Autonomous Chassis Assembly Line for Flexible Vehicle Final Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional vehicle final assembly lines face challenges with inflexibility, high initial investment, and difficulty in modification due to fixed civil foundations and mechanical conveying systems, making them unsuitable for rapid market responses and model updates.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle final assembly line utilizing an electric chassis with integrated navigation devices that allow for mobility and controlled travel along a predetermined path, enabling flexible assembly operations and reducing the need for civil construction and mechanical adaptations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional skid or slat-chain conveying systems are used for interior trim line and exterior assembly line, then the assembly line can maintain stable operation, but the civil foundation requires special structure leading to high investment and difficulty in reformation or capacity expansion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly line operation stabilityVSAvoidreformation and capacity expansion flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fixed mechanical conveying systems with mobile robots that can dynamically adapt their positions and paths. The robots move on the floor without requiring fixed civil foundations, enabling flexible reconfiguration of assembly lines for different models and capacities while maintaining operational reliability through automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes traditional mechanical conveying systems (skid or slat-chain) with autonomous mobile robots. This replacement eliminates the need for complex civil foundations and mechanical conveying infrastructure, reducing investment while improving adaptability through software-controlled navigation and positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If fixture mechanical conveying line is used to create lower body operating platform, then the assembly line can be formed, but the fixed form and high initial investment make subsequent modification and maintenance highly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly line formation capabilityVSAvoidmodification and maintenance difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs mobile robots that can dynamically reposition themselves to form different operating platforms and assembly configurations. This eliminates fixed fixture structures, allowing easy modification and maintenance by simply reprogramming robot paths and positions rather than physically modifying infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile robots serve multiple functions: they can form lower body operating platforms, interior trim assembly lines, and exterior assembly lines by reconfiguring their positions and协作 relationships. This universal capability replaces multiple dedicated fixed fixture systems, easing both manufacture and modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If traditional final assembly workshop is designed with fixed civil foundation and mechanical conveying form, then the assembly process can be standardized, but it is difficult to accommodate to the needs for fast response to existing markets and rapid update of vehicle models

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly process standardizationVSAvoidmarket response speed and model update flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic assembly system where mobile robots can be rapidly repositioned and reprogrammed to accommodate different vehicle models and production requirements. This maintains standardized assembly processes through automated workflows while enabling fast response to market changes without fixed infrastructure constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables rapid parameter changes by modifying robot navigation paths, positioning coordinates, and assembly instructions through software rather than physical infrastructure changes. This allows standardization to be maintained while adapting quickly to different models and market demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If large plate line for interior trims and through mechanical conveying line are omitted, then investment and construction period are reduced, but the assembly efficiency needs to be maintained through alternative methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical conveying system simplificationVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical conveying lines with autonomous mobile robots that navigate and position themselves using sensors and control systems. This substitution simplifies the mechanical infrastructure while maintaining or improving assembly efficiency through automated, programmable operations and flexible task allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile robots are self-propelled and self-navigating, eliminating the need for external mechanical conveying systems. Each robot independently positions itself and performs assembly tasks, maintaining productivity while dramatically reducing device complexity and infrastructure requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4403443B1Vehicle final assembly production line and vehicle final assembly method
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP4403443B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4403443B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4403443B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A vehicle final assembly production line (1) and a vehicle (2) final assembly method. A vehicle (2) comprises an electric chassis (22) and a vehicle body (21) to be assembled, wherein the vehicle body (21) is configured to be connected to the electric chassis (22), the electric chassis (22) is provided with a navigation device (11), and the navigation device (11) is configured to control the electric chassis (22) to travel according to a predetermined route. The vehicle final assembly production line (1) comprises a vehicle body lowering device (12), which is configured to lower the vehicle body (21) to the electric chassis (22) when the navigation device (11) controls the electric chassis (22) to travel to an assembly station (101) according to the predetermined route, so that the vehicle body (21) and the electric chassis (22) are connected at the assembly station (101). The navigation device (11) is further configured to control the vehicle body (21) and the electric chassis (22), which are connected to each other, to travel to a plurality of assembly stations (102) in sequence according to the predetermined route, so as to complete the assembly of the vehicle (2) at the plurality of assembly stations (102), and the assembled vehicle (2) gets out of the production line at a roll-off station (103). By means of the vehicle final assembly production line (1) and the vehicle (2) final assembly method, the efficiency of vehicle final assembly can be greatly improved.