Visionic designs off-the-shelf optical guidance and control solutions for complex industrial manufacturing processes. As an integrator, it aims for constant improvement of industrial performance. Fuzzy Logic, with its no-code software that allows non-experts to create, simulate and control a robot cell in real time, aims to democratise industrial robotics.

Aeronautics is a demanding sector that requires extremely rigorous and standardized industrial processes. For example, machined engine parts must be rendered particle-free before assembly, and are therefore subjected to meticulous cleaning at very high pressure. These noisy and arduous processes are currently performed manually. Operators exposed to high pressure water jets, up to 60 bars, pollution and noise are at high risk of MSD. Aeronautical manufacturers and subcontractors are having difficulty recruiting candidates for these jobs, which are also highly regulated and whose difficulty is closely monitored by the unions.

In order to reduce the difficulty of these tasks, manufacturers are seeking to automate them. Nevertheless, they are confronted with the complexity of robotization, due in particular to the diversity of the parts and their number, to the expert costs and to the lack of availability of roboticists.

In response to these specific and complex problems, Visionic has designed a robotic cell that includes a chassis, a robot, high-pressure hydraulic circuits, a filtration system and a closed-circuit particle recovery system. It is controlled with Fuzzy Studio. Unique in the market, it allows the robotisation of these complex tasks, without expertise in robotic programming and at lower costs.

Generating robotic trajectories requires long and complex programming by a roboticist. Automation is even more complicated for applications such as high-pressure cleaning of aeronautical parts that involve a large number of parts with variable geometries. With Fuzzy Studio, these complex trajectories are automatically generated in a few clicks using 3D information from objects placed in a virtual cell. It is possible to add an unlimited number of waypoints to these trajectories. This feature saves users considerable time and frees them from dependence on robotics experts.

Xavier Savin, CEO of Visionic comments: “The key element of Fuzzy Logic’s software is its ability to generate automated trajectories, its simplicity and speed of execution. In this complex application, it introduces a radically new paradigm that is a major shift from classical systems that require a robotic operator. Here, the payoff for our customer is the conversion of a tedious, risky, non-value-added task to a basic operator task.”

Ryan Lober, CEO of Fuzzy Logic, explains: “With Fuzzy Studio, integration specifications are validated in minutes versus days or weeks and at lower costs. Cell sizing information is displayed for easy decision making, before moving on to real-time robot control with Fuzzy RTOS. Parameters can be quickly modified in the simulation. These advantages are unique in the market, and they allow to drastically reduce the investment risks of a robotics project. They offer the possibility to robotise where it seemed impossible.”

Xavier Savin adds: “Projects to reuse this cell are underway in the aeronautics sector. We are aiming further ahead and want to extend this solution to other industrial applications, for example welding or control. It is applicable wherever complex robotic trajectories need to be generated quickly.

“At Visionic, we are fully convinced of the interest of Fuzzy Logic’s software for our customers on the one hand but also for our R&D. It gives us a considerable technological advantage.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics

Visionic designs off-the-shelf optical guidance and control solutions for complex industrial manufacturing processes. As an integrator, it aims for constant improvement of industrial performance. Fuzzy Logic, with its no-code software that allows non-experts to create, simulate and control a robot cell in real time, aims to democratise industrial robotics.

Aeronautics is a demanding sector that requires extremely rigorous and standardised industrial processes. For example, machined engine parts must be rendered particle-free before assembly, and are therefore subjected to meticulous cleaning at very high pressure. These noisy and arduous processes are currently performed manually. Operators exposed to high pressure water jets, up to 60 bars, pollution and noise are at high risk of MSD. Aeronautical manufacturers and subcontractors are having difficulty recruiting candidates for these jobs, which are also highly regulated and whose difficulty is closely monitored by the unions.

In order to reduce the difficulty of these tasks, manufacturers are seeking to automate them. Nevertheless, they are confronted with the complexity of robotization, due in particular to the diversity of the parts and their number, to the expert costs and to the lack of availability of roboticists.

In response to these specific and complex problems, Visionic has designed a robotic cell that includes a chassis, a robot, high-pressure hydraulic circuits, a filtration system and a closed-circuit particle recovery system. It is controlled with Fuzzy Studio. Claimed to be unique in the market, it allows the robotisation of these complex tasks, without expertise in robotic programming and at lower costs.

