Use Case: Click detection – Acoustic process monitoring for connectors

Your challenge

Workers and robots install several hundred connectors in a modern automobile. However, if even one connector fails to snap into place correctly with the typical “click,” an error message is inevitable. This often results in high logistics costs and time-consuming rework—as well as dissatisfied customers.

Your benefit

Intelligent sensors can help ensure that connectors engage reliably and in a verifiable manner. To document the engagement of connectors in automated production and at assembly workstations, the Fraunhofer IDMT in Oldenburg has developed a contactless, acoustic monitoring system. Depending on customer requirements, it can be integrated either as a mobile unit—for example, at the operator’s workstation—or as a stationary unit at the workstation or on a robot arm.

What makes this solution unique is that the system reliably distinguishes between many different types of “clicks”—even in noisy production environments. The acoustic data is preprocessed and evaluated on smart sensors, making the solution easy to retrofit, flexible, and scalable.

Extras

Additional recognition capabilities can be easily added, such as call for help recognition and accident detection.