Vehicle dimension data describing dimensions of a vehicle are obtained, a robotic apparatus is moved to a position about the vehicle, a reference point of the vehicle is determined, and the robotic apparatus is caused to move to positions about the vehicle based on the reference point. The reference point may be a center point of a selected wheel of the vehicle. A coordinate system of the robotic apparatus is aligned to the reference point of the selected wheel of the vehicle. Based on the aligned coordinate system of the robotic apparatus, operations are performed by the robotic apparatus to remove lug nuts from a wheel hub of the vehicle.

A radiating structure assembly system includes a movable conveyor that supports fixtures. Work stations are spaced about the conveyor such that the fixtures are moved sequentially to position the fixtures at the plurality of work stations. A first work station includes a loading assembly for loading the radiating elements on the fixtures. A second work station includes a first automated vertical assembly machine for mounting a first printed circuit board to the radiating element. A third work station includes a second automated vertical assembly machine for mounting a second printed circuit board to the radiating element to create a dipole assembly. A holding device is movable with the conveyor aligns and supports the first and second printed circuit boards relative to the radiating element. A fourth work station includes an unloading assembly for removing the dipole assembly from the conveyor.

Methods and systems for assembling components such as for manufacturing vehicles are provided. An exemplary method includes grasping components with assembly robots and determining, with an optic robot, an identity, location, and orientation of each component. Further, the method includes determining a location adjustment and/or an orientation adjustment needed to align the components for joining based on the location and orientation of each component. The method also includes directing a respective assembly robot to move a respective component based on the location adjustment and/or the orientation adjustment to align the components for joining. The method further includes fastening, with a fastening robot, the components to each other to form a joined component.

A system and method for assembling a plurality of components into an assembly is provided. The system includes an assembling robot and an adhesive dispensing robot. The assembling robot is configured to attach a first sub-assembly to a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly includes at least one of the plurality of components, and the second sub-assembly includes remaining ones of the plurality of components. The adhesive dispensing robot is configured to apply an adhesive between the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, after the first sub-assembly is attached to the second sub-assembly, to bond the first sub-assembly to the second sub-assembly.

The present disclosure provides a workpiece conveyance system that can be configured at a low cost. A first exemplary aspect is a workpiece conveyance system configured to convey a first workpiece inside a facility and raise the first workpiece, the workpiece conveyance system including: an on-floor carriage configured to be movable on a floor of the facility, the on-floor carriage including a placement part on which the first workpiece is placed; and an elevating machine configured to push up the placement part, the elevating machine being configured separately from the on-floor carriage.

Disclosed are a pillar anchor for an automobile and a method of manufacturing the same. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the pillar anchor for an automobile includes a pair of first and second anchor plates including metal, integrated in one body, and guiding a movement of a seat belt of a vehicle, wherein each of the first and second anchor plates includes a belt movement guide recess portion protruding toward one side of the first and second anchor plates through drawing processing, and guiding the movement of the seat belt, and a reinforcement flange formed at edge portions of the first and second anchor plates to reinforce the first and second anchor plates.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A smart factory system for an electrified vehicle includes a components supplying section in which a drive-motor and a one-kit module of speed reducer component parts for forming a speed reducer to be assembled to the drive-motor are supplied to an upper portion of an autonomous mobile robot, a stator assembling section in which a stator to be assembled to the drive-motor is assembled, a speed reducer assembling section configured to sequentially assemble the speed reducer component parts to the drive-motor, a sub-assembling section in which the drive-motor, the stator, and the speed reducer component parts are electrically interconnected, and a test section in which an assembly quality of the drive-motor, the stator, and the speed reducer component parts is checked.

A stemming system includes a computing device and a stemming device. The computing device includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware. The data processing hardware includes a transmitter and a receiver. The stemming device is communicatively-coupled to the computing device. The stemming device includes a base portion and a valve-engaging portion. The valve-engaging portion includes a transducer that obtains a measurement communicated to the receiver of the computing device. The measurement includes at least one physical parameter associated with installing a tire-wheel assembly valve to a wheel throughout a process of disposing the valve within a valve hole of the wheel. The processor analyzes a data signature associated with the measurement for determining if the valve has been adequately or inadequately installed by the stemming device.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.