Generating robotic trajectories requires long and complex programming by a roboticist. Automation is even more complicated for applications such as high-pressure cleaning of aeronautical parts that involve a large number of parts with variable geometries. With Fuzzy Studio, these complex trajectories are automatically generated in a few clicks using 3D information from objects placed in a virtual cell. It is possible to add an unlimited number of waypoints to these trajectories. This feature saves users considerable time and frees them from dependence on robotics experts.

Xavier Savin, CEO of Visionic comments: “The key element of Fuzzy Logic’s software is its ability to generate automated trajectories, its simplicity and speed of execution. In this complex application, it introduces a radically new paradigm that is a major shift from classical systems that require a robotic operator. Here, the payoff for our customer is the conversion of a tedious, risky, non-value-added task to a basic operator task.”

Ryan Lober, CEO of Fuzzy Logic explains: “With Fuzzy Studio, integration specifications are validated in minutes versus days or weeks and at lower costs. Cell sizing information is displayed for easy decision making, before moving on to real-time robot control with Fuzzy RTOS. Parameters can be quickly modified in the simulation. These advantages are unique in the market, and they allow to drastically reduce the investment risks of a robotics project. They offer the possibility to robotise where it seemed impossible.”

Savin adds: “Projects to reuse this cell are underway in the aeronautics sector. We are aiming further ahead and want to extend this solution to other industrial applications, for example welding or control. It is applicable wherever complex robotic trajectories need to be generated quickly.”

He concludes: “At Visionic, we are fully convinced of the interest of Fuzzy Logic’s software for our customers on the one hand but also for our R&D. It gives us a considerable technological advantage.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics

Visionic designs off-the-shelf optical guidance and control solutions for complex industrial manufacturing processes. As an integrator, it aims for constant improvement of industrial performance. Fuzzy Logic, with its no-code software that allows non-experts to create, simulate and control a robot cell in real time, aims to democratise industrial robotics.

Aeronautics is a demanding sector that requires extremely rigorous and standardized industrial processes. For example, machined engine parts must be rendered particle-free before assembly, and are therefore subjected to meticulous cleaning at very high pressure. These noisy and arduous processes are currently performed manually. Operators exposed to high pressure water jets, up to 60 bars, pollution and noise are at high risk of MSD. Aeronautical manufacturers and subcontractors are having difficulty recruiting candidates for these jobs, which are also highly regulated and whose difficulty is closely monitored by the unions.

In order to reduce the difficulty of these tasks, manufacturers are seeking to automate them. Nevertheless, they are confronted with the complexity of robotization, due in particular to the diversity of the parts and their number, to the expert costs and to the lack of availability of roboticists.

In response to these specific and complex problems, Visionic has designed a robotic cell that includes a chassis, a robot, high-pressure hydraulic circuits, a filtration system and a closed-circuit particle recovery system. It is controlled with Fuzzy Studio. Unique in the market, it allows the robotisation of these complex tasks, without expertise in robotic programming and at lower costs.

Generating robotic trajectories requires long and complex programming by a roboticist. Automation is even more complicated for applications such as high-pressure cleaning of aeronautical parts that involve a large number of parts with variable geometries. With Fuzzy Studio, these complex trajectories are automatically generated in a few clicks using 3D information from objects placed in a virtual cell. It is possible to add an unlimited number of waypoints to these trajectories. This feature saves users considerable time and frees them from dependence on robotics experts.

Xavier Savin, CEO of Visionic, comments: “The key element of Fuzzy Logic’s software is its ability to generate automated trajectories, its simplicity and speed of execution. In this complex application, it introduces a radically new paradigm that is a major shift from classical systems that require a robotic operator. Here, the payoff for our customer is the conversion of a tedious, risky, non-value-added task to a basic operator task.”

Ryan Lober, CEO of Fuzzy Logic, explains: “With Fuzzy Studio, integration specifications are validated in minutes versus days or weeks and at lower costs. Cell sizing information is displayed for easy decision making, before moving on to real-time robot control with Fuzzy RTOS. Parameters can be quickly modified in the simulation. These advantages are unique in the market, and they allow to drastically reduce the investment risks of a robotics project. They offer the possibility to robotize where it seemed impossible.”

