An open-space facility where all levels of the automotive and advanced manufacturing supply chain can collaborate
The National Research Council’s (NRC) Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub is a one-of-a-kind research station where all levels of the automotive and manufacturing supply chain can collaborate on-site with NRC specialists and Canada's research ecosystem.
Located in London, Ontario, the facility supports the Canadian automotive industry, owing primarily to its proximity to the Canadian market, automaker and supplier manufacturing facilities and R&D centres. This sector is vitally important to the regional economy and is the focus of regional and provincial initiatives.
Our goals are to help Canadian businesses become industry leaders and accelerate project time-to-market with advanced technologies, expert assistance and efficient processes. Our facility is designed to be flexible and modular, with client confidentiality in mind. As such, we can address the immediate needs of industry to launch projects quickly.
- Mechatronics
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Vehicle electrical and propulsion technology and diagnostics
- Automated guided vehicles
- Vehicle networking
- Electric and electronic (E/E) vehicle architecture
- Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)
- Active safety in complex systems with sensing and perception
- Product design
- Industrial robotics
- Machine vision
- Surface engineering laser- and cutting-based microfabrication
- Applications for the deposition of specific coatings
- Value-adding functionalities for advanced tooling and surface texturing
- Automotive
- Manufacturing and processing
- Transportation
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle bay (custom design) | Complete with lifts, related automotive shop capabilities and the ability to maintain client confidentiality | |
| High crane bay (custom design) | Manufacturing space for scale up and/or digital factory workspace development | |
| Huron CNC machine, model K3X 8 Five | A 5-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine that fabricates components and allows scaling of exiting capabilities | |
| Sensors (custom design) | Used for connecting devices, collecting and using real-time data in manufacturing processes | |
| Sensor systems (custom design) | Able to detect possible collisions between collaborative robots and human workers | |
| Laser Consolidation Systems |
| A net shape additive manufacturing technology to make metallic parts that can achieve dimensional accuracy of +/-0.05 mm with surface finish up to 1 μm Ra |
| Robotic Laser Materials Processing Cell |
| Enhances tool life and components by adding high performance materials exactly where they are needed |
| Kuka Collaborative Robot, model LBR iiwa 14 R820 | Allows humans and robots to work together on highly sensitive tasks in close cooperation | |
| Mobile Collaborative Robot by Universal Robots and Robotniks, model RB-KAIROS with a UR-10 Arm | Mobile platform with a collaborative robot | |
| Materials Characterization Lab |
| Evaluate materials properties and microstructure to improve manufacturing processes and parts performance |
Private and public sector research partners
- Transport Canada