A Model-Based Approach for the Energy Monitoring of Handling Machines

An energy-efficient handling system can only be constructed on condition that at the beginning of the development process the energy behavior of handling machines can be evaluated. However, the challenge at the beginning of the development is characterized by the fact that there is no energy data of these machines available. Most of the machine manufacturers do not provide such data or they only offer general data, which is limited to special machine conditions or movements. To solve this challenge, a model-based approach for energy monitoring of handling processes is developed. This approach allows the planning engineers to analyze the energy behavior as well as the kinematic behavior of handling machines at their real conditions. The approach is developed using the multi-domain simulation method, so the detailed components of handling machines can be modeled and simulated. Based on the case study analysis that was performed on a Cartesian robot, the developed approach is conveniently used to predict the energy consumption behavior of handling machines. Thus, using the developed approach, a planning engineer can reduce the energy consumption of handling systems by optimizing the handling sequence.