Xavier Savin adds: “Projects to reuse this cell are underway in the aeronautics sector. We are aiming further ahead and want to extend this solution to other industrial applications, for example welding or control. It is applicable wherever complex robotic trajectories need to be generated quickly.”

He concludes: “At Visionic, we are fully convinced of the interest of Fuzzy Logic’s software for our customers on the one hand but also for our R&D. It gives us a considerable technological advantage.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics

Fuzzy Studio allows non-experts in robotics to create virtual cells and control industrial robots, enabling them to robotize their production at an affordable price and lower risk, even in situations that were once considered impossible, such as for small batches or complex parts. Previously reserved for a select few, it is now available online to a wider audience and comes with informative documentation and tutorials.

Fuzzy Studio is a no-code software that enables non-robotics experts to simulate and program industrial robots. It is universal, compatible with most robot brands on the market, and allows even those who lack expertise in robotics or programming to create, program, and simulate their own robotic cell. With the rise of robotics in France and Europe as a means to relocate production, Fuzzy Studio provides an easy and low-risk solution for investment.

Fuzzy Studio comes in two licenses on the Fuzzy Logic website: the Fuzzy Studio Simulation license allows non-robotic users to create and preview a robotic cell in a simulated environment, while the Fuzzy Studio Production license provides all the tools necessary for the integration and operation of a real robotic cell.

Ryan Lober, CEO of Fuzzy Logic, says: “This online launch is the culmination of two years of Fuzzy Studio evolution built on deployment in production with our existing customers. Fuzzy Studio is now ready to be offered to a wider audience and is currently the most advanced and accessible industrial robotics software on the market.”

He adds: “Fuzzy Logic will revolutionise mass-customisation and flexible production. Our ambition is to make industrial robotics accessible to a wider audience, such as for the production of small batches or unique parts, which are difficult to automate due to high costs associated with complex robot programming. By democratising robotics, making it simple to program and simulate a robot for everyone, we make robotic automation feasible where it once seemed impossible.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics

Fuzzy Studio allows non-experts in robotics to create virtual cells and control industrial robots, enabling them to robotise their production at an affordable price and lower risk, even in situations that were once considered impossible, such as for small batches or complex parts.

Previously reserved for a select few, it is now available online to a wider audience and comes with informative documentation and tutorials.

Fuzzy Studio is a no-code software that enables non-robotics experts to simulate and program industrial robots. It is universal, compatible with most robot brands on the market, and allows even those who lack expertise in robotics or programming to create, program, and simulate their own robotic cell. With the rise of robotics in France and Europe as a means to relocate production, Fuzzy Studio provides an easy and low-risk solution for investment.

Fuzzy Studio comes in two licenses on the Fuzzy Logic website: the Fuzzy Studio Simulation license allows non-robotic users to create and preview a robotic cell in a simulated environment, while the Fuzzy Studio Production license provides all the tools necessary for the integration and operation of a real robotic cell.

Ryan Lober, CEO of Fuzzy Logic, says: “This online launch is the culmination of two years of Fuzzy Studio evolution built on deployment in production with our existing customers. Fuzzy Studio is now ready to be offered to a wider audience and is currently the most advanced and accessible industrial robotics software on the market.

“Fuzzy Logic will revolutionise mass-customisation and flexible production. Our ambition is to make industrial robotics accessible to a wider audience, such as for the production of small batches or unique parts, which are difficult to automate due to high costs associated with complex robot programming. By democratising robotics, making it simple to program and simulate a robot for everyone, we make robotic automation feasible where it once seemed impossible.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics

The company wanted to robotise certain processes in small series or even single unit production, by allowing an operator with no programming skills to teach the robotic system, in just a few seconds, the process to be carried out, and then to execute the cycle with complete confidence without human supervision. Fuzzy Logic’s Repplix application software module addresses all aspects of this requirement in a cost-effective manner. The first use case selected was the tedious, manual cleaning of the moulds used to manufacture composites.

