Industrial Robotics News and Technologies from the Robot Report

Yaskawa releases MotoPick 4 software & robotic pallet builder

The Robot Report Staff — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 22:20:01 +0000

Yaskawa’s Pallet Builder extension (left) and a Yaskawa robot using the company’s new MotoPick 4 software (right). | Source: Yaskawa

Yaskawa released its MotoPick 4 software system that adds no-code capabilities for high-speed pick and place. The company is also expanding its Smart Pendant’s capability with its new Pallet Builder extension.

With the building blocks to create systems for up to 16 robots and up to 6 conveyors or 16 tables per robot, the Yaskawa MotoPick 4 software can synchronize multiple robots equipped with vision to pick fast-moving products off a conveyor and place them on an outfeed device, tray or box in an organized arrangement.

MotoPick 4 provides precise control and coordination for conveyor speed, accommodating tracking speeds up to 1 M/sec. If the advancement of either the infeed or outfeed conveyor falls behind, the software can be configured with an area that slows or stops conveyors until the operation is equalized. Additionally, the software features a pause function that allows for the system to be paused and later resumed without losing track of item positions.

Dynamic load balancing for single or multiple robot systems is accommodated. The ability to asynchronously pick up to four parts with multiple placements per cycle is also offered, with up to 32 different product types to be easily picked and sorted. The gripper is allowed up to eight zones.

Supporting multiple encoders and cameras, a robot interface board reduces the integration wiring and panel real estate required for multiple robot cells. Cameras are supported based on conveyor width, workpiece size, target accuracy, production volume and conveyor speed, and they do not need to be aligned in a pre-defined way.

Multi-layer tray support allows multiple-layer pattern picking or placing with trays. MotoPick 4 is compatible with the FS100 and YRC1000micro controllers, as well as the MLX300 controller software solution.

Pallet Builder

Expanding the Smart Pendant capability, Pallet Builder enables the development and deployment of palletizing cells. Designed for single pick-and-place tasks, this user interface uses a robust database and guided prompts to facilitate no-code programming for work cell configuration and pallet pattern setup.

Designed for small- to medium-sized enterprises with high-mix, low-to-medium-volume production that may have insufficient access to experienced robot programmers, Pallet Builder provides general functions for cell definition, gripper definition, and single pick and place jobs. Multiple infeeds, build stations and dispenser stations (for slip sheet separators) support up to eight combined stations.

Job editing is available for specific system requirements. Pallet Builder can accommodate a variety of grippers and end-of-arm tooling and adjusts for product variation. Capable software includes multiple automatic pattern styles as well as full custom pattern support. Single drop positions with selectable label orientation are also available.

Compatible with the YRC1000 and YRC1000 micro controllers, Pattern Builder is available as a complimentary download for use with GP-series and HC-series robots. Smart Pendant V3.0 or newer is required.

Yaskawa Motoman launched its newest robot in the PL-series line, the PL800, in October 2022. This industrial robot features an 800 kg (2,140 lb) payload capacity and is designed for a variety of palletizing applications, layer picking, and other logistical tasks for end-of-line or distribution automation.

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Relativity Space launches first 3D printed rocket

Mike Oitzman — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 19:10:54 +0000

The first 3D-printed rocket called GLHF from Relativity Space was successfully launched this week. | Credit: Relativity Space

Relativity Space successfully launched a 3D-printed rocket on Wednesday March 24, 2023. The first Terran 1 rocket called “GLHF” (Good Luck Have Fun) lifted off from launch complex 16 at Cape Canaveral. The Terran 1 is the largest 3D-printed object to be launched as a rocket.

After two prior scrubbed launch attempts over the last week, GLHF successfully lifted off from the launch pad, and reached two goals during its brief flight:

Max-Q: the point of greatest aerodynamic pressure on the rocket body
Main engine shut off: the completion of the main engine burn

The rocket failed to reach orbit in what appears to be a secondary rocket engine failure. As of press time, there is no news on the exact failure. Without the secondary engine ignition, the rocket did not have enough power to reach orbit.

Relativity Space uses industrial robots to 3D print rocket’s body

Relativity Space is innovating through the use of robotics to 3D print metal items. As shown in the video below, the company uses industrial robot arms to manage the application of welded metal to produce the rocket body and rocket motors. Rocket bodies are currently expensive to manufacture, and 3D printing them promises to reduce costs and reduce weight by creating complex shapes that require less material (by mass) than with current manufacturing methods.

Traditional methods might take 24 months to produce a rocket body, whereas 3D printing can reduce that timeframe to 2 months. Likewise, a 48-month iteration time on a complete rocket assembly can be reduced to 6 months.

The Terran 1 is designed for the future of constellation deployment and resupply. With software-driven design and the use of 3D printing, the payload part of the rocket (in the nose cone) can easily be manufactured to the specs of each individual launch client.

Ultimately, Relativity Space is planning to produce the Terran R reusable robot, further improving the ROI on rocket development as well as the cost per launch. The vision is to create a fleet of reusable rockets to support future missions to the moon, mars and beyond.

