AMBOS-3D: Assistance system supports workshops for people with disabilities in the packing process

In Short

The project “Assistance system for manual workshop workplaces of people with disabilities by means of optical 3D sensor technology”, in short AMBOS-3D (referring to the German project title), deals with the technical support in workshops for people with disabilities by means of modern sensor technology and open source developments.

In Detail

In disability workshops, the approach is oriented toward industry. After all, the aim is not just to manufacture quickly and efficiently, but to enable employees to lead a normal working life. Nevertheless, the customers' quality requirements are the focus of the work. This idea of inclusion poses challenges for the group leader. He makes sure that the components are counted correctly and is also responsible for the social and interpersonal tasks.

Fraunhofer IPA has developed an assistance system together with Hobbyhimmel, Caritasverband für Stuttgart e.V., Neckartalwerkstätten (NTW) and Ruck GmbH. This is intended to relieve the group leaders of their production tasks and give them more time for supervision. With Pick-by-Light, the application shows the employee the next work step. Via green or red light signals, it immediately informs them whether they have done everything correctly.

A first prototype was implemented for the packing process at the Neckartalwerkstätte. In principle, however, it can be used to display and monitor all manual work steps. Examples are commissioning or manual assembly tasks. Simple and inexpensive software and hardware were used for the solution. The source codes and building instructions are available for download on the project website. Companies, workshops and hobbyists can thus replicate the system without investing a lot of time and money.

The AMBOS-3D project is one of ten winning projects in the BMBF's “Light Cares” competition and is being funded with almost 100,000 euros. The task is to use photonic technologies together with the maker scene and to support people with disabilities in the process.

“We are pleased to be able to offer employees modernized workplaces that are tailored precisely to their needs starting this summer,”

confirms Harald Hellstern, the production manager at Neckartalwerkstätten in Stuttgart.