Structure

Before the MicroChallenge

The instructors should have knowledge in the fields of:

• PLC programming
• UR robots programming
• HMI programming
• Industrial communications
• Safety

Collect information of students who will participate in challenges and create complimentary groups, for example using DISC profiles.

Arrange meetings for teachers to discuss upcoming challenge week.

Arrange a meeting for students to be assigned into groups before challenge week. It is a good time for students to get to know each other. During meeting students can also come up with the name of the group.

Prepare workstations for each team that will include PLC’s, Robots, HMI, conveyor, sensors, and pneumatic actuators. Workstation should have solution that students can strive for.

During The MicroChallenge

Teams will be assigned to prepared workstation. Teams will receive presentation on the previous challenges, upcoming case, and PLC programming. Case will include explanation on how robot should interact with conveyor belt through PLC and its sensors.

Teams will program PLC to communicate with Robot, HMI and sensors. PLC will control what happens on the conveyor belt through sensors and will operate pneumatic actuators depending on sensor input. The robot will be programmed to interface with PLC and react to PLC commands. While working on the project students should pay special attention to safety features of the program and workstation.

The result should be a system where the operator can control and monitor the workstation only through HMI.

While working on their project, the teams will also write a presentation that will be held at the end of the challenge week on Friday before panel of experts from local and relevant companies. The presentation should also include risk assessment of the whole station.