OTTO Motors releases new software powering the industry’s most comprehensive fleet of AMRs with the ability to handle any material handling job up to 4,200 lb. | Credit: OTTO Motors

At ProMat 2023, OTTO Motors unveiled its newest AMR – the OTTO 600. The OTTO 600 extends OTTO Motors’ portfolio to five different models that can carry payloads from 100kg (297 lbs) to 1,500kg (4,200 lbs). OTTO AMRs are designed to automate material handling operations in manufacturing and logistics facilities.

OTTO 600 unlocks important new workflows with its ability to move pallets, carts and other payloads up to 600 kg (1,322 lb). With an all-metal construction and IP54 rating, OTTO 600 follows the OTTO Motors legacy of AMRs built to deliver results in the most demanding of factory environments.

“In 2015, OTTO 1500 defined the heavy-class AMR category. In 2017, OTTO 100 quickly became responsible for the industry’s largest AMR installations. In 2022, we launched OTTO Lifter, the world’s first truly autonomous forklift. Today, we’re proud to announce OTTO 600, a mid-range AMR offering the perfect balance of strength and agility,” said Matt Rendall, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of OTTO Motors. “Powered by our industry-leading autonomous software, OTTO now offers an unmatched material handling portfolio.”

• Maneuverable in tight spaces: OTTO 600 offers capabilities of larger AMRs with the maneuverability needed to get around in constrained spaces like work cells.
• Durable build for demanding environments: In addition to a rugged, all-metal body, OTTO 600 offers a superior ability to withstand dust and fluids with IP54 construction.
• Fast and safe around people and objects: OTTO 600 works quickly and safely alongside people thanks to advanced sensors and OTTO’s proven autonomy software.
• Versatile to get different jobs done: Capable of moving carts and pallets, as well as connecting islands of automation, OTTO 600 unlocks limitless workflows including lineside delivery, work cell delivery and palletizer to stretch-wrapper transport.

Key specs:

• 600kg (1,322 lb) payload capacity
• 4.5 mph (2 m/s) maximum speed
• 1050 mm x 700 mm x 320 mm (41.3″ x 27.6″ x 12.6″) footprint
• IP54 rating

OTTO 600 is available through the existing global network of OTTO Motors system integrators and material handling solution providers.

New software release

OTTO’s latest software release, version 2.28, delivers faster and safer traffic movement and a new facility configuration interface for quicker workflow set-up. OTTO Motors invests heavily in software development to constantly evolve and deliver the smartest AMR software. This marks the sixth software release in the last three years. The OTTO AMR software suite is the most proven solution in the industry with over four million hours of production driving experience and is trusted for large-scale deployments by the most reputed brands like Toyota and GE.

“The success of large-scale, deeply integrated deployments depends significantly on effective fleet management, which is why we are continuously evolving our fleet manager. In this software upgrade, we are introducing new traffic management functionality that enables users to create different rules of the road for groups of different OTTO AMRs in the facility, resulting in faster traffic movement and improved safety,” said Jay Judkowitz, VP of Product at OTTO Motors. “As our customers continue to deploy a variety of models from OTTO in complex environments, this is a game changer.”

Software release features include:

• Team-Based Traffic Control: Customers can create traffic zones for specific robot types. For example, operators can specify lanes where larger AMRs cannot enter, ensuring smaller AMRs remain unblocked and are able to keep moving for higher throughput.
• New and intuitive facility configuration interface: Customers can now save up to 50% of the time required to set up facility maps and workflows. It is also easier for customers to use, learn and adapt to the system.
• Interoperability: OTTO Motors was the first AMR vendor to support the well-known AGV standard, VDA5050, empowering customers to manage dissimilar types of material handling solutions from a third-party master controller interface.
• New pallet types: OTTO Lifter now supports BulkPak® 4845 HDMP series bins, enabling customers to move more pallets of their choice.

Since its inception, OTTO Motors has helped customers achieve throughput improvements as high as 600% and return on investment in as little as 11 months in different industry verticals. This launch of OTTO 600 and new software enables OTTO Motors to help manufacturers automate a larger part of their material handling operations and achieve higher ROI.