The company was founded in 2015 and has raised $1.3B to date. (Crunchbase)

Here’s the live stream of the Terran 1 rocket launch:

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A3: Robot sales reach a new high in 2022

Brianna Wessling — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:24:49 +0000

Automotive sales drove North American robot sales to a record high in 2022. | Source: A3

Despite a slow final quarter, North American robot sales hit a record high in 2022, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). This is the second year in a row North American robot sales have set record highs.

North American companies ordered 44,196 robots in 2022, an 11% increase from 2021. Those sales were valued at $2.38 billion, an 18% increase from the year before.

Much of those sales occurred in the first nine months of the year. At the end of 2021, and into 2022, the industry saw three record-high quarters in a row. Sales began to slow in Q3, though they were still higher than in the same quarter in 2021.

The final quarter of 2022 saw the slowest sales of the year when North American companies only ordered 8,392 robots.

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2022’s record-high sales were primarily driven by a resurgence in orders from the automotive industry. Over ales of sales last year came from automotive companies, with 23,897 robots ordered, a 42% increase from automotive orders in 2021.

“Although labor shortage and supply chain issues impact nearly all industries in North America, automakers’ public commitment to move to electric vehicles has set in motion a resurgence of robot orders in this market,” Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, said. “Automotive OEMs and components suppliers alike recognize that investing in robots is instrumental to the emergence of EVs as well as to manufacturing all vehicles as they compete to meet customer demand.”

While automotive sales grew, non-automotive sales slowed down during 2022. Historically, the automotive industry has been the backbone of robotics sales, but 2020 and 2021 saw huge growth in non-automotive sales. In the first nine months of 2020 and 2021, non-automotive robotics sales topped automotive sales for the first time.

“While the numbers of robots sold to non-automotive companies isn’t as staggering as it’s been over the last couple of years, it’s clear that companies in every industry see automation as necessary for success,” Burnstein said.

It should be noted A3 only collects sales data on traditional industrial robots. It doesn’t collect data about autonomous mobile robots or collaborative robotic arms. If A3 recorded sales for these types of robots, too, sales numbers would be even higher.

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Rapid Robotics to offer Yaskawa industrial robots

The Robot Report Staff — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 19:02:37 +0000

Rapid Robotics now offers Yaskawa Motoman’s line of industrial robots. | Source: Rapid Robotics

Rapid Robotics announced a brand-new integration with Yaskawa America, Inc., Motoman Robotics Div. (Yaskawa Motoman) that will bring industrial capabilities to Rapid Robotics’ Rapid Machine Operator (RMO).

The company is now integrated with the entire Yaskawa robotics portfolio, and can deliver more speed, higher payload and increased performance to a greater number of North American manufacturers with a more diverse range of needs.

“Since our founding in 2019, Rapid Robotics has been committed to providing manufacturers with a holistic workforce solution in the form of accessible, low-risk automation,” Jordan Kretchmer, CEO and Co-Founder of Rapid Robotics, said. “Today, we’re able to deliver on that commitment better than ever through our partnership with Yaskawa Motoman and their legacy of industrial expertise.”

By combining advanced computer vision, artificial intelligence and instinctive learning with as-a-service characteristics including cloud connectivity, monthly leasing and 24/7 support, Rapid Robotics has aimed to democratize automation in the face of an intense workforce shortage.

Now, with the Yaskawa portfolio as an integrated part of the company’s suite of solutions, manufacturers needing an industrial-size solution that previously could not automate due to traditional barriers like cost, inflexibility or lengthy deployments, could have the opportunity to automate.

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“A trusted name in industrial automation for over a hundred years, Yaskawa is an established leader in the robotics market. A partnership with Rapid Robotics opens the door to automation for a large number of enterprises that have previously found it difficult or intimidating to deploy robotic solutions,” Chris Caldwell, Product Manager of Yaskawa Motoman, said. “Yaskawa is excited for the opportunity to offer truly industrial solutions, expanding Rapid Robotics’ capabilities while providing improved cycle-times and return-on-investment for end users. By combining strengths, Rapid Robotics’ advanced vision systems and state-of-the-art AI allow Yaskawa’s full line of robotic manipulators to shift repetitive or dangerous tasks away from your human workforce, freeing them to perform more fulfilling work.”

A trademark of Rapid Robotics’ solutions is a high speed of deployment. This holds true for the new industrial RMO due to the company’s modular approach to work cell design. Streamlined industrial Yaskawa robots with robust capabilities take full advantage of that approach, avoiding interference with peripheral devices, and keeping the installation space of an industrial RMO work cell minimal.

A key feature of this re-imagined work cell is an innovative mobile robot pedestal with modular fixturing. The mobile pedestal gives this light industrial arm the same flexibility as Rapid Robotics’ collaborative robot (cobot) solution as the pedestal can be easily moved or reconfigured and then re-locked into place by a single person.

Historically, industrial robotic arms can be more challenging and time-consuming to deploy than their cobot counterparts, especially outside of mass production environments, due to their complexity and the extensive safety measures required. Rapid Robotics’ industrial RMO offers all the flexibility of a cobot solution while meeting all mandatory safety measures with the added payload, speed and reach of a traditional industrial arm.

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Yamaha Motor announces robotics business in Singapore

The Robot Report Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 23:36:40 +0000

Yamaha’s Global Platform SCARA robot. | Source: Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it has established a new company in Singapore aimed at expanding its business in Southeast Asia and India, where demand for robots is growing.

