The Metal Industries Research and Development Centre (MIRDC) successfully concluded its 2018 Transferable Technologies Presentation a few days ago, which was also showcased at the 4-day Kaohsiung Industrial Automation Exhibition. On the day of the opening ceremony, Mr. Wen-Sheng Tseng, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Economic Affairs, accompanied by Dr. Ren-Yi Lin, Chairman of the Board and Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, President of MIRDC visited the MIRDC exhibition booth. MIRDC focused on promotion of smart manufacturing, the use of automated guided vehicle and healthcare applications in the exhibition. Three R&D highlights include the optics molding aids technology, synchronic and collaborative moving control technology, and optical plantar pressure measurement system. MIRDC hopes that these R&D results can effectively help the industry overcome obstacles, add values, and explore business opportunities.
Smart Manufacturing Focuses on “Optics Molding Aids Technology”
The Taiwanese fastener industry has long been playing the role of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the global mass production. In the past, sample testing and mold adjustment relied on old craftsmen’s experience. Labor shortage, inheritance crisis of craftsmanship, dirty and dangerous working conditions are among the pressing problems of the industry that need to be dealt with immediately. The newly developed technology adopts the theory of optical imaging, and aims to assist old craftsmen to speed up mold-adjustment and save labor. If the technology is applied in the mold-adjusting equipment, it can increase the added values. On the other hand, application in the fastener forming machines will enhance mold-adjusting efficiency by more than 75% that will improve the export competitiveness of Taiwan fastener industry.
The Use of Automated Guided Vehicle in the Development of “Synchronic and Collaborative Moving Control Technology”
The system can not only manipulate several AGVs simultaneously, but also increase or decrease the number of AGVs during the process of transporting, and flexibly carry goods of various volume and weight in different spaces. Designed with a structure with omni-directional wheels, it can be flexibly applied to warehouse, production, manufacturing, and the related industries. The system can help unmanned ground vehicle manufacturers to change linear motion into nonlinear trackless model, which can reduce the cost of tracklaying and increase space utilization rate. The technology is indeed the final remedy for smart manufacturing.
The R&D of “Optical Plantar Pressure Measurement System” for Healthcare Applications
To fill the service gap in shoe industry and assist traditional shoe factories to develop personalized service in functional shoes, the interactive measurement system is developed to precisely measure key information such as foot pressure, plantar type, foot length and width. The device is not only convenient to measure, easily carries with high mobility, but also provides customized service through e-commerce, and a cloud database is developed. It assists business owners in working out differentiation strategy in the blue ocean market.
Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, president of MIRDC stated that through the presentation and the showcase of highlighted technologies, MIRDC’s innovative R&D capability is fully exhibited. The activity attracted many people to visit and received enthusiastic inquiries from business owners. MIRDC will continue its R&D efforts and share its technological capability with the industries for the development of practical applications.