Workshop Automation together with Volvo Group
| Title | Workshop Automation together with Volvo Group |
|---|---|
| Summary | This project, in collaboration with Volvo Group, investigates how automation can raise workshop throughput, repair quality, and technician experience through data-driven perception and pragmatic use of automation. |
| Keywords | |
| TimeFrame | Fall 2025 |
| References | |
| Prerequisites | Good knowledge of machine learning & robotics |
| Author | |
| Supervisor | Sławomir Nowaczyk, TBD |
| Level | Master |
| Status | Open |
Next-generation Orchestrated Workshop Automation (NOWA) is a pre-study where Volvo and the CAISR group at Halmstad University investigate how automation can raise workshop throughput, repair quality and technician experience through data-driven perception and pragmatic use of automation. We will demonstrate five focused showcases that create immediate value while de-risking future robotics: (1) camera-based visual checks for component inspection; (2) an LLM-supported check-in that structures driver symptom descriptions ; (3) engine idle-sound anomaly pre-screening; (4) a mobile parts & tool runner to reduce technician “walking waste”; and (5) robotic support for oil change operation. Each pilot will be co-designed with technicians, instrumented with clear KPIs, and packaged with site-agnostic Standard Operating Procedures—forming a scalable pathway from today’s assisted workflows to tomorrow’s robot-enabled workshop automation.
Since the five showcases are at different levels of maturity, the expected results will also vary, from the practical demonstration of the quantifiable benefits of robot-guided cameras over existing manual procedures for (1) to requirements specification and initial cost-benefit analysis for (5). Overall, however, NOWA directly advances the call’s focus on productivity, sustainability, and human-centred digitalisation in the heavy-vehicle aftermarket.
This pre-study couples rigorous analysis of existing multimodal data (images and idle-sound) with pragmatic automation showcases (LLM-assisted check-in and robotic tool/parts runner) to deliver near-term, measurable value while laying a scalable foundation for future robotic inspection.