By conducting manufacturer-driven cross-selling in the surface-mounted and industrial robot fields, Yamaha Motor intends to secure new clients in Southeast Asia and India, as well as provide high-quality after-sales services in line with international standards. The company will also strengthen its distributor support system while working to expand its distributor network.

The new company will be named Yamaha Robotics Solutions Asia Pte. Ltd. and registration was completed on January 13, 2023. Going forward, the company will prepare the new company’s office, equipment, and more toward a scheduled start of operations in July this year. Yamaha Motor aims to acquire major global accounts as well as clients that are shifting their production bases to Southeast Asia and India by establishing this company in Singapore, where clients, distributors, and the reach of our competitors’ headquarters intersect.

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The robotics business is designated as a Strategic Business Field in the Company’s Medium-Term Management Plan. Based on the business’ Yamaha One-Stop Smart Solution concept, the Company will build frameworks enabling the prompt provision of sophisticated, all-inclusive solutions as it aims for further business expansion.

The new business will focus on sales and after-sales services of surface mounters and industrial robots in Southeast Asia and India.

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Watch Boston Dynamics’ Stretch unload a DHL trailer

Brianna Wessling — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:29:35 +0000

Boston Dynamics is officially putting its Stretch robot into the hand of its customers. Its first commercial application is with DHL Supply Chain, a company that Boston Dynamics has been collaborating with since 2018, when it began developing Stretch.

DHL Supply Chain was Boston Dynamics’ first Stretch customer back in January 2022, when the company announced a $15 million deal with Boston Dynamics, and now a year later, we have a look at those robots being put to work in DHL warehouses.

In a video released by Boston Dynamics this morning, we see Stretch using its suction gripper to unload boxes from a shipping container and onto a flexible or telescopic conveyor belt that brings the packages to DHL employees for processing.

Once Stretch is set to start unloading, it does the work on its own without any interruption needed from DHL staff. Even when Stretch drops a package, it readjusts its methods and picks it back up again.

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With a six and a half foot extended reach and 10-foot vertical reach, Stretch is able to grab packages from all different corners of shipping containers without needing any information about how the container was loaded, or prior knowledge about the individual packages themselves.

Stretch is the next generation of Handle, a robot Boston Dynamics introduced in 2017 that combined wheels and legs. While Stretch isn’t equipped with legs, it does have an omnidirectional mobile base with four independently controlled wheels. This means the robot can be moved into any space a pallet can fit into.

Stretch comes with an 8-hour battery life, but there will be a 16-hour battery option and the ability to plug Stretch in for continuous power. Stretch uses the Pick vision system, which Boston Dynamics acquired when it bought Kinema Systems in April 2019. Pick uses high-resolution 2D and 3D vision and machine learning algorithms for robotic depalletizing. One of the main keys to success will be Stretch’s ability to handle a variety of boxes.

While this is Stretch’s first commercial deployment, DHL plans to gradually scale Stretch for more tasks across multiple facilities over the next few years. DHL is also hoping to integrate Stretch into its warehouse management system so the robot knows where to go and what to pick.

DHL isn’t the only company interested in using the Stretch robot. NFI, a third-party logistics provider (3PL), announced in August 2022 it would be spending $10 million to deploy the robot across its U.S. warehousing operations. Initially, Stretch will unload trucks and containers as a pilot program at NFI’s Savannah, GA facility in 2023. Additional deployments will take place over the next few years.

Marc Raibert, executive director of the AI Institute, will be keynoting the Robotics Summit & Expo, to be held May 10-11, 2023 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Raibert’s fireside chat “The Next Decade in Robotics” will close the show and hit on some of the biggest technical hurdles still facing the industry. He will also discuss opportunities for the industry going forward, and what his new AI Institute is working on. Raibert is also Chairman of the Board at Boston Dynamics, which he founded in 1992.

Kevin Blankespoor, VP and GM of warehouse robotics at Boston Dynamics, joined The Robot Report Podcast when the company unveiled Stretch in March 2021. On the podcast, Blankespoor described the evolution of the product design, the many system integration challenges, plans to improve the Pick vision system going forward, similarities between Atlas, Spot and Stretch, and much more. You can listen to that interview below.

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Epson signs Motion Automation Intelligence as distributor in central and southeast regions

The Robot Report Staff — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 23:40:36 +0000

Motion Ai is now an authorized Epson automation reseller in North America. | Credit: Motion Ai

Epson Robots announced that Motion Ai is now an official distributor of Epson Robots automation solutions in North America. Motion Ai is a one-stop-shop for automation products and custom solutions for businesses in several industries including semiconductor, pharmaceutical, medical, logistics, automotive, aerospace and more.

“Interest in automation has significantly increased as businesses are seeking new ways to fill labor shortages,” said Jim Hennen, vice president, Motion Ai, Central Region. “At Motion Ai, we believe working with customers and suppliers is the key to success for automation applications and product development, so it is important to find the right partners for these burgeoning opportunities. We recognize Epson’s commitment to the robotics industry and its customers, and we are excited to create successful automation solutions together.”

Motion Ai offers the complete lineup of award-winning Epson Robots automation products, including the extensive SCARA portfolio, 6-Axis and All-in-One robots. Combining Epson’s robots with the expertise of Motion Ai’s diverse group of engineers and product specialists, serves both businesses’ commitment to providing custom, easy-to-use and high-precision automation and robotic solutions.

