdalen is to receive SEK 10 million (approximately US$ 1.25 million) annually over a period of up to 10 years from VINNOVA for the purpose of establishing a system, in co-operation between industry, research institutes and the public sector, to drive robot innovations from concepts to successful products. The condition for Vinnova's support is that the regional players by means of direct support or by other means provide 50 per cent co-funding. This consequently involves a total investment in Robotdalen of at least SEK 200 million (approximately US$ 25 million) over a 10-year period.

Robotdalen's vision is to consolidate the Mälardalen region by means of an effective innovation system as a world leader in research, development and manufacturing in the three core areas: industrial robotics, field robotics (outdoor robotics) and health care robotics. The primary mission of Robotdalen also includes innovation support and the spreading of competence.

Robotdalen's vision is based on the cluster's unique competence, represented by world- leading enterprises and research institutes, along with the will to continue the development of today's technology needed to meet the future challenges in industry and society. Strong external driving forces for Robotdalen are as follows.

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  Constantly growing demands for greater efficiency and productivity via robots and automation, also in very small manufacturing enterprises, in the engineering, pharmaceutical and food industries.

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  Growing demand for forestry, mining and construction vehicles having a high level of automation, autonomy (self-propelled and self-learning outdoor robots) and electrically powered.

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  A very large potential for automation in health care such as flexible transport systems for food, bedding and technical apparatus, as well as new testing and analytical systems that can be used by the patients themselves at home.

Three projects have already been started up at Robotdalen. Yet more have been identified and will be implemented in the short or medium term (1-3 years). The requirements of some of them have to be examined, others need an analysis of an investigatory nature, while yet others are focused on a product, system or service.

One of the three projects concerns a robot welding station for a new method to join together larger and smaller aluminium alloy components like cylinders, engine blocks and chassis (industrial robotics). The second project involves driverless, self-loading mine trucks (field robotics). In the third project, Robotdalen is participating in the design of the robotics exhibition at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm (spreading of competence).

For further information, contact: Harry Frank. Tel: +46-21-32 30 01; E-mail: harry.frank@se.abb.com