OTTO 600 and the latest software will be showcased in booth #N7537 at PROMAT on March 20-23, 2023 in Chicago IL.

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A UR cobot performs a place operation. | Credit: Universal Robots

Rapid Robotics and Universal Robots (UR) just announced a new partnership. UR, a Danish company that makes collaborative robots (cobots), will supply Rapid Robotics with collaborative robot arms so that it can set up cobot work cells all over North America. This means that Rapid Robotics will be able to serve more customers and keep the quick deployment times that customers have come to expect, even as Rapid Robotics continues to grow across the country.

“As the number of unfilled, critical manufacturing roles increases and global economic uncertainty continues to impact supply chains, more and more North American manufacturers are turning to automation,” said Jordan Kretchmer, CEO and Co-Founder of Rapid Robotics. “This collaboration with UR helps us deploy more cobots, with a wider variety of capabilities, at a faster rate, ultimately helping manufacturers of all shapes and sizes manage and even thrive through the adversity they are facing.”

Robotics Summit & Expo (May 10-11) returns to Boston

Rapid Robotics is integrated with and can use any cobot from the UR product line. This makes it possible to add new functions like palletizing, box building and packing, and tasks that need a heavier payload or longer reach. Rapid Robotics will also be able to build work cells and choose peripheral equipment with more freedom.

Together, Rapid Robotics and UR also speed up cobot deployments in new ways. UR’s two-week ship program is one of the fastest in the industry, and Rapid Robotics’ powerful mix of state-of-the-art AI, advanced vision systems, and a unique software stack means robots can be up and running in customer facilities in a matter of weeks instead of the usual months to years.

“Universal Robots has spent the last decade in North America focused on freeing up more manpower by automating a wide range of human-scale tasks with easy-to-deploy cobots,” says Bryan Bird, Universal Robots’ Regional Sales President. “We’re excited to work with Rapid Robotics in a partnership that will enable us to break down more automation barriers, deploying a robotic workforce to address those jobs manufacturers simply can’t staff.”

In 2022, UR brought in $326 million, a 5% increase in annual revenue from 2021 and a 12% growth on a constant currency basis. UR is part of the robotics division at Teradyne and delivered $85 million in sales in Q4 2022, down from $97 million in Q4 2021.

A big change for both new and old Rapid Robotics customers is that there are now more ways and things that can be automated. Existing customers who want to grow their businesses or fill open positions for machine operators can automate even more of their lines with UR’s cobots, which have new features. Rapid Robotics’s expanded product line makes automation easier and faster to start for new customers than ever before.

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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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An ARM Institute project focusing on virtual part repair programming for robotic thermal spray applications. | Source: ARM Institute

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute selected four more training programs to receive ARM endorsement. An ARM Endorsement recognizes the United States’ most effective training programs for robotics careers in manufacturing. 

The programs added include:

• NCUS Tech in Columbus, Ohio, offers a Handling Tool Operations and Programming certification course. The course is an approved FANUC curriculum that aims to help operators, technicians and programmers set up and record programs on a robot. 
• Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tennessee offers a program that concentrates on students who are interested in working as robot technicians in an integrated multidisciplinary industrial environment. This course provides both academic knowledge and practical experience needed to prepare students to be mechatronics technicians. 
• SWPA Bots IQ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a pre-apprenticeship program. The program takes a blended approach, offering both online learning platforms and hands-on activities, to help participants develop technical skills and competencies. 
• Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, is a robotics associate degree program. This program gives students the knowledge they need to assist manufacturing, mechanical and electrical engineers during all phases of design, development, production, testing and operations.

“Our nation’s ability to grow U.S. manufacturing is inhibited by a historic skills gap,” Mary Ellen Rich, ARM Institute Certification Manager, said. “Effective training programs are critical to both recruiting the next generation of manufacturers and upskilling our current workforce. Congratulations to each of our Endorsed programs on this well-earned recognition.”

The ARM Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Department of Defense, with a mission to catalyze robotic technologies and workforce skilling solutions to strengthen and grow US manufacturing. It works with a national consortium of over 360 member organizations. 