“The dedication and commitment Motion Ai has in providing excellent customer service and value to automation processes mirrors Epson’s business philosophy, making them an ideal partner,” said Juan Carlos Castillo, sales & service director, Epson Robots. By providing exceptional automation products and motion control solutions with simplicity, cost-effectiveness and strategy in mind, Motion Ai has proved their loyalty in helping businesses succeed.”

“We believe that Epson is a premier global robot manufacturer, and we want to align ourselves with the best in class,” said Hennen. “We are very excited and grateful to be partnered with Epson and we look forward to a mutual prosperous relationship that brings easy-to-integrate, value-added solutions to meet customer’s needs.”

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Editor’s Picks: best robots of CES 2023

Mike Oitzman — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 20:36:29 +0000

The consumer electronics show (CES) is the largest event for consumer product launches in the world. I had the opportunity to attend CES for the first time this year, and it was an overwhelming experience. With over 3,200 vendors, there is so much to see that it would be impossible for one person to see and experience everything. That’s where pre-event research is critical to distill the vendor list down to a manageable size. I wanted to see over 60 robot-related products at CES 2023, and I only had two days to do so.

Here’s a recap of my favorite robotic solutions at CES 2023 (in no particular order):

Enchanted Tools – Mirokai

If you went to CES 2023 but didn’t meet Mirokai, don’t go looking for the booth that wasn’t there. Enchanted Tools showed off Mirokai in a private suite to an exclusive group of people. I was lucky enough to secure an invite.

There’s a lot to like, and a lot to question about the future of Mirokai as a commercial solution. What I liked about Mirokai was the top-notch overall design, form and function of the robot. The Enchanted Tools designers and engineering team did a fantastic job in pulling the whole design concept together. I love the face, head and interactivity of Mirokai – it’s immediately engaging.

With an animated face, there’s no uncanny valley to cross, and you are immediately enthralled (some might say enchanted) by the eyes, mouth and voice. This robot is built kinematically around a ball-bot, and there hasn’t been a commercially successful implementation of a ball-bot yet. With a moveable torso, head and arms, Mirokai is more complex than the original ball-bot designs.

The beauty of the ball-bot is in its fluid motion across the floor, and this supports the illusion of the Mirokai character. The downside (in my opinion) is that a ball-bot is dynamically stable, and any small disruption to its balance, such as pushing on the head or pulling on an arm, requires that the robot respond to keep its balance. In an ideal world with flat surfaces, the ball-bot can maintain its balance. However, the cluttered house of an elderly owner is going to present challenges to the navigation paradigm and balance-keeping algorithms for this class of robot design.

Overall, I give Mirokai high marks for design implementation and interactivity. It is the most pleasing service robot that I’ve ever interacted with.

What was a little over the top in the product introduction, is the whole mythology behind the Miroko world and the Mirokai characters. Enchanted Tools is trying to make a whole new set of characters and bring them to life. To make a social robot for the elder care use case, you don’t need to know the whole origin story behind it.

The company has already shown that it can give Mirokai a persona that is charming and fun to talk to. If Mirokai is used for entertainment, the company still has a lot of work to do to make videos, books and games that fit with the mythology.

New Ottonomy Yeti robot

The Ottonomy Yeti Ottobot features a holonomic drive and an automatic package delivery option. | Credit: Ottonomy

Ottonomy demoed the new Ottobot Yeti last-mile delivery robot at CES 2023. This new platform includes an entirely new drive platform that includes holonomic motion using a four-wheel swerve drive. The cargo-carrying payload platform has also been redesigned to be larger and more robust. The payload area includes two cargo bays that open autonomously, to allow a patron to remove only their order.

Yeti also features an optional autonomous cargo drop door. This enables Yeti to autonomously move a package (i.e. a box) from inside the cargo bay, onto the ground or into a locker.

https://www.therobotreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ottobot-auto-package.mp4

Ottonomy received an RBR50 Award in 2021, for its first delivery application deployment within the Cincinnati Airport. Since that first generation, Ottonomy has continued to expand the capabilities of the platform, and to enable indoor to outdoor navigation. This capability makes Ottobot one of the few AMRs capable of both indoor and outdoor navigation with the same platform. The company is targeting curbside delivery for both grocery and mall-based restaurants as the initial market for the robots.

aeo by Aeolus Robotics

Aeolus Robotics demoed the second generation of its aeo social robot at CES2023. This latest generation of aeo is a complete redo of the robot design from the original model. The robot still features two fully articulating and vision-guided manipulators (i.e. arms).

aeo can be equipped with a number of different end effectors. The primary gripper is a two-fingered gripper, useful for picking up items, and opening drawers and doors.

The company has also developed (and demoed) the following end effectors:

Two fingered gripper
Large, general area UV disinfecting light
Small, door handle UV disinfecting light
Interactive tablet
Interactive phone, tablet and printer

The primary use case for aeo is elder care, and the company has deployed a number of aeo gen 2 units into elder care facilities in Japan. With the new capability to ride an elevator, aeo can now be deployed into multilevel facilities.

