Collaborative innovation models for advancing robotics solutions

(Contributing author, Nika Mizerski of inpro)

Siemens and Volkswagen joint venture for automotive manufacturing aims to digitalize body shop planning to further the use of robots.

In automotive manufacturing, digitalization and automation are essential to maintaining efficiency, flexibility and competitiveness. Learn how collaborative innovation accelerates manufacturing efficiency for major automotive customers through a joint venture between Siemens and Volkswagen. inpro is a Siemens technology partner focusing on digital manufacturing and operations and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced robotic solutions for car body construction. inpro’s expertise, combined with Siemens software, is driving new levels of efficiency and adaptability in the automotive sector.

Bringing together state-of-the-art engineering and software solutions in the automotive sector

For over 40 years, inpro has been contributing to and driving technological advancements in the manufacturing industry. One key area of focus for the company is furthering the use of robots in automotive production. Although the automotive industry boasts one of the highest levels of production automation, products and manufacturing processes are undergoing profound change. This results in the need for increased flexibility of the entire value chain and poses new challenges for the implementation of robots that must adapt to greater complexity. At the same time, technology advancements present new opportunities to use robots in complex process tasks that previously required manual operations.

The power of Process Simulate for digitalizing body shop planning

Process Simulate in the Tecnomatix^® portfolio is a powerful digital manufacturing software solution for manufacturing process verification in a 3D environment facilitating simulation, validation, optimization and commissioning of complex processes involving equipment, robots and people for faster launches at lower cost and higher production quality.

Process Simulate helps major automotive manufacturers accelerate process digitalization, reduce production setup time, improve process gaps to ensure seamless robot integration and maximize commercialization of engineering innovations for broader industry use. With its ability to model, validate and optimize robotic workflows before physical implementation, Process Simulate minimizes costly errors, enhances productivity and supports sustainability initiatives that are imperative for automotive manufacturers.

Innovations tailored to automotive manufacturers

Using its collaborative innovation approach, inpro combines in-depth, industry-specific processes and identified process optimizations with digitalization to deliver enhanced solutions to help automotive manufacturers achieve digital transformation.

To illustrate the impact of the collaboration between Siemens and Volkswagen, explore three innovations introduced by inpro, available in Process Simulate.

Planning and validation of multi-robot cells

Multi-robot cell planning for modern robotics involves intensive manual programming work and the regularly occurring problem of robot collisions. inpro’s solution for the automatic creation of interlocking solutions can significantly increase offline programming efficiency. Recognizing the potential market demand for this niche solution add-on to Process Simulate, inpro launched ginero as a unique product, developed as a Siemens Digital Industries Software Solution Partner. For further product development and maintenance as well as business development, inpro leveraged the Siemens partner ecosystem to bring on other partners like Bucher Networks to expand its reach.

Computer vision planning for robotics

Computer vision is a key innovation in robotics layout planning. The integration of camera systems and sensors is necessary to achieve the highest possible degree of automation, automated decision-making and quality assurance in production. After extensive research and development, inpro has refined market ready methods and algorithms for including these cameras and sensors into automotive body shop planning, enhancing automation capabilities and process precision using Process Simulate software.

Custom solution for robot gripper planning

inpro’s expertise in the automotive sector and their use of Siemens technologies helps them to customize existing solutions or reuse innovation results for specific use cases. Designed for brownfield manufacturing environments, inpro developed a Process Simulate plugin to automate path generation and integrated collision checking for gripper component combinations to support the planning and optimization of production processes and to improve the alignment process for body shop containers in early project stages.

Advancing the roadmap for automotive manufacturers

inpro is a key innovation player in the digitalization of manufacturing processes and a great example of how a collaborative innovation approach can disrupt typical manufacturing processes while ensuring sustainable results. The combination of Siemens Process Simulate software technology and innovative solutions from inpro helps manufacturers reduce costs and drive efficiency in automotive production.