MBDA France’s Bourges site produces numerous small series of composite parts that have to be moulded. Each mould is manually stripped clean before being used in production. This operation is complex: the parts to be treated are diverse and numerous and in each series, the level of residue to be stripped off, and its location may vary. This method of operation is tedious, and it also requires protecting the operator from exposure to toxic substances.

Vincent Rafin, head of the Factory of the Future Project at MBDA explains: “At MBDA we look for agility when it comes to robotisation. We want to robotise tasks which cause muscolo-skeletal disorders in our operators, and which occur in certain cases in the production of very small series or even single parts, so we need to keep the non-recurring costs of programming as low as possible. Programming a robot to define the trajectories of a laser is not the right approach for small series production, it is time-consuming and costly and has to be done by a roboticist.”

For advice, MBDA turned to Meliad, a recognised expert in the aerospace industry for surface preparation and laser stripping, and to Staubli. The latter recommended Fuzzy Logic for its universal, visual programming solutions.

Programming a laser stripper on the fly

Fuzzy Logic developed Repplix, an extension of its Fuzzy Studio software, in cooperation with MBDA. A portable learning device, controlled by the operator using his knowledge of the application task, teaches the Repplix software the first laser alignment. A monitoring function, performed via a real-time digital twin of the robotic installation created in Fuzzy Studio, takes into account collision monitoring and trajectory feasibility in the robot’s environment. Alert parameters are set up. Trajectory capture combines several process parameters such as laser triggering and power. The operator, who is not a roboticist, is also able to modify the trajectory and process parameters via the graphical interface, even after the learning phase.

Then, from this digital twin, the cycle is launched and the robot moves with the laser, guided by the accurate capture of the trajectory learned from the operator. The speed at which the robot operates is set directly in the software, it can differ from the speed in the learning phase. The cycle is performed autonomously by the robot, without the need for operator supervision. The same process, which takes only a few minutes, is done for each new series of moulds.

The solution developed in this way, is executed with millimetre precision, and is capable of extension to even more demanding applications in the future. The manual operation can be reproduced with ease because the learning device is the representation of the real tool and is not directly linked to the robot. The operator manages the execution and planning of the movement himself using the software and the parametrised alerts.

The time needed to programme the mould cleaning operation is slashed from several hours to only a few minutes. Productivity is increased by automating the cleaning operation and the risks for the operator are reduced. This makes robotising this operation profitable, both in terms of HSE and economics.

Ryan Lober, CEO of Fuzzy Logic, adds: “With Repplix, the robot becomes a precision tool in the hands of the operator. Our solution allows him to automate his task in complete autonomy, without any intervention from a specialist. Another advantage is that Repplix is designed to start being used immediately, with no real training required. Our solution allows the robotisation of processes where this has previously been impossible. What´s more, we have barely finished the initial application, and already, Repplix is being deployed by other users in Europe.”

Nicolas Gautier, robotics technical lead at MBDA, explains: “This technological building block is duplicable, it will become available for this first use case in the first quarter of 2022. As well as this, MBDA are already working on extending it to cover new applications. For example, sandblasting, painting, welding or waterjet cutting. These applications all have complex trajectories that need to be programmed. With conventional tools, we would need highly qualified personnel and a great deal of time and so programming them would be very costly. Fuzzy Logic, with Repplix has now removed this barrier, which prevented the cost-effective automation of such applications.”

Jean-Michel Duchazeaubeneix, CEO of Meliad, details how Repplix opens up new perspectives for laser stripping applications: “We offer robotic laser stripping solutions, but this robotisation remains complicated because it has to be done by specialists. Programming a trajectory for a small series, as is the case at MBDA, generates prohibitively high non-recurring costs that directly kill the project. Repplix offers us the possibility of rapidly and easily deploying our laser solutions across a wide range of repair or maintenance applications which have been difficult to implement until now, whether they be the aeronautics industry or nuclear or defence.”

Denis Gardin, MBDA’s director of innovation and future technologies concludes: “This innovation is the achievement the vision of MBDA engineers and operators who, working in close collaboration with innovative SMEs, have succeeded in taking the first step towards implementing a robotic solution which breaks the cost barrier for a wide range of use cases thanks to programming by non-invasive capture of the operators’ know-how.”

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The collaboration between Fuzzy Logic, Visionic and Framatome began when they were working on RIMA (Robotics for Inspection and Maintenance), a European Union project that aims to establish a network of digital innovation hubs and industrial associations to support the development of robotics.