In October 2022, the ARM Institute opened an office in St. Petersburg, Florida. The new office is located near the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. Its key focus will be to leverage the investments made over the past five years in robotics, workforce development and artificial intelligence.

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Interact Analysis’ forecast for revenue growth in the mobile robot market. | Source: Interact Analysis

Interact Analysis released its latest report on growth in the mobile robot market, which includes sales of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). According to its analysis, the mobile robot market saw a 53% increase in mobile robot shipments in 2022.

The company expects the mobile robot market to continue to grow in the coming years. By the end of 2027, Interact Analysis expects an installed base of over 4 million mobile robots, with 1.5 million of those being installed in 2027.

Revenue is also expected to continue to grow an average of 30-40% annually. According to Interact Analysis, material transport automation is a key driver in revenue for the mobile robot market, with conveying solutions making up the majority of revenue volume.

Material transport AGVs and AMRs will make up almost a quarter of the 4 million mobile robots expected to be installed by the end of 2027, reaching $8.5 billion in revenue by 2027. This is a large increase from the $3 billion the segment brings in today. 

Revenue and installed base growth in the material transport mobile robot market. | Source: Interact Analysis

Weathering economic headwinds

The mobile robot sector grew strongly this year despite economic conditions that have made it difficult for companies to afford large capital investments and supply chain issues that have delayed many mobile robot deployments. While e-commerce sales have begun to shrink since the pandemic, they still remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, leaving a gap in labor and demand for automation. 

While the market took a hit in 2020, it saw a strong comeback in 2021, with 100,000 mobile robots shipped globally and revenue growing by 35%. Much of the growth the sector saw in 2021 came from the forklift and conveyor sectors, which was responsible for 60% of revenue growth in 2021. 

Labor scarcity, e-commerce growth and a need for flexible manufacturing will continue to be strong drivers for the industry in the coming years, according to Interact Analysis. Despite this growth, there will still be a lot of room for the sector to further expand. Even with the growth the industry will see before then, Interact Analysis expects that only 2% of all forklifts shipped in 2027 will be automated. Additionally, only 14% of warehouses will have deployed an order fulfillment AMR. 

Growing sales in China

China’s robotics industry has seen much growth in recent years. 2021 was the first year it surpassed the United States in robot density, a metric that tracks the number of robots for every 10,000 workers. 

While Interact Analysis expects China will be responsible for more than 40% of all mobile robot shipments in the next five years, different expectations in the Chinese market could still hinder sales growth. According to Interact Analysis, Chinese vendors are typically looking for lower-cost robots, resulting in lower average selling prices in the country. 

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Optimax Systems is America’s largest optics prototype manufacturer in the medical, defense, and space industries. Optimax optics are aboard Mars rovers, Pluto New Horizons, Tess, ROMAN, Mercury messenger, the ISS, and more – if it has a lens and goes to space, Optimax probably manufactured it. Of course, Optimax also supplies custom lenses here on Earth for research and defense.

Optimax’s R&D team approached PickNik for help in improving the smoothness of their robots using the open-source Robot Operating System (ROS) platform in their freeform optics manufacturing process. A freeform optic is an optic that is not rotationally symmetric. The manufacturing process of these optics starts with milling the rough shape, then polishing with an ABB industrial arm and freeform metrology tools. Final smoothing is then performed on a Universal Robot or an ABB robot arm to reduce any errors from earlier steps.

Optimax had issues with jerky motions and latency with the ROS 1 ABB arm setup, which were the primary motivators to use a new ROS 2 driver. They also had a desire to move to ROS 2 for better long-term support, as well as for the ability to use the ROS 2 Control library, a common low-level controller interface. A driver based on ROS 2 Control also allows for use of PickNik’s admittance controller to maintain constant force during polishing. However, no ROS 2 driver for ABB manipulators existed at the time, necessitating the development and release of abb_ros2, a ROS 2 driver for ABB robot arms.

Solution

To transition the existing ROS 1 architecture to ROS 2, PickNik and Optimax collaborated to develop abb_ros2, an open-source driver for ABB arms that uses ROS 2 Control. ABB supported this effort by providing access to their proprietary robot simulation software, RobotStudio, which was used to test driver functionality during development without needing hardware.

