Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.31
…the Windows API – it’s core set of application programming interfaces - and “a lot of new open source codes that has enabled new libraries to classify and utilize data.” Parrott believes the early wins in this space are going to come “from modifications to goods-to-person solutions that become goods-to-robot solutions” and that the long-term winners are going to be “the early adopters who take a slow approach to implementation.” So, what is the state of piece picking robots? I spoke to three startups with projects that have gone live with their customers. Goods-to-person picking: Last July, the Wall Street…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.30
…typically require experienced automation engineers to provide solution development, programming, and integration support.” “These robots also need safeguarding and other ancillary automation products, requiring existing production lines to be significantly redesigned to incorporate new systems,” said Choy. “Cobots and AMRs now on the market have features that overcome these hurdles.” Robots become an essential resource As a result of advances in sensing, navigation, motion control, and manipulation, robotics is no longer an optional tool to boost productivity. The technology has become an essential resource for reshoring U.S. operations or for helping companies to keep their doors open domestically. “Automation and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.28
…the end-of-arm [tooling and payloads]. But their ease of programming has been tremendous for processes like welding and assembly, where that skill set doesn't exist anymore.” “We're also seeing people designing for cobots and new tasks, such as quality inspection,” Finazzo said. “It's also important to educate the next workforce to fully utilize this equipment. FANUC has a lot of training and has implemented apprenticeships.” Reshoring is another part of the equation. “Companies may look at smaller profit margins on things built here, but with smaller locations and more automation, it's not about labor first and location second,” he observed.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.20
…by either physically guiding it through a process (lead-through programming), or through ABB’s Wizard Easy Programming software, which is based on simple graphical blocks. At the Yaskawa booth, one of the displays was for its HC30PL collaborative palletizing robot, which boasts a payload of 30 kg (66 lb.), which allowing for end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) weight, means it can easily palletize cartons or cases in the 22-25 kg range, using wizard-like software to design pallet patterns and in effect configure, rather than program a solution, said Chris Caldwell, product manager with Yaskawa Motoman. While there are robotics applications with high variability…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.18
…smartphone or tablet, and eliminate the need for complex programming by the user, said IRIS. The Aurora, Ill.-based company added that the RPZ-MAX uses light curtains and protected sensors and cable routing to minimize wear and maximize safety. “As clients move away from manual labor to something that’s more automated in terms of palletizing, we want to break down the barrier between the fear factor of putting robots on the factory floor,” said Robert Fell, president of IRIS Factory Automation. “We want them to take ownership of the equipment because once that happens, they’re going to fully embrace it and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.18
…the robotics ecosystem in Massachusetts. Venture Café Cambridge provides programming for innovators and entrepreneurs for the Boston area and beyond. Boston Engineering shares insights into commercialization The speakers at RoboSource represented a robotics integrator, a startup, and a component supplier. Mark Smithers, chief technology officer at Boston Engineering Corp., explained that his company provides services to help companies commercialize their technologies. Waltham, Mass.-based Boston Engineeering has centers of excellence around robotics, embedded systems, digital solutions such as augmented reality (AR), controls, and “DFX” or design for manufacturing. With more than 25 years of experience in working with innovators and federal…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.18
…as a Service” and provides an all-inclusive service (installation, programming, maintenance, 24/7 monitoring, etc.). RIOS can deploy millions of dollars’ worth of hardware in factories with no upfront commitments from customers. To fund their automation needs with reduced financial risks, customers only pay a flat monthly fee (OpEx) that is competitive with existing labor rates. It’s time for organizations to experiment and innovate RIOS provides a one-stop shop solution — the company builds Industry 4.0 hardware, software and customized workcells for clients to maintain a seamless workflow in the factory. In addition, RIOS pushes the boundary of automation to provide…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.17
…and processes to the scheduling system, the design and programming software, the PLM and ERP and overall equipment effectiveness tools that crowd the servers of manufacturers everywhere. Those who can’t afford or don’t see the need for yet another software system might hire a programmer to tie their disparate software together in hopes of an all-encompassing shop floor solution; others simply live with data disharmony, plugging along as best they can until a better solution comes along. With 3D printing an integral part of the manufacturing landscape, however, the “let’s live with it” approach is quickly becoming untenable. What appears…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.15
…and accurate manipulation, ways of learning new tasks without programming expertise, and a variety of end-of-arm tooling, cobots can bring flexibility to shops of all sizes. Cobots promise to boost productivity Collaborative robots can perform the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks once performed by humans. “This provides a double benefit,” said Joe Campbell, senior manager of applications development at cobot leader Universal Robots A/S. “Cobots take care of tasks humans are unavailable or unable to perform efficiently and safely, providing a powerful tool for companies struggling in the face of the ongoing manufacturing and warehousing labor crisis.” “They also free…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.13
…falling. MIT team turns to simulation to train robot Programming robots to play soccer has been an active research area for some time. However, MIT's team wanted to automatically learn how to actuate the legs during dribbling. Their intent was to enable the discovery of hard-to-script skills for responding to diverse terrain. Enter simulation. A robot, ball, and terrain are inside a digital twin of the natural world. The user can load in the bot and other assets and set physics parameters, and then it handles the forward simulation of the dynamics from there. In true Rick and Morty fashion,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.12
…few clicks and with no possibility of altering any programming. “Attendees visiting our Automate booth will quickly realize how our ecosystem continues to innovate on our platform,” stated Joe Campbell, senior manager of applications development at Universal Robots. “We’re constantly collaborating with partners on addressing new automation frontiers, with Automate being the perfect discovery pad for our rapidly expanding solution portfolio.” Nelson Shea to receive Engelberger Award Universal Robots noted that its expanding ecosystem is enabled by the open platform design originally developed by the company’s co-founder and then Chief Technology Officer Esben Østergaard. He received the Engelberger Robotics Award…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.12
…whatever they need to do. With open APIs [application programming interfaces], it's easy to do something specific, like a welding deployment program in the U.S. or Europe. Another cobot application that's really getting traction is screwdriving. It sounds simple, but you have to be very precise. Customers set certain expectations. What has the reception been to the e-Series cobots, which are designed to be more precise than their predecessors? Povlsen: As we've seen across any tech sector, when products provide new features, they take some time to catch on. A platform product like ours take a while to find applications.…