The Virtual PaintShop – AI-Boosted Automated Painting (AUTOPAINT)

Purpose and goal:

The vision is to revolutionize the surface treatment by novel digital workflows that take advantage of the available unique simulation technology and boost the performance by advanced AI algorithms. The aim is that for each product a paint process engineer can specify the available paint equipment (robot, paint applicator, paint material etc), paint thickness requirements and cycle time, and the simulation software then automatically generates a robot program and process parameters.

Expected results and effects:

Unique algorithms and simulation technology will be developed to enable to optimize the processes in terms of quality, productivity, and sustainability, and in addition also facilitate the step going from manual to automated solutions. The paint consumption and commission time are expected to be reduced by 20% by less overspray, more homogeneous layers, less prototypes and digital workflows.

Further strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness as developer and user of advanced AI-based tools and on research on physics informed AI algorithms for industrial applications. Approach and implementation:

The project combines leading research on data analysis and AI, simulation of surface treatment, path planning, robot optimization and software development. The developed algorithms and tools will be validated in pilot scale and several industrial case studies. Participating companies have similar challenges in surface treatment, which together with the diverse and gender balanced consortium, provide excellent opportunities for a fruitful cross-industrial technology and knowledge development.