Two PickNik engineers worked with Optimax R&D engineers to analyze Optimax’s data from a ROS 1 prototype. PickNik analyzed the pain points from the ROS 1 implementation, which centered on latency and jerky motion. Then we developed a plan to address both of these pain points, in tandem with the development of a ROS 2 ABB driver.

The driver communicates directly with an ABB robot or simulation, or it can spoof ROS 2 Control drivers for testing without a robot or proprietary simulation software. This allows for rapid iteration on planning without the need for custom tooling. The driver also supports coordinating motions with additional joints attached to the robot (external axes), such as the bottom-mounted gantry Optimax uses to increase their workspace. Finally, the driver also integrates with the ABB StateMachine add-in], which can be used to control the robot via a state machine and IO manipulation.

With the newly-developed ROS 2 Control driver, Optimax had access to new tools to solve their problems. First, input toolpaths had sharp corners that exceeded the jerk limits of the robot joints. This can cause hardware issues such as faults or long-term damage. Second, the toolpaths Optimax uses could have up to 500,000 waypoints, which caused severe latency when sent to the robot. PickNik’s own MoveIt Ruckig trajectory processing plugin was able to smooth the waypoints such that the final processed trajectory would obey jerk limits, and send waypoints one at a time to avoid memory and latency limitations caused by one giant trajectory.

Outcome

This collaboration between PickNik and Optimax resulted in the release of an open-source ROS 2 driver for ABB robots, which the ROS 2 community has widely used. The driver was delivered ahead of schedule and below budget, allowing for development of additional features beyond the initial scope with help from the open-source community. PickNik’s support has helped Optimax integrate ROS 2 into their manufacturing processes and to leverage the latest trajectory processing features provided by MoveIt and Ruckig.

This has significantly increased the overall stability of Optimax’s robot polishing platform and in terms of capability, has allowed Optimax to increase the size of parts that they can polish. In addition, PickNik’s collaboration improved Optimax’s data collection and boosted the sales of their force controller product.

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SME recently announced the Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals certification. | Source: SME

SME recently announced that it has developed the Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) credential, a new certification focused on assessing candidates’ comprehension of fundamental robotics concepts. 

The RMF credential was developed by SME, the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, and FIRST. 

The certification is aimed at those looking to upskill or reskill in manufacturing careers to begin equipment-specific or pathway-specific training in robotics. SME aims to help candidates begin lifelong careers in manufacturing robotics. 

“Through our extensive networks in industry, education and workforce, SME identified a common need for a robotics credential that demonstrates certification holders have a basic understanding of robotics concepts before starting a more advanced training program,” Jeannine Kunz, the Chief Workforce Development Officer at SME and member of the Education and Workforce Advisory Committee of ARM, the Robotics Institute, said. “We worked closely with the REC Foundation and FIRST to validate the body of knowledge to cover topics relevant for foundational robotics topics across a wide range of industries.”

After completing the RMF credential, candidates will be qualified for entry-level employment jobs in manufacturing that require robotics and automation. With further education and training, candidates can pursue robotics-specific career pathways, such as a robotics technician, robotics specialist, robotics integrator or robotics engineer. 

“It is important for FIRST to recognize the high value of skills and experiences that students gain through robotics programs,” Chris Rake, Chief Operating Officer of FIRST, said. “The RMF credential unlocks exciting career pathways, helping us inspire young people to become leaders in robotics and advanced manufacturing, and we’re proud to join SME in developing this program.”

The RMF credential is aimed at high school and college students, dislocated workers, under-employed individuals, veterans, at-risk youth and other people seeking new employment opportunities. 

“The global robotics market is expected to reach $74 billion by 2026 and there is a tremendous opportunity for those who want to advance their career,” Kunz said. “To keep our industry thriving, we need to help meet the high demand for advanced manufacturing and robotics talent in our country.”

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Bright Machines Microfactories are made up of robotic work cells that can perform a variety of tasks. | Source: Bright Machines

Bright Machines announced that it brought in $132 million in debt and Series B equity funding. The new round brings the company’s total funding to $330 million. Eclipse Ventures led the equity portion of the funding, which totaled $100 million. Silicon Valley Bank and Hercules Capital led the debt portion of the funding, making up the remaining $32 million. 