To be deployed efficiently, today’s NDT technologies require a controlled, laboratory-like environment, which is precisely what is difficult to achieve in field conditions. This same challenge is what Framatome Intercontrôle is confronted with when inspecting components in the primary circuits of nuclear power plants (CNPE), especially in the case of specific welds such as tappings at the junction points between primary and secondary piping systems.

In order to overcome these challenges, Framatome Intercontrôle uses industrial robots in an innovative way to solve many NDT problems. Ultrasonic detection performed by a robot characterizes the internal volumetric defects of the weld to detect possible cracks. Currently, these inspections are prepared in advance on site and require a 3D scan of the weld and measurement of the environment, each weld and environment being geometrically unique. A roboticist then calculates the robot trajectory for the future inspection.

At the time of inspection, if the environment is different from the initial measurements or does not correspond exactly to the archived scan, it is no longer possible to directly adapt the prepared trajectory; the measurements and trajectory calculations must be adjusted again. However, the nuclear environment is complex and subject to very restrictive safety regulations. Each intervention is therefore costly in terms of human resources, especially since the threshold for radiation exposure of personnel is 12 millisieverts per year, which increases the cost of repairs when they become necessary.

Yannick Caulier, Expert I, VTI level III, COFFMET level II at Framatome Intercontrôle; said: “Preparing the inspections is a complex, time consuming and costly task, because the environment is not easy to model. That is why we were looking for a software package that would allow us to easily redefine trajectories so that we could adapt our inspections to the conditions in each nuclear site.”

Current industrial robots and programming tools are not designed for unstructured field environments. Moreover, using and programming them requires a high level of expertise. To overcome these constraints, Fuzzy Logic and Visionic have developed the PRIMUS platform.

The PRIMUS Software and Hardware platform allows NDT service providers to respond to infrastructure inspection requests quickly and efficiently. It works simply, the first step is to model the environment as it is at the time of the inspection. Any additional elements that could potentially hinder the trajectory are then integrated into this modelling step, the simulation of the process before the on-site inspection is then complete. In the second step, a robot is placed next to the welded areas of the pipes. The inspection probe must be moved with great precision, this requires the use of a robot to achieve accurate positioning and orientation.

Using software developed by Fuzzy Logic, operators can set up the robot quickly, without needing to position it with great accuracy on the pipe. The 3D sensors integrated on the robot allow the robot to be quickly and easily realigned to its real environment. Trajectories can be determined in seconds with a few mouse clicks. The combination of the complex trajectory calculated by the Fuzzy Studio and the 3D scan of the weld structure by Visionic generates the inspection path adapted to the real surface. The last step consists in the inspection of the weld by ultrasound.

This method has never been used for NDT before, and the results obtained are much more accurate thanks to the control of the probe positioning, with prior adjustment based on a 3D scan of the surface.

Visionic supplies the robots and their optical system. Fuzzy Logic provides the enhanced agile programming environment, allowing programming to be done by non-roboticists and eliminating many of the setup steps. Framatome Intercontrôle contributes both the know-how and a robotic NDT weld inspection test bench for developing, testing and validating the PRIMUS solution in an operational environment.

Thanks to the PRIMUS system, Framatome Intercontrôle’s inspection time has gone from two weeks to one day. In addition, PRIMUS increases the efficiency, quality and safety of non-destructive testing while decreasing operator radiation exposure. Aided by the cooperation and support of the partners in the RIMA network, the PRIMUS system was developed, deployed and tested in a record time of 14 months, bringing industrial robotics to the forefront of nuclear infrastructure inspection.

Yannick Caulier said: “The no-code, ergonomic and versatile software, usable on all PRIMUS robots, offers us greater accessibility than ever before. We can place the robot where we want it and generate its trajectory in a few clicks. This is one of the aspects that attracted us the most.”

A successful collaboration

Ryan Lober, CEO and co-founder of Fuzzy Logic, said: “Framatome, like many other industrial corporations, is pushing the limits of what we think we can do with industrial robots. However, expert-level tools are a limiting factor. By offering a solution that is accessible to non-experts, we are paving the way for using robots in these applications, which were once thought impossible.”

