Adaptable framework methodology for designing human-robot coproduction

The research project presented in this thesis is situated in the domain of design research, and focuses on the designers of production systems. In general, it aims to support the re-search towards a better understanding of design for human-robot coproduction (HRC). The specific objective of this research project was the development of support for novice HRC designers for integrating collaborative robots (Cobots) successfully in existing and new human-driven production systems. At the start of the project, it was assumed that novice HRC designers were lacking conceptual design tools for analysing, modelling, simulating and evaluating human-robot coproduction scenarios. Therefore, the design support was realized in the form of an adaptable framework methodology for conceptual design of HRC. The research for this thesis was executed as a PhD project which was supported by the EU-FP7-‘Factory in a day’ project, which enabled the generation and exploration of empirical evidence from the targeted context. In addition the research had access to a laboratory environment in which two types of Cobots were present.