This is the company’s first funding round since its SPAC deal fell through in December 2021. In May 2021, Bright Machines announced plans to go public through a merger with SCVX, a special-purpose acquisition company. The companies agreed to terminate the deal around a month before it was scheduled to go through. 

The company’s flagship product is the Bright Machines Microfactory. The company’s Microfactories are complete, programmable assembly lines that are powered by the Brightware Platform. The Microfactories are designed to allow users to build more units at a lower cost. 

The Microfactories are made up of robotics-based work cells designed to reduce floor space. A Bright Machines work cell could include applications like assembly, welding, fastening, dispensing, labeling or inspecting. BrightMachines integrates a number of different robotic arms in the work cells. Each work cell has a standard footprint, and this simplifies the design and layout of any number of manufacturing process steps. 

“We founded Bright Machines with a singular mission to enable our customers to transform the way they have historically approached product assembly. We are excited to partner with the industry in creating a more streamlined ‘design-to-make’ process in which every product can be manufactured closer to the end consumer. In today’s unpredictable, global environment, this mission is more important than ever,” Lior Susan, CEO and Co-Founder of Bright Machines, said. “We believe our solutions provide an essential pathway for the industry’s transition to more local, resilient, and sustainable operations. I am proud of the positive impact we’ve made to date and excited for this next phase in our journey.”

Bright Machines plans to use the funding to accelerate the company’s growth, including expanding into high-demand industry verticals and developing new software and service offerings to complement its existing portfolio of products. The company also aims to extend the capabilities of its Microfactory, accelerate the Brightwave software roadmap, strengthen its partner network and grow its customer base. 

The company plans on unveiling its newest integration hub in Guadalajara, Mexico later this year and a customer experience center in San Francisco in 2023.

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The ROEQ TMC500 solution consists of a top module and the ROEQ Cart500. | Source: ROEQ

Adept Technology innovated in 2014 with the release of the first cart-based solution for the Adept Lynx LD autonomous mobile robot, called the “cart transporter”. Since that time, Adept was acquired by OMRON, and ROEQ was founded to focus on building third-party cart top modules for AMRs. In the last couple of years, OMRON has added higher payload AMRs to its portfolio in the form of the OMRON LD-250 (250 kg payload) and OMRON HD-1500 (1500 kg payload) AMRs.

ROEQ is taking its experience in designing and manufacturing top modules exclusively for Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) and expanding its market to support AMRs from other vendors. Organizations who are deploying the OMRON LD-250 AMR now have a powerful new option to dramatically increase payload without having to invest in a larger, more expensive AMR solution.

Michael Ejstrup Hansen, Managing Director at ROEQ, emphasizes how the new product and OMRON partnership is part of a ROEQ strategy to expand its mobile robotic equipment (MRE) solutions to more AMR brands: “As a leading quality global brand of AMRs, OMRON is a natural partner for us,” he says. “We developed the cart solution for the LD-250 due to its flexible use and the clear benefits that it adds in both automotive manufacturing, digital and semiconductor industries, food and consumables, warehouse and logistics, and medical verticals.”

The new ROEQ TMC500 top module and Cart500 developed for the OMRON LD-250, not only doubles the AMR payload, but it also provides a standardized, safe, and flexible solution for internal logistics tasks.

In addition, AMR users can now drop off a cart to be loaded/unloaded while the AMR continues on to another task/mission. This improves the utilization of the AMRs, and accelerates the return on investment for deploying AMRs into your workflows.

The ROEQ Cart500 top module for OMRON LD-250 AMRs includes an e-stop button that is easily accessible by the user. The top module remains attached to the AMR. | Credit: ROEQ

“This exciting new relationship with ROEQ gives our customers access to fast and cost-effective options for their toughest mobile automation initiatives,” says Kyle Hable, Group Product Manager, OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies, INC. “OMRON customers around the world depend on our mobile robots for their flexibility, reliable performance, and best-in-class fleet management. ROEQ’s global presence is a perfect match to aid customers with successful autonomous intralogistics solutions.”