Xavier Savin added: “This specific application for Framatome, which solves a particular problem, can be transposed wherever material integrity inspections are carried out by ultrasound on surfaces whose geometry is not fully predictable. Our solution can be extended to robotic applications where a different trajectory definition is important. The more variability there is in the trajectories, the more meaningful the solution will be.”

Yannick Caulier explains that the software developed for this application can be adapted for inspections of other weld types. “It is planned to develop the prototype further, with new features and fluidity in the inspection chain.”

RIMA, a bold move

The collaboration between Framatome, Fuzzy Logic and Visionic was formed in the fall of 2019, via the RIMA consortium. Framatome had a requirement that was atypical in the field of robotics. It needed a robotic solution that could be used by non-experts. The challenge was to design a software platform to define the robot trajectories in order to adapt the inspections of pipe welding in a nuclear site. Visionic and Fuzzy Logic jointly responded, convinced of the unprecedented technological potential of their solution.

RIMA subsidized the R&D costs for the Visionic and Fuzzy Logic consortium up to €300,000.

“RIMA financed a technology that never existed before, in response to an atypical need. RIMA’s bold move has paid off because in 14 months, our PRIMUS solution, developed by a start-up and an innovative SME, has demonstrated the significance of its impact in a sector that is considered very demanding,” said Ryan Lober, pleased with the success.

Xavier Savin explained: “We were aware of the commercial potential behind our technical solution. There are real opportunities for Primus on the international market.

“All 56 nuclear reactors in France will have to undergo major refurbishment, to enable them to continue production after 40 years of operation. Replacing piping in a nuclear plant is costly and complex. Our solution, which characterises the defects and whose gives reliable results, makes it possible to decide on the most appropriate maintenance steps after inspection. Our solution offers the potential for considerable economic benefits. This potential can be multiplied by the number of power plants in operation in Europe and worldwide.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

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The collaboration between Fuzzy Logic, Visionic and Framatome began when they were working on RIMA (Robotics for Inspection and Maintenance), a European Union project that aims to establish a network of digital innovation hubs and industrial associations to support the development of robotics.

To be deployed efficiently, today’s NDT technologies require a controlled, laboratory-like environment, which is precisely what is difficult to achieve in field conditions. This same challenge is what Framatome Intercontrôle is confronted with when inspecting components in the primary circuits of nuclear power plants (CNPE), especially in the case of specific welds such as tappings at the junction points between primary and secondary piping systems.

In order to overcome these challenges, Framatome Intercontrôle uses industrial robots in an innovative way to solve many NDT problems. Ultrasonic detection performed by a robot characterises the internal volumetric defects of the weld to detect possible cracks. Currently, these inspections are prepared in advance on site and require a 3D scan of the weld and measurement of the environment, each weld and environment being geometrically unique. A roboticist then calculates the robot trajectory for the future inspection.

At the time of inspection, if the environment is different from the initial measurements or does not correspond exactly to the archived scan, it is no longer possible to directly adapt the prepared trajectory; the measurements and trajectory calculations must be adjusted again. However, the nuclear environment is complex and subject to very restrictive safety regulations. Each intervention is therefore costly in terms of human resources, especially since the threshold for radiation exposure of personnel is 12 millisieverts per year, which increases the cost of repairs when they become necessary.

Yannick Caulier of Framatome Intercontrôle comments: “Preparing the inspections is a complex, time consuming and costly task, because the environment is not easy to model. That is why we were looking for a software package that would allow us to easily redefine trajectories so that we could adapt our inspections to the conditions in each nuclear site.”

Current industrial robots and programming tools are not designed for unstructured field environments. Moreover, using and programming them requires a high level of expertise. To overcome these constraints, Fuzzy Logic and Visionic have developed the PRIMUS platform.

Primus, a unique software platform

The PRIMUS Software and Hardware platform allows NDT service providers to respond to infrastructure inspection requests quickly and efficiently. It works simply, the first step is to model the environment as it is at the time of the inspection. Any additional elements that could potentially hinder the trajectory are then integrated into this modelling step, the simulation of the process before the on-site inspection is then complete. In the second step, a robot is placed next to the welded areas of the pipes.

