The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), based in Coventry, and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), based in Sheffield, are delighted to have been able to support Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) by lending four MiR200 robots to assist engineers in the production of 10,000 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices.
CPAP devices are in short supply in UK hospitals, so engineers at University College London (UCL) and Mercedes-AMG HPP worked round-the-clock to reverse engineer a device that could be manufactured rapidly by the thousands. Designs of the new breathing aid developed by engineers, working with clinicians, have been made freely available to support the global response to COVID-19.
The MiR200 is a safe, mobile robot that can automate internal transportation and logistics. The robot optimises workflows, freeing staff resources to help productivity and keep team members safe during the current COVID-19 challenges. The robots have been working continuously by transporting parts between locations to facilitate social distancing and minimise colleague contact.
Richard Kasler, Automation Team Leader at Mercedes-AMG HPP said “I would like to thank the MTC for loaning your MiR200’s. They’ve been invaluable in allowing us to make 10,000 CPAP devices in 10 days with the least amount of people on site, here at Brixworth.”
Image source: Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains
He added “The robots are quite incredible, they prevailed to great success by working 24 hours a day over three shifts for 10 days, delivering every single device. One platform in particular was achieving around 20km a day on a 360m round trip through a labyrinth of narrow corridors and an extremely dynamic manufacturing hall.”
Ken Young, the MTC’s Technology Director, said “We were so pleased to be able to loan our robots to support the great work that is happening at Mercedes-AMG HPP. Improving worker safety is always a key factor for any organisation and with social distancing being so important at the present time it’s a pleasure to offer any of our equipment or resources to help.”
The CPAP devices have been produced as part of ‘Project Pitlane’ a collaboration between F1, the UK government and other organisations, to support the manufacture of respiratory devices.
Throughout production, Mercedes-AMG HPP quantities steadily rose to peak at 1,230 CPAP devices per day on Easter Sunday. The production data is available as open source data. This will enable local authorities to coordinate the necessary regulatory and medical approvals and help organisations around the world to start manufacturing CPAP devices quickly and efficiently.
All the details required to make the device are also now available for manufacturers to download at no cost at covid19research.uclb.com/product/ucl-cpap a research licensing website developed by UCL Business to disseminate technologies that may help the fight against Covid-19. The licensed package will include not only the designs, but will also specify materials, tools and kit used in the rapid prototyping process, as well as the fabrication time for each part.
More information can be found by visiting: www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/news/2020/04/ucl-uclh-f1-project-pitlane-start-delivery-breathing-aids-nhs-hospitals/
Image source: Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains
More information on the MiR200 can be found by visiting: www.mobile-industrial-robots.com/en/solutions/robots/mir200/
Image: A MiR200 robot. Image source: Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR)
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