tal/cost parameters include solid waste generation

ing  guns)  can  be  selected,  and  welding  processes

potential (lb/square ft), atmospheric emissions (lb/

and parameters can be optimized prior to commit 

1000  square  ft),  and  productivity  (square  ft/hr).

ting resources or dollars to production.  With the

With this capability, UNO COE expects to improve

simulation package, it is possible to import the com 

maritime industry productivity, environmental per 

puter aided design model of the parts to be welded

formance, and worker health as well as reduce abra 

and locate it in the  proper positions, define the de 

sive consumption, energy, labor, atmospheric emis 

sired weld paths, download the welding program,

sions, and overall costs.

which has been prepared off line, and weld the part.

One  of  the  industrial  collaborators  in  this

project has sent materials for an actual assembly

ShipWorks Robotics Laboratory

to GCRMTC for modeling and welding.  The dem 

onstration project resulted in the achievement of

Automation in the automotive industry has been

the  targeted  cycle  time  and  required  quality.

the norm for many years.  However, the U.S. ship 

Based on this demonstration, the industrial col 

building industry was slow to adopt automation as

laborator committed to installing the system at

mass high speed production is not part of its indus 

its facility.  The expected payback for the invest 

try.  The ShipWorks Robotic Laboratory project be 

ment is less than two years.

ing developed and demonstrated by the Gulf Coast

Another project related to this research effort in 

Region Maritime Technology Center is showing ship 

volves  using  the  same  simulation  hardware  and

builders how they can effectively incorporate robot 

software  to  prove  the  feasibility  of  replacing  the

ics and process simulation into its processes.

welding robot with a robot equipped with a metal

cutting process (oxy gas, plasma, or laser), and uti 

The Gulf Coast Region Maritime Technology Cen 

lizing alternate product flow and processing in the

ter (GCRMTC) at the University of New Orleans,

shipyard.  Again, the simulation and visualization

College of Engineering (UNO COE)  undertook a

systems will allow for the analysis of this project

research program that has the potential to greatly

before the shipbuilder commits to changes.  Interim

assist  the  shipbuilding  industry  in  incorporating

reports to the industrial collaborators have been,

robotics  in  its  processes.    This  project  is  called

and will continue to be made as the research and

ShipWorks Robotics Laboratory.  The project goals

demonstration project continues.

are  to  develop  methodologies  that  provide  rapid

robotic programming, increase the tolerance of the

robot to handle shipyard accuracy levels (may re 

Management

quire some type of vision system), provide a baseline

for shipyards to estimate return on investment, seek

Technology Transfer

other process applications beyond welding, and es 

tablish a training program to support shipyard ap 

plications.  This research and demonstration project

The University of New Orleans, College of Engi 

is a joint effort between UNO COE, the Naval Sur 

neering created proven processes and methodologies

face Warfare Center   Carderock, and the Navy Join 

for transferring technology that was developed from

ing  Center.    Industrial  collaborators  include

research projects to private entities and industries.

Northrop  Grumman  Avondale,  Atlantic  Marine,

Bender  Shipyards,  Bollinger  Shipyards,  Electric

The University of New Orleans, College of Engi 

Boat,  Jeffboat,  NASSCO,  Northrop  Grumman

neering  (UNO  COE)  and  its  centers,  such  as  the

Ingalls, and Newport News Shipyard.

Gulf  Coast  Region  Maritime  Technology  Center

GCRMTC purchased the hardware (welding ro 

(GCRMTC), are not manufacturing facilities. The

bot) and software (Delmia Simulation), and built a

centers educate, research, and develop products and

robotics experimentation facility.  With this facility

processes  to  be  used  in  manufacturing  facilities.

and equipment, it is possible to create a virtual vi 

UNO  COE,  like  most  universities,  is  engaged  in

sualization facility in which models of different ro 

many research projects.  These projects lead to the

bots can be built, robotic process visualization can

development of innovative and cutting edge tech 

be achieved, part simulation within the facility can

nologies and processes, which, to become effective

be accomplished, welding equipment types (weld 

tools that industry can utilize, must be transferred

to industry in the form of technology transfer.  UNO

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