Southwest Research Institute Profile

Southwest Research Institute
6220 Culebra Road
San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) provides independent expert research and development, advanced robotic system capabilities, and custom hardware designs, which include perception systems, mobile manipulation, and automation process development. SwRI launched the Robot Operating System-Industrial (ROS-I) open-source project. ROS-I is now a global initiative steered by a global consortium, and it includes innovative software capabilities and applications for industry based on foundational open-source building blocks. Headquartered in San Antonio, SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied R&D organization. More than 2,800 engineers, scientists, analysts, and technologists perform contract research and development for government and industrial clients worldwide.

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Programming a robot to perform a series of motions has historically been a tedious and complicated process, often reserved for engineers or highly trained specialists. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has developed a system to allow an operator with little robotics training to quickly and effectively program robot motions. This system leverages 2D camera data to track the position of a hand-held tool. The operator simply moves the tool to where they want the robot to go and presses a button to save the target position. This system, known as Visual Programming, supports planning discrete waypoints (such as for pick-and-place operations) as well as continuous segments (such as for sanding, welding, or dispensing adhesives).

Southwest Research Institute News & Resources

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ARM Institute to fund $2.9 million for six new projects

August 12, 2024 · AI, cobot, and machine learning technology to be developed for U.S. manufacturing

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How to Pick a Collaborative Robot

October 16, 2021 · The Southwest Research Institute explains factors to consider when selecting a cobot.

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Choice of a Cobot or an Industrial Robot Depends on the Application

October 9, 2021 · Before you select a collaborative robot or an industrial robot arm, break down the tasks you want to automate, says the Southwest Research Institute.

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Are Collaborative Robots Really Safe and Easy to Use?

October 2, 2021 · The Southwest Research Institute takes a deeper look at how collaborative robots can be used safely beyond their initial design.

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What Is a Cobot, and Does My Company Need One?

September 25, 2021 · In this first article in a series, the Southwest Research Institute examines how organizations can evaluate collaborate robots for their needs.