MEYCO Logica 

Overview

MEYCO Logica, a relatively new machine, based on the well known kinematic principles of the MEYCO Robojet, has now been developed in cooperation with industry and academia. This manipulator with 8 degrees of freedom has a new automatic and human oriented control system.  

Characteristics

The new tool enables an operator to manipulate the spraying jet in various modes, from purely manual to semi-automatic and fully automatic, within selected underground areas. It is also able to measure the tunnel profile with a laser scanner.   In one of the modes the operator uses a six directional joystick  (Space Joystick).  The calculation of the kinematics is done by the control system.  A laser scanner sensor measures heading geometry and this information is used to control automatically the standoff distance and the angle of the spraying jet.   

Applications

The aim of this control is not to automate the whole job of spraying but to simplify the task and enable the operator to use the robot as an intelligent tool, and to work in an efficient way with a high level of quality.   With a correct angle of application and constant spraying standoff distance, a remarkable reduction in rebound and therefore savings in cost is achieved.  Further, if the heading profile is measured after spraying as well, the system will relay information on the thickness of the applied shotcrete layer, which up to today was only possible with core drilling and measurement.  If an exact final shape of the heading profile is required, the control system manages the robot to spray to these defined limits automatically.