BIM Printer

The BIM Printer robot features a mobile frame with an X/Y plotter-style print unit to paint BIM data onto the building floor. | Credit: BIM Printer

The construction robotics market has evolved quickly over the last five years. One of the companies on my CES hit list was BIM Printer, a French robotics company that hasn’t spent much time in the U.S. prior to this event.

Unfortunately, the company didn’t have a live demo at the booth, but I spent some time talking to co-founder Vincent Agie. The robot is currently being employed to lay out the interior floor space for tenants at the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world).

Unlike the other BIM information printers on the market, BIM consists of two robots: a movable AMR frame that indexes across the floor to position the base unit, combined with an X/Y plotter that paints the BIM data onto the floor. The other automated BIM marking solutions on the market leverage an AMR that paints BIM data as it moves across the floor.

BIM Printer has an accuracy of 2 mm (0.079″) and achieves this accuracy through the use of a total station to localize the position of the robot. The go-to-market for the company is through survey company partners and construction service companies.

The company is also introducing a BIM ceiling printer that can mark all of the construction details onto the ceiling. This data includes the placement of walls, ducting, water, electrical and other utilities.

Waste Shark by RanMarine

https://www.therobotreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ranmarine-waveshark.mp4

I stumbled on the Waste Shark by RanMarine in the Netherlands innovation area of CES Eureka Park. This was the serendipitous part of my CES adventure. Waste Shark is an autonomous marine vehicle that is designed to navigate small waterways and clear plastics, bio-waste and other debris from the surface of the water. The robot is completely autonomous but takes its basic design from its larger manned sibling, the Tender Shark.

The primary use case for Waste Shark is to operate on contained bodies of either fresh or salt water. Parks, golf courses and amusement parks are just a few of the potential application areas for Waste Shark. The robot needs to return to the dock or shoreline when it’s time to remove the debris from its internal trap. It is a simple process to remove the trash basket as it slides out of the front of the vehicle for emptying.

The robot monitors its forward speed and determines that the trash basket is full when there is a measurable drag on the forward motion of the vehicle. Waste Shark can operate in salt water, but due to its small size should be restricted to operation in contained harbors.

Robosen transformer toy robot

What would CES be without toy robots? There were plenty of consumer robotic toys on display, but I’ve chosen to discuss my favorite robotic plaything. Robosen is more than just a toy, its product line includes a number of transforming robot characters that range in price from $300 to $1000.

The current star of the Robosen product line (more on that later) is the Elite Optimus Prime auto-converting and programmable robot. The product is officially licensed and designed in collaboration with Hasbro.

Optimus Prime Robot is an auto-converting, interactive, programmable, voice-activated, mobile-controlled robotic toy. Robosen brings Optimus Prime to life with a fully immersive experience through voice-activated actions, mobile app controls, and endless hours of creative and fun ways to program Optimus Prime to walk, punch, blast, drive, and convert at the swipe of your finger, or command of your voice.

Next on the Robosen product roadmap will be the release of a fully articulated Disney Pixar cobranded Buzz Lightyear robot. | Credit: The Robot Report

RobotSmith material finishing workstation

RobotSmith is a fully enclosed grinding and polishing solution that uses CAD data to drive the robot paths for material finishing. | Credit: The Robot Report

RobotSmith was another serendipitous discovery I made in the Taiwan section of CES Eureka Park. This robotic work cell is a true industrial robot application that leverages an industrial robot arm to grind and polish metal objects. It wasn’t what I would have expected to discover at CES.

https://www.therobotreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/robotsmith-ces2023-demo.mp4

I was impressed by the integration between CAD model data, force feedback and AI-driven path generation in the solution. Robot Smith uses the CAD model of a part and a simulation environment to generate the grinding and polishing path. Next, it uses vision guidance to pick up unfinished physical parts from a material tray, and take the item to the various grinding and polishing station as the item is worked to the desired final state of finish.

Third Wave autonomous warehouse fork truck

ThirdWave had a static demo unit in the Ouster booth at CES2023. Credit: The Robot Report

The final discovery worth highlighting from CES 2023 is Third Wave Automation. The company is developing an automated pallet-moving fork truck for use in warehouses. The bay area company didn’t have its own booth, but it had a nonmoving demo unit of its autonomous fork truck on display at the Ouster booth.

The company is using Ouster LiDAR for navigation and obstacle avoidance. The AMR has three operational modes: (1) manual; (2) remote operation; (3) fully autonomous operation. Third Wave has implemented a controls package and sensor array that can retrofit an existing fork truck. The company is initially working with a fork truck partner Clark, and has built a package for the NPX20 vehicle. This vehicle has a load capacity of 4000 lbs (1800 kg).

Third Wave instruments the fork truck with vision cameras, LiDAR and other sensors such that a remote operator in the Third Wave remote operations center can monitor the movement of the robot. If the robot detects an issue such as a misaligned pallet, or it loses localization, the remote operator is alerted to the situation. The operator can then either remotely pilot the robot to safe location or resolve the issue to put it back into autonomous operation. Or the remote operator can alert an on-site operator to the situation and enable them to take local control of the vehicle to resolve the issue. At any time, the robot can be switched from autonomous mode to manual mode so that it can be operated under human control.

