Bosch Rexroth's contribution addresses a key challenge in automated wiring harness production: the cost-effective management of high product variety. Instead of manually creating robot programs for each new wiring harness variant, the demonstrator aims to generate programs automatically and reduce manual input to only the necessary expert knowledge.

The underlying robotic cell consists of standard, industry-standard components and is designed for flexible, fence-free operation. An open control platform enables the integration of various systems. The process is supported by AI-assisted image processing for the detection of plugs and contacts. Handling tasks are described using reusable robot skills that can be flexibly combined for new variants. Expert knowledge is thus no longer entirely translated into manual programming, but rather incorporated into the description of relevant product characteristics.

For industrial applications, the shift from variant-based robot engineering to modular, data-driven process description is particularly important. This paper demonstrates how setup effort, adaptation times, and dependence on specialized expert knowledge can be reduced. This results in a scalable approach for the flexible automation of wiring harness manufacturing.

Bosch Rexroth develops drive and control technologies for industrial and mobile applications. The company combines automation technology, software, and engineering to create networked solutions for modern production environments.

For more information about Bosch Rexroth, please visit: www.boschrexroth.com