Research Projects

Motivation: The rapid industrial transformation in India demands advanced manufacturing solutions that can balance efficiency, flexibility, and human involvement. While East Asian and Western countries are embracing Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) technologies, Indian industries face a lag in adopting such systems due to high costs, limited expertise, and the lack of a localized framework. India’s manufacturing sector, characterized by high-mix, low-volume and high-volume production, demands flexible systems to handle frequent changes in product designs, tasks, and workflows. Additionally, the integration of unskilled and semi-skilled workers into modern production lines calls for systems that are intuitive and human centric. The motivation for this proposal stems from the need to bridge this gap by leveraging HRC frameworks, enabling robots to collaborate seamlessly with humans while enhancing productivity, safety, and sustainability in Indian manufacturing environments. Goal: The primary goal is to develop a Collaborative Intelligence Framework for Flexible Manufacturing tailored to Indian industry requirements. This framework will integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven planning, vision-based human behavior modeling, ergonomic monitoring, multi-modal sensor fusion, and intuitive interfaces powered by large language models (LLMs). The objective is to create a system that not only adapts to dynamic production needs but also empowers the workforce by making advanced robotics accessible, user-friendly, and safe. By prioritizing human safety, reducing physical strain, and enabling intuitive robot programming, the framework aims to transform the manufacturing landscape in India. Challenges: Implementing HRC in Indian manufacturing presents several challenges. Firstly, real-time adaptability is essential in dynamic and unpredictable environments where frequent task changes and uncertainties in human behavior, tasks, and robot motion occur. Addressing these requires advanced AI algorithms and real-time behavior prediction models. Secondly, designing cost-effective, adaptable hardware and mechatronic systems that fit within existing production setups without extensive redesigns is critical. Ensuring robust collaboration in shared spaces poses another hurdle, demanding dynamic safety systems capable of active collision avoidance and trajectory modification. Furthermore, integrating unskilled workers into such environments necessitates intuitive programming interfaces and adaptive training systems to lower the barriers for non-expert users. Lastly, validating these systems across diverse scenarios while maintaining affordability and scalability for Indian industries remains a significant challenge. By tackling these issues, the proposed work strives to make Indian manufacturing globally competitive while fostering workforce upskilling and industrial sustainability.