This control paradigm is a unique differentiator as many of the competitors are either manual/autonomous or remote/autonomous or manual/remote, but this is one of the first solutions that I’ve seen with the three operational modalities.

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Siemens, Comau collaborate on Sinumerik Run MyRobot

Brianna Wessling — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 19:17:05 +0000

Siemens and Comau worked together to create Sinumerik Run MyRobot / DirectControl. | Source: Siemens

Siemens has entered into a cooperative agreement with Comau, an Italian robot manufacturer, to offer their jointly engineered product the Sinumerik Run MyRobot / DirectControl. With this product, robot kinematics can be fully integrated into a CNC system, optimizing control of all robotic machining and handling tasks.

Sinumerik Run MyRobot / DirectControl allows a CNC system to control robotic arms and perform the safety functions that the robot controller typically performs. The Sinumerik CNC controls the articulated robot arm directly with a basis of complex algorithms, meaning users don’t need a separate robot controller. Robots can also be programmed entirely on the Sinumerik CNC operator panel.

Integrating control of a robot arm into the CNC helps improve path and positioning accuracy and reliability, according to Siemens and Comau. The CNC can also give a robot enhanced dynamic response during robot-aided machining tasks, which makes the robot able to undertake more challenging machining assignments.

Sinumerik Run MyRobot / DirectControl can perform all of the same functions as Siemens’ previous Run MyRobot variants and allows for more dynamic applications of a robotic arm with more accuracy control and an improved capacity for robot operations of run simultaneously with machining time.

Comau is based in Turin, Italy and was founded in 1973. It recently launched a new robotics learning center with Ferrari. The e.DO Learning Center will use Comau’s robots to help students explore STEM subjects, coding and robotics. The facility is equipped with five of Comau’s e.DO 6-axis robots, complete with all necessary materials and accessories.

In September, Siemens announced that it was collaborating with RapidPlan to integrate RapidPlan’s software with Siemens Process Simulate. The partnership will allow Siemens customers to use Realtime’s robot motion planning and control software, RapidPlan, without leaving Siemens Process Simulate. The integration enables users to visualize, prioritize and simulate robot task plans. Users can then validate those task plans through virtual commissioning.

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Robot sales on track to hit a new high in 2022

Brianna Wessling — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 22:06:52 +0000

North American sales have increased 24% in the first nine months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. | Source: A3

North American industrial robot sales are on track to reach record highs for the second year in a row according to the Association of Advancing Automation (A3).

North American companies purchased 35,804 units valued at $1.875 billion in the first nine months of the year, from January to September, 2022. This is a 24% increase in units ordered and a 27% increase in revenue over the same period in 2021, setting the industry up to break records again in 2022.

“Ongoing labor shortages, easier-to-use robotic solutions and new industries embracing robotics, such as restaurants, retail, construction and even agriculture, have led to record units sold here in North America this year,” Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, said. “Investing in automation is increasingly seen as a necessary step for performing many of the difficult-to-staff tasks that are necessary to compete today, and we see 2022 ending on another record high.”

While Q3 sales have dipped slightly from Q2, which saw record-high quarterly sales, it still outperformed Q3 of last year. In Q3 of this year, North American companies ordered 11,901 robots valued at $626 million. This is a 20% and 22% increase respectively over Q3 of last year.

A majority of sales, around 55% went to automotive-related customers, while 45% went to non-automotive customers. Non-automotive sales saw increases during Q3 compared to the same quarter last year in semiconductor and electronics, which made up 44% of sales, life sciences, 33% of sales, and food and consumer good, which made up 1% of sales.

Sales in the automotive industry drove the record-breaking numbers the industry saw during Q1 and Q2 of 2022. While automotive sales have traditionally been the backbone of the industry, that trend began shifting in 2020, when non-automotive sales outpaced automotive sales for the first time. Non-automotive sales have continued to outpace automotive sales through 2021 and into 2022 until Q2.

It should be noted that A3 only collects sales data on traditional industrial robots. It doesn’t collect data about autonomous mobile robots or collaborative robotic arms. If A3 recorded sales for these types of robots, too, the sales numbers would be even higher.

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Fruitcore Robotics brings in over $24M

Brianna Wessling — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:33:07 +0000

Fruitcore Robotics brought in 23 million euros, over $24 million, in Series B funding last week. Fruitcore Robotics offers a line of industrial robotic arms that utilize the company’s Highly Optimized Robotic Systems Technology (HORST).

“With the closing of our Series B financing, we are again a big step closer to our goal of making robotics and automation solutions accessible to the masses. We see that the demand for high-quality and easy-to-use robots in the market is steadily increasing. Therefore, we will use the new capital primarily to serve the demand for our robotics and automation solutions as well as digital products in the European market,” Jens Riegger, Managing Director (CEO) and co-founder of Fruitcore Robotics, said.

The company plans to use the funding to accelerate product innovation, sales, marketing and international expansion. The Germany-based company has operations in its home country as well as in Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Fruitcore Robotics hopes it can expand into more of the European market by the end of 2023.

Fruitcore Robotics aims to keep the barriers to automating low by providing low investment costs, fast implementation, intuitive programming and high performance. It offers a line of three industrial robots, the HORST600, HORST900 and HORST1400, as well as software packages to run the robots. The robots can handle payloads between 3 and 12 kilograms (6.6 – 26.5 lbs) and have reaches of 600, 900 and 1400 millimeters (23.6″, 35.4″, 55.1″).

