Modernizing Repair and Manufacturing Facilities with Advanced Robotics

As robotics technology continues to mature, the Army's operational needs demand more than just simple automation. There is a growing need for flexible manufacturing systems that can enhance operational capabilities, particularly in dynamic mechanical and electrical repair facilities. Traditional systems fall short in providing the necessary versatility, which is critical to maintaining military readiness and supporting the Army's modernization priorities such as Human-Machine Interfaces and Trusted AI and Autonomy. This proposal seeks to solve the problems of collaborative robots and modular production systems described in the Topic A244-P058 document description section. The problem described can be summarized as the need for custom collaborative robots (cobots) for tasks that require precision and flexibility, such as wiring in electronic assemblies or positioning components in tight spaces. Research might include developing advanced sensory and vision systems to enable cobots to work more intuitively with human operators and easily be reconfigured by operators to perform a variety of tasks in LEAD repair facilities. These needs may change over time, but developing new solutions for each one should not require hiring a systems integrator to do a full system design, development, and re-training.  PickNik Robotics (PickNik), a world leader in solving unstructured robotics challenges like the problems described above, proposes to develop, implement, and deploy a cobot system with advanced motion planning using our commercial MoveIt Pro software platform and extensive in-house robotics experience.  During Phase I, PickNik Robotics will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to validate the technical and operational potential of our proposed cobot system. We will develop supporting features for MoveIt Pro that will enable the software to be used in multiple applications such as component placement, wiring assemblies, spraying, or blasting. PickNik will develop a digital twin of the system in a physics-based simulated environment to aid in development and validation. We will investigate and implement perception-based 3D scanning and develop features that use 3D path planning techniques to create collision-aware trajectory plans.  We will assemble a representative small-scale hardware platform from existing COTS components, ensuring that the solution is aligned with the Army's modernization priorities and is capable of supporting mixed-model production in dynamic repair facilities. By leveraging our MoveIt Pro software and extensive experience in robotic systems, we will ensure that our solution integrates seamlessly with existing Army infrastructure while offering enhanced capabilities for future needs. This proposal directly addresses the Army's solicitation requirements by focusing on developing cobots that can be quickly reconfigured to perform various tasks within repair facilities.