Didactic Modular Production System
SHORT SUMMARY
The Didactic Modular Production System is an educational TestBed designed for fast, hands-on learning in modern industrial environments aligned with Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 principles. It integrates key industrial technologies such as a Mitsubishi Electric MELFA RV-2FRL industrial robot, machine vision systems, a rotary table, and quality control cameras, all coordinated through a central computer and mounted on industrial aluminum profiles that replicate real production settings. Alongside it, the system functions as a compact automated production line that combines a Mitsubishi Electric collaborative robot equipped with a dual-gripper setup (pneumatic and mechanical), a SCARA robot, a conveyor system, CNC control, PLC-based automation, and integrated safety components. Together, these elements enable students and professionals to simulate and understand complete production workflows, from material handling and assembly to inspection and quality control. Safety is a key feature of the system, ensured through an industrial 2D safety sensor that continuously monitors the workspace and provides real-time visual feedback in the form of red, yellow, and green signals. This supports safe and intuitive human–robot interaction during training and experimentation.
Overall, the TestBed provides a realistic and compact environment for exploring robotics, automation, and industrial safety. It is particularly valuable for DeepTech education and research, as it enables practical learning and experimentation within smart, flexible, and human-centered manufacturing systems.
HOSTING INSTITUTION AND PI INFO
| Name of Host Organization | Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac |
| Department or Lab | Center for Industrial and Intelligent Systems |
| Name of Building | Building A, Faculty of Engineering |
| Physical Address | Sestre Janjić 6, Kragujevac, Serbia |
| Website Links | https://fin.kg.ac.rs/en/ |
| Institutional contact name | dr Marko Djapan |
| Institutional contact email | djapan@kg.ac.rs |
APPLICATION CASES
| Application case: | Short description: |
| Student education | The TestBed is used for hands-on education of students in robotics, automation, and Industry 4.0/5.0 systems. Students work with collaborative and industrial robots, vision systems, and PLC-controlled processes to understand real production workflows, including assembly, inspection, and quality control phases. In addition to technical training, the TestBed provides a safe environment for studying human–robot interaction, where interaction with robots can influence user trust, perception, and behavior, especially among students and beginners. This enables learners to better understand both the technical and psychological aspects of working with robotic systems in modern industrial environments. |
| Industrial training | The TestBed is used for training operators and engineers in safe robot operation, motion control programming, and human–robot collaboration. It enables practical training with cobots, SCARA robots, PLC systems, and machine vision integration in a controlled environment. |
| Industrial solution testing | The system also can be used as a platform for testing industrial automation solutions, including robotic handling, vision-based inspection, and PLC-controlled production sequences before deployment in real industrial environments. |
| Research activities | The TestBed supports research in collaborative robotics, smart manufacturing, machine vision, and human–robot interaction. It is used in experimental studies, doctoral research, and validation of automation concepts in Industry 4.0/5.0 contexts. |
POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS
Non-academic stakeholders
Industrial Partners, SMEs
Academic stakeholders
Undergraduate students, PhD students, MSc students, Researchers