# Optimizing Assembly in Wiring Boxes Using API Technology for Digital Twin
## 2 The State of the Art  
Research in the field of wiring harness automation has gained momentum in recent years, becoming a subject of increasing interest due to the growing significance of wiring harnesses in vehicles and the substantial role that manual operations play in the production process. Automation can be integrated in all the phases of wiring production: the design, the wiring harness assembly, the logistical processes of storing components and feeding the assembly line, etc. The automation of wire harness design, manufacturing, and assembly is a key focus in the automotive industry, with the potential for significant time and cost savings [1]. The paper \"On Automation Along the Automotive Wire Harness Value Chain\" describes a project that aimed to automate the design and generation of wire harnesses for vehicles, with the goal of reducing design time and cost by at least 50% by using graph-based design languages and the VEC (vehicle electrical container) as an open data standard. The required data and process steps for generating the wire harness, as well as a wire harness assembly simulation, were also described [1]. While the highly customized nature of wire harnesses presents a challenge, the development of a robotic manipulator with sensorized fingers offers a promising step towards automated manufacturing [2]. The paper, [2], proposes a robotic system that can be easily adapted to produce different types of wire harnesses and cable assemblies. The system consists of a robotic arm, a gripper, and sensor-equipped fingers that are capable of executing wire harness manipulation tasks. The system can be easily adapted to produce different products by updating the order of operations, trajectories, and dimensions/positioning of low-cost mechanical parts. However, due to the variety of wiring harnesses produced, realizing an automatic machine for a specific wire harness is not affordable, and manual production remains still the most cost-effective solution [2]. The need for increased automation in the assembly flow is also highlighted, with the potential benefits including increased productivity and a reduced fabrication time. The paper \"Research regarding assembly flow optimization of wiring harness in automotive industry\" discusses the challenges of wiring harness production in the automotive industry and presents a case study to identify the main factor affecting the productivity of a dynamic assembly line for wiring harness production, with the goal of optimizing the wiring assembly flow by partially automating the production process. The limitations underscored in the paper were confirmed by many works that followed. The high variety of vehicle options and the modifications that can be made during their development make full automation challenging, no matter the approach. There are still many manual operations for which automated technical solutions do not yet exist. Many constraints must be considered before investing in increased automation, including a production process overview and maintaining competitiveness [3]. Finally, in the paper \"Automatization of the Cable-Routing-Process within the Automated Production of Wiring Systems\", the successful automation of the cable-routing process within the production of wiring systems is demonstrated, using collaborative robots and 3D-printed prototypes. The researchers developed an automated system using collaborative robots and 3D-printed cable grippers to automate the cable routing process in the production of wiring systems for vehicles. The automated routing concept was tested in a prototypical production cell, and the strengths and weaknesses of the system were analyzed, with possible solutions proposed [4]. The manual taping process is one of the most elaborate processes of wire harness manufacturing.