The inspection probe must be moved with great precision, this requires the use of a robot to achieve accurate positioning and orientation. Using software developed by Fuzzy Logic, operators can set up the robot quickly, without needing to position it with great accuracy on the pipe. The 3D sensors integrated on the robot allow the robot to be quickly and easily realigned to its real environment. Trajectories can be determined in seconds with a few mouse clicks.

The combination of the complex trajectory calculated by the Fuzzy Studio  and the 3D scan of the weld structure by Visionic generates the inspection path adapted to the real surface. The last step consists in the inspection of the weld by ultrasound.

This method has never been used for NDT before, and the results obtained are much more accurate thanks to the control of the probe positioning, with prior adjustment based on a 3D scan of the surface.

Visionic supplies the robots and their optical system. Fuzzy Logic provides the enhanced agile programming environment, allowing programming to be done by non-roboticists and eliminating many of the setup steps.

Framatome Intercontrôle contributes both the know-how and a robotic NDT weld inspection test bench for developing, testing and validating the PRIMUS solution in an operational environment.

Thanks to the PRIMUS system, Framatome Intercontrôle’s inspection time has gone from two weeks to one day. In addition, PRIMUS increases the efficiency, quality and safety of non-destructive testing while decreasing operator radiation exposure. Aided by the cooperation and support of the partners in the RIMA network, the PRIMUS system was developed, deployed and tested in a record time of 14 months, bringing industrial robotics to the forefront of nuclear infrastructure inspection.

Yannick Caulier states: “The no-code, ergonomic and versatile software, usable on all PRIMUS robots, offers us greater accessibility than ever before. We can place the robot where we want it and generate its trajectory in a few clicks. This is one of the aspects that attracted us the most.”

A successful collaboration

Ryan Lober, CEO and co-founder of Fuzzy Logic, says: “Framatome, like many other industrial corporations, are pushing the limits of what we think we can do with industrial robots. However, expert-level tools are a limiting factor. By offering a solution that is accessible to non-experts, we are paving the way for using robots in these applications, which were once thought impossible.”

Xavier Savin adds: “This specific application for Framatome, which solves a particular problem, can be transposed wherever material integrity inspections are carried out by ultrasound on surfaces whose geometry is not fully predictable. Our solution can be extended to robotic applications where a different trajectory definition is important. The more variability there is in the trajectories, the more meaningful the solution will be.”

Yannick Caulier explains that the software developed for this application can be adapted for inspections of other weld types. “It is planned to develop the prototype further, with new features and fluidity in the inspection chain.”

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics

Fuzzy Logic, which originated in the French start-up ecosystem (Agoranov and Wilco), is developing an ‘all-in-one’ software platform that dramatically simplifies every step of robotization, from robotic cell design to daily reprogramming in the factory by operators. It reproduces a virtual environment in which the robot in the factory can be controlled ‘on the fly’ and as simply as a video game.

Fuzzy Studio (desktop application) and Fuzzy RTOS (embedded software) are no-code platforms, allowing users to control any make of industrial robot, without the need for training or complex programming. Non-roboticist users can intuitively design robotic cells and production operators increase their scope of activity: a clearer and simpler software solution for interacting with robots and “crushing” their complexity. The company claims it sets a new standard for flexible automation.

Robotics in the service of operators

The platform is attracting strong interest from large companies, especially for applications with many different part types to be programmed or which have demanding quality requirements.

But as well as current users of industrial robots, Fuzzy Logic intends to open up a market that is still in its infancy, that of small and medium-sized industrial companies.

The platform removes the complexities of robotic integration and eliminates the need for robotics expertise throughout the service life, two obstacles that until now have often been prohibitive barriers for SMEs and SMBs.

Ryan Lober and Antoine Hoarau, respectively CEO and CTO, co-founders of Fuzzy Logic, said: “We help SMEs to power up their competitiveness and autonomy, by making robots adapt to them – not the other way around. This round of fundraising will allow us to strengthen our R&D teams and deploy our vision of intuitive and flexible robotics among client ambassadors throughout Europe.”