The company also offers the HORST600 lab robot system that is specifically designed for pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises as well as for laboratory and research facilities.

“We are still at the beginning of the robots’ growth trajectory, especially in medium-sized businesses, and we are convinced that with our ‘digital robot’ HORST we are one of the game changers and thus a driving force for the broad use of robots in the manufacturing industry. We would like to thank our investors for the trust they have placed in us,” Patrick Heimburger, Managing Director (Chief Revenue Officer) at Fruitcore Robotics, said.

The company originates from a spin-off of the HTWG Konstanz (Hochschule Konstanz Technik Wirtschaft und Gestaltung). After research work by Riegger and Frey in the robotics field, the first HORST prototypes were produced in 2016. The team received the EXIST-Gründerstipendium for high startup projects, a startup funding from the federal government and the EU, and founded Fruitcore Robotics GmbH in May 2017.

Fruitcore Robotics’ last funding round was in 2021, when it brought in $20 million in Series A financing.

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FANUC robots to integrate Wandelbots Teaching

Brianna Wessling — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 13:00:38 +0000

FANUC has been added to Wandelbots’ robotics manufacturer portfolio. | Source: Wandelbots

Wandelbots, the Dresden, Germany-based robotics software developer, announced that it has added FANUC to its portfolio of robotics manufacturers. FANUC will be the third robotics company to integrate Wandelbots Teaching into its robots.

FANUC plans to launch the first versions of its Wandelbots-enabled robots in 2023. It follows Universal Robots and Yaskawa in integrating the software.

“Wandelbots’ goal is that all robots, regardless of manufacturer or model, can be controlled with our technology. With the integration of FANUC, we are getting a lot closer to our goal,” Bernd Heinrichs, co-CEO of the company, said. “Having another robotics manufacturer in our portfolio allows us to open up new markets and provide Wandelbots Teaching to a wide range of companies. For Wandelbots, FANUC also has special relevance, as we are currently entering the US market, where FANUC is widely used.”

The company takes a no-code approach to programming robots with its Wandelbots Teaching platform. The platform allows companies to work with robots by mapping out the robot’s path using TracePen, which was released by the company in 2020. TracePen adjusts the robot’s path via an app and can transfer the application to any other robot. TracePen’s tracking allows users to plan out a path down to the millimeter.

Wandelbots’ software works the same with any robot from the three companies it currently works with, meaning users will be working with the same interface on every robot.

FANUC is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots, with over 900,000 robots sold and over 100 different models offered. Along with industrial robot arms, FANUC offers CNC controllers and servo motors.

In March 2022, FANUC added three new models to its CRX cobot series. The new models provide 5 kg, 20 kg and 25 kg payload capacities, providing heaving and lighter payloads than the original cobots in the line. The CRX line of cobots are designed for a variety of applications, including inspection, machine load/unload, packing, palletizing, sanding, welding and more.

In January 2022, Wandelbots brought in $84 million in Series C funding, bringing the company’s total funding to date to $123 million. The company planned to use the funding to scale its teaching platform to work with more robots for more applications in more regions.

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Meet ABB’s SWIFTI CRB 1300 industrial-grade cobot

Mike Oitzman — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 14:46:33 +0000

The ABB SWIFTI is an industrial-grade cobot with a reach up to 1300 mm. | Credit: ABB

ABB launched the SWIFTI CRB 1300 robot arm, which the company said bridges the gap between industrial and collaborative robots. With a payload capacity of up to 11 kg (24.3 lb), the SWIFTI CRB 1300 can be used in a variety of production and product handling applications – from machine tending and palletizing to pick-and-place and screwdriving.

The SWIFTI CRB 1300 uses a safety laser scanner integrated with ABB’s SafeMove collaborative safety software. The technologies enable safe collaboration without the space and cost associated with installing protective fencing or other physical barriers. If the laser scanner detects a worker within SWIFTI’s operating area, ABB’s SafeMove software will automatically slow the robot or stop it completely. As the worker moves away, movement will be restored, returning to full speed for full productivity only once the working area is clear.

As a further protective measure, a built-in interaction status light provides a visual indication of the cobot’s status when a worker is within the workspace area. The robot is powered by ABB’s OmniCore C90XT controller. Other features of the SWIFTI CRB 1300 include:

Features ensure safe deployment alongside workers and ease of use for non-robotics specialists
Available in three payload variants: 7 kg (15.4 lb), 10 kg (22 lb), 11 kg (24.3 lb)
Reach between 900 mm (35.4″) to 1400 mm (55.1″)
IP67 variant available for use in dusty, high moisture environments
A top speed of 6.2 m/s (20.3 ft/sec)
Repeatability of ±0.01 mm (±0.0004″)

ABB is offering the SWIFTI 1300 in three payload and reach combinations. | Credit: ABB

“Our customers are looking to robotic automation to make their processes more flexible, efficient and resilient, helping to counter labor shortages by enabling their employees to perform more value-added work,” said Andrea Cassoni, managing director for global general industry robotics at ABB. “The latest addition to our SWIFTI family is a highly accurate, high payload cobot that’s up to six times faster than other robots in its class. This means it can be used by both SMEs and large manufacturers looking for collaborative automated solutions to achieve new levels of flexibility and productivity.”

