Infrastructure
At IRZ, our work is driven by various initiatives, each focusing on a core challenge in robotic manufacturing. We organize and focus our industry projects, research projects, and student works in these frameworks, especially to ensure that each result brings something bigger a step forward. This strategic arrangement allows us to generate impactful, practical, and sustainable outputs, ensuring that we’re not just responsive but also proactive in addressing the changing research and industrial landscape.
Cluster and Network
The backbone of our infrastructure is our VM-Ware cluster, where we run all of our development machines as well as robot and sensor controllers. We have a total of more than 250 cores and 500GB of RAM together with a number of GPUs at our disposal. With our VPN access is granted not only from the office but also from home to check in on our long-term experiments. A sophisticated lab network connects all our hardware enabling centralized access and real-time control.
Robots
Our diverse fleet of more than two dozens of industrial robots is ever increasing, ranging from payloads of less than 1kg up to 3.5 tons. Every robot is equipped with a mounting adapter at its base such that relocation can be done in under one hour. Fast relocation is a key aspect in having the ability to quickly test new ideas.
Metrology Systems
We employ two Creaform C-Track 980 photogrammetric sensors, with an accuracy of up to 50µm and the capability to simultaneously track multiple 6D targets. Our work horse The Leica Absolute Tracker AT960-LR, which provides full-pose measurements in real-time at 1 kHz, has an accuracy of ±15µm + 6µm/m within a measuring range of 60m. All systems can be controlled trough our own python library.
Sensors
A wide range of different high-end sensors are available in our lab. From lidars over fringe projection systems to force-torque sensors we have everything at our disposal to quickly put together any setup we wish. All the sensors can be accessed directly over network from our own python library.
Mechatronics Lab
The actors available in our lab range from several revolute and linear servo motors to a milling spindle with 13kW rated power. These components are used to design custom systems that are necessary to solve specific and advanced industrial applications. Additionally more specific actors like an industrial gripper or a welding torch are part of the available hardware.
Workshop
Different machining tasks can be performed directly by the group members in our workshop. This allows to implement and test solution approaches flexibly. The lab hosts different metal-cutting machines like a milling machine or a lathe, but also a 3Dprinter and many more.
