Project Details

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Robotics and Automation for Electronics Manufacturing

Company: Kitron Technologies, Inc.

Major(s):
Primary: IE
Secondary: CMPSC
Optional: CMPEN, EE, ME

Non-Disclosure Agreement: YES

Intellectual Property: YES

Kitron Technologies is a global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company with a facility in Windber, Pennsylvania that supports high-reliability products in defense, medical, and industrial sectors. Kitron is seeking engineering students to help explore and prototype robotics and automation solutions for a new electronics production line. The goal is to improve efficiency, increase throughput, and enhance quality across several key manufacturing steps. These include bulk component sorting and staging, robotic placement of components onto printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), 2D/3D visual inspection, automated loading/unloading between machines and conveyors, adhesive application, and final packaging. Students will need to consider challenges such as handling heavy or delicate boards, managing small components with tight tolerances, and designing adaptable systems for multiple product types. By the end of the semester, teams will deliver a report that includes a market study, technology selection, feasibility testing (virtual or physical), and a cost-benefit analysis. Most solutions are expected to use commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and software, with some opportunities for applied research in machine vision and robotic integration.