Julian von Fischer from 42CAP said: “Fuzzy Logic will be one of the key enablers of the flexible production paradigm changing the industry as we know it today. We were deeply impressed by Ryan Lober’s and Antoine Hoarau’s deep knowledge of the industrial robotics space, as well as the powerful solution they have built. They were able demonstrate everything we seek in entrepreneurs and bring their technology into the hands of industry leaders in real-world use cases. We are more than excited for what lies ahead and are proud to back the team on this journey.”

Benjamin Zerbib, investment director, and Yvan-Michel Ehkirch, managing partner at Karista, commented: “Fuzzy Logic arrives on the market with a perfect timing given the mass-adoption of industrial robotics and underlying applications. Yet projects remain complex, pricy, and lengthy to implement. We immediately shared Ryan Lober and Antoine Hoarau’s vision: make robotics accessible for everyone, not only for experts, and revolutionise the way people interact and use industrial robotics. In addition, we have identified a stellar team of entrepreneurs with impressive tech expertise around software and robotics. We are very proud to back them in this new phase.”

Fuzzy Studio and Fuzzy RTOS are currently being deployed at customers in France and Germany, who were specifically chosen for their flexibility and precision requirements. Thanks to awards and support from the French public investment bank, Bpifrance, as well as the European Union, the company has accumulated more than 600,000 euros in pre-seed financing. The current round of fundraising will help them strengthen the technical team in order to deploy to new customers, ‘Platform Ambassadors’, throughout Europe.

The Fuzzy Logic mission is to unlock flexible production for any manufacturer, by making the robot a simple tool, accessible to any operator.

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Fuzzy Logic Robotics argues that, today, only a few handling applications, such as pick-and-place, have been made truly accessible to non-experts and thus cost-effective for flexible production. The vast majority of robotic and cobotic applications, it says, require complex and heterogeneous software tools and brand experts.

These tools require significant training and expertise, with Fuzzy Logic Robotics saying that, as a result, more than 75% of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a robot is related to software training and services in standard mass production. In flexible production, this number can skyrocket to over 90% of the TCO and kill the potential return on investment of the robotic system.

Asserting that the solution is a single, intuitive platform for all steps, Fuzzy Logic Robotics has developed Fuzzy Studio, an easy-to-use and universal software platform which the company says reduces robotics programming costs by 10. With Fuzzy Studio any factory can automate with robotics quickly, simply and cost-effectively – even for complex applications in processing, dispensing and welding. Features include:

• Intuitive and simple like a video game.
• One standard interface for all brands of robots.
• Industrial grade precision and performance for real time control of the robot.

Fuzzy Studio covers all of the steps in the integration of a robotic workcell: from pre-project, design, and commissioning to real-time production control, inline reprogramming and maintenance. It is designed to accelerate robotic uptake and usage for all stakeholders, from major manufacturers to small and medium-sized businesses, to systems integrators and even robot OEMs.

Select robots from an extensive library: Browse through a comprehensive collection of robot models from the supported brands and filter by specification.

Import cad and 3d files easily: Quickly construct a robotic system with high fidelity and interactive CAD and 3D objects. More than 40 formats are supported, including industrial CAD STEP and IGES.

Find the right end-of-arm tooling: Select from multiple tooling options from top manufacturers or import custom designed tools. All supported tools are plug and play compatible.

Visually create and modify trajectories: No more confusing lines of code or coordinate systems. Visually construct tool trajectories. Modify trajectories in real-time, see the changes in 3D, and execute them directly on the real robot.

Drag and drop automatic trajectory generation: Drag and drop 3D CAD objects into the design and proprietary algorithms automatically generate tool trajectories, which avoid collisions, save time, enhance performance, and reinforce safety. Turn hours of meticulous labour into a few easy clicks.

Create a full process without code: Orchestrate trajectories, tools, sensors, and synchronise I/O. No code to write.

Swap any robot and keep working: Thanks to proprietary algorithms, users can easily swap any robot with two clicks in their design to find the right one for the job. All trajectories and processes are automatically re-computed and incompatibilities can be fixed easily.

Deploy with one click: Thanks to deterministic real-time control algorithms, what you see in simulation is what you get in reality. Deploy an entire application with one click to the production robot and bridge the gap between simulation and reality. Monitor and adjust processes directly and in real-time.

Visit the Fuzzy Logic Robotics website for more information

See all stories for Fuzzy Logic Robotics