Users can set up the robot by either physically guiding it through a process (lead-through programming) or through ABB’s new Wizard Easy Programming software. Based on simple graphical blocks, Wizard Easy Programming makes programming accessible for non-specialists in robotics.

The SWIFTI CRB 1300 is part of a wider cobot portfolio covering payloads from 0.5kg to 11kg, with options including the YuMi single and dual-arm robots, the GoFa CRB 15000 and the SWIFTI CRB 1100 industrial collaborative robot for payloads up to 4kg.

ABB recently enhanced its RobotStudio robot programming and simulation software with cloud-enabled functionality. The new RobotStudio Cloud enables individuals and teams to collaborate in real-time on robot cell designs from anywhere in the world, on any device.

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Sarcos tests robotic baggage handling system

Brianna Wessling — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:41:01 +0000

Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation, best known for its robotic exoskeletons, has been collaborating with Changi Airport Group (CAG) to develop an outdoor-based baggage loading system that can automate the loading and unloading of loose passenger bags from a narrow-bodied aircraft.

The companies performed initial field demonstrations in September at Singapore Changi Airport, where they determined that a robotic system could help reduce the risk of injury in baggage handling jobs and could help to augment the airport’s ground handling labor force.

“Similar to major airports throughout the world, recruiting enough ground handling personnel to support our growth is a challenge,” Poh Li San, senior vice president of Terminal 5 Planning, CAG, said. “We have been encouraged by the innovative solution from Sarcos to help address these issues, and we’re excited to explore the next steps towards implementation.”

CAG hopes that investing in robotics can help support air traffic recovery and meet long-term staffing needs. The project is partially funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) through its Aviation Development Fund (ADF), which aims to improve productivity in the Singapore aviation sector with innovative solutions.

“Changi Airport is an industry visionary and continues to be a key development partner to Sarcos,” Kiva Allgood, president and CEO of Sarcos, said. “Deploying robotics to improve workplace safety is core to our mission at Sarcos and this system has the potential to transform airports across the globe by making them safer and reducing passenger delays due to weather-related downtime. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CAG to augment the workforce of the tarmac with robotics.”

In November, Sarcos announced it completed successful field tests for the U.S. Navy at the Repair Technology Exercise (REPTX) at the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, CA. It demonstrated its robotic systems designed to carry out maintenance, inspection, and repair activities, on and around ships underway and pier side.

The tests were performed with a suite of Sarcos solutions, including the Guardian DX teleoperated dexterous robot for defense; the Sapien 6M dexterous robot; the Sapien Sea Class underwater robot; and the Guardian S remote visual inspection robot.

Sarcos acquired RE2, the company behind the Sapien line of robots, in March 2022 for $100 million. The deal consisted of $30 million in cash and $70 million of Sarcos common stock.

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IFR: China surpasses U.S. in robot density

Brianna Wessling — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 21:56:41 +0000

Robot density in the manufacturing industry in 2021. | Source: IFR

China now has more industrial robots per 10,000 workers than the United States, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). This is the first time China has surpassed the United States in robot density.

In 2021, China averaged 322 industrial robots for every 10,000 employees. According to the IFR, China saw a huge jump in robot installations in 2021. The country’s industrial robotics market saw 243,300 installations last year, a 44% increase from the year before.

Those installations are evident in China’s jump from being tied for the ninth most automated country worldwide in 2020 to being the fifth most automated country in 2021, surpassing Chinese Taipai, the United States, Hong Kong and Sweden in robot density.

“Robot density is a key indicator of automation adoption in the manufacturing industry around the world,” says Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “The new average of global robot density in the manufacturing industry surged to 141 robots per 10,000 employees – more than double the number six years ago. China’s rapid growth shows the power of its investment so far, but it still has much opportunity to automate.”

The top four most automated countries, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Germany, remained the same from 2020 to 2021. South Korea reached an all-time high of 1,000 industrial robots per 10,000 employees. South Korea’s electronics industry and automotive sector both contribute greatly to the country’s overall robot density.

Following South Korea is Singapore, with 670 robots per 10,000 employees. Singapore has seen consistent growth in recent years in the number of industrial robots in the country. Since 2016, it averaged a 24% increase in robot density each year.

After Singapore, there’s a big dropoff in density. Japan comes in third, with 399 robots for every 10,000 workers. While Japan is only the third most automated country, it is the top manufacturer of industrial robots, according to the IFR. The country manufactures 45% of the global supply of industrial robots.

Germany is the fourth most automated country worldwide, with 397 robots for every 10,000 workers, and the most automated European country.

The United States has dropped from being the seventh most automated country in 2020, to being the ninth in 2021. Still, its robot density grew from 255 robots for every 10,000 workers in 2020, to 274 robots in 2021.

As a whole, robot installations hit an all-time high in 2021, according to the IFR. The IFR’s report showed that 517,385 new industrial robots were installed in 2021 in factories around the world.

Robot installations grew by 31% year-over-year in 2021. They exceeded the pre-pandemic record of robot installations in 2018 by 22%. The stock of operational robots around the world also hit a new record of about 3.5 million units.

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