OSARO Releases Vision Software Designed to Make Picking With Robot Arms Easier

OSARO announced today the launch of its new vision software designed for picking, depalletizing, kitting and other automated functions. OSARO SightWorks is now available to integrators and third-party logistics companies (3PLs) that design and build custom systems for fulfillment operations.

The San Francisco-based company said SightWorks enables robots to see perceive, grasp, and perform tasks previously done solely by humans who work on busy and often dangerous e-commerce fulfillment stations.

SightWorks is already being used by a number of integrators and robotic solution providers, including Robotica, Mission Design and Automation, IHI, LG CNS, and Innotech.

“Systems integrators, 3PLs, and other partners now have the flexibility to create new solutions using components they define in collaboration with their customers,” said OSARO CEO Derik Pridmore in a statement.

The OSARO difference

The company outlined several key benefits of the system, which include:

• Smarter vision: Superior machine-learning-driven vision gives the robot greater intelligence to recognize objects, take appropriate action, and place objects with precision.
• Interoperability: Integrates reliably with other warehouse automation technologies using OSARO’s modular RESTful API.
• Built in tracking: Tracks performance: built-in monitoring assesses and optimizes performance after installation.
• Shortens cycle time: OSARO’s superior vision capabilities shorten order cycle time to speed delivery and improve order accuracy.
• Eases labor issues: Addresses labor shortages and boosts production without adding headcount: complements and enhances existing systems with reliable vision so that they can perform 24/7—without training, breaks, injuries, or overtime.
• Lowers risk: Upfront assessments and multiple pricing options, including robot-as-a-service (RaaS), lower the risk of every project.
• Provides end-to-end Hypercare support: OSARO’s team of engineers and Hypercare customer support managers provides pre-deployment planning, clear documentation, and continuous technical solutions for project implementation.

Customers praise SightWorks

LG CNS, a company specializing in digital transformation (DX), demonstrated OSARO’s advanced robot software on AMR/ASRS products at the Smart Factory + Automation World trade show held in Seoul last March.

OSARO's vision software interfaced with LG CNS’ smart logistics robot platform to pick up retail items such as tea boxes and snack packages and deliver them to mobile robots or storage systems that transport products downstream for processing.

Mission Design and Automation, a U.S. automation systems integrator, is currently implementing a robotic kitting project using OSARO vision software.

“SightWorks is a key component for any robotic piece-picking system, not only for the kitting function but as a solution for a variety of automation system applications in the future,” said Mission Vice President Ryan Lillibridge, in a statement.“ The OSARO team has been great to work with throughout the deployment process. OSARO’s fast and easily trained AI model allows new product introduction very quickly, and their powerful API allows for easy integration to a complete turn-key automation system.”

Innotech, a Japanese integrator, is using SightWorks in production for a pharmaceutical tube and capping function. Likewise, global integrator IHI has committed to SightWorks licenses to deploy OSARO vision in a depalletizing system for a retail store chain in Japan.

Jay Dugat, CEO of Robotica Inc. said he has found OSARO's vision software to be " superior to anything else we have seen in machine-learning vision."

“We needed an automated depalletizing function to complete an end-to-end offering for our decanting technology," he added. "Our DePal product, powered by OSARO, handles mixed pallets and will directly deploy our ABOT box opening technology, providing an automated turnkey solution," Dugart added.

Dugart explained that the company went with OSARO because the system has "less sensitivity to variance in ambient lighting and the ability to distinguish challenging packages with high confidence.”

In depalletization, for example, OSARO’s robot is able to recognize and handle not only mixed cases, but recognize foreign objects, such as box cutters or tape dispensers, on boxes stacked on a pallet, the company said. The system knows to stop and alarm until the items are removed.

The same is true for damaged boxes that might break open if lifted. OSARO robots are equipped to recognize these dynamic situations, it added.

Moreover, OSARO’s API, based on REST, is easy to work with as the robot is integrated with other systems in the warehouse such as conveyors or decanting equipment, OSARO said.

“Forward-looking warehouse and fulfillment operators need reliable robotics systems to take on these manual tasks, and this represents an enormous business opportunity, said Pridmore, OSARO's CEO. "An OSARO-equipped robot can perform tasks in multiple function areas, and with OSARO SightWorks, any systems integrator can now add ‘the OSARO difference’ to their 3PL, warehousing, and logistics projects."