The ROEQ Cart500 can carry cargo weighing up to 500 kg. | Source: ROEQ

The LD-250 is a fast-growing solution in its performance class. It was released in 2019. OMRON is one of the AMR pioneers, having sold its first commercial mobile robot in 2013 (as Adept Technology). The ROEQ TMC500 solution consists of the ROEQ Cart500 and a top module. The solution is flexible because it can be used to pick up items from free space and because the Cart500 has holes for attaching crates and shelves to the top of the cart.

The robot can dock to the cart from both ends – for greater logistics efficiency – and has easy access to the emergency stop button for cargo up to 120 cm (47.2”).

The ROEQ solution comes with software for easy and consistent setup of the system, enabling seamless integration between the ROEQ TMC500 and the OMRON LD-250. The software includes ROEQ Assist and ROEQ safety zones definitions and the solution works with the OMRON operating panel.

“With this new product offering and partnership, we look forward to providing OMRON customers with a powerful and cost-effective solution,” says Michael E. Hansen, emphasizing how the ROEQ MRE enables compact AMR models to transport heavier loads while maintaining maneuverability even in narrow spaces.

The ROEQ TMC500 system for the OMRON LD-250 is expected to be available by the end of 2022.

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The GelSight Mini, a 3D tactile sensor that gives robots the sense of touch. | Source: GelSight

GelSight announced the release of the GelSight Mini, an artificial intelligence (AI) powered 3D sensor that can give robots a sense of touch. The sensor is small enough to be comfortable for human hands and strong enough for use in robots and cobots. It takes just five minutes for the sensor to produce sharable results out of the box.

“GelSight Mini is a first-of-its-kind, affordable, and compact tactile sensor with an easy, plug-and-play set up that lets users get to work within five minutes of taking the device out of the box,” Dennis Lang, vice president of product at GelSight, said. “We believe that GelSight Mini will reduce the barrier of entry into robotics and touch-based scanning for corporate research and development, academics, and hobbyists, while opening doors to new terrain, such as the Metaverse.”

GelSight set out to make a sensor that would provide more flexibility to roboticists than any other one on the market. The company’s sensor makes digital 2D and 3D mapping available to roboticists, and the sensor exceeds the spatial resolution of human touch. This gives researchers optimized images of material surfaces that can be useful across a broad set of industries. 

The GelSight Mini relies on data captured by GelSight’s elastomeric tactile sensing platform, which leverages the Robot Operating System (ROS), PyTouch and Python. This allows users to create detailed and accurate surface characterizations that are directly compatible with familiar industry-standard software environments. 

ROS compatibility, frame grabbers and Python scripts are all provided by the company, allowing users to get started right away with unique AI and computer vision tasks, including directly creating digital twins of items to be picked using the sensor. 

GelSight Mini can be used in a range of things, from industrial-style two-finger grippers, to bionic hand research and developments. The sensor’s compact design, and GelSight’s provided 3D CAD files of adapters for integration, makes it easy to install into an existing system. 

The company is a spinoff from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where the company’s founders developed technologies in the fields of 3D imaging, perceptual modeling and signal processing. The company was founded in 2011. 

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DESMASA deploys robotics to automate the tire marking process. The solution is customizable for any client’s needs. | Credit: DESMESA

Spanish robotics business DESMASA creates solutions to enhance your product or your productive system, filling the gaps left by conventional commercial systems.  The company primarily distributes solutions in North America and Europe.

From feeding in the raw material mixing zone through the final inspection and palletizing of the tire, they develop equipment to cover every step of the manufacturing process.

The company can fully automate the procedures involved in making tires thanks to a number of patents held in the tire industry.

The robot marking system is a tool created to label tires of different shapes and sizes. The machine can be modified to meet any client’s requirements, so the mark can be in any color. It is simple to configure and designed to be adaptable and make tire marking simpler.

The patented tire marking solution by DESMASA is completely configurable. | Credit: DESMASA

It works great as an outside station on a line for testing finished products, so it can be added to any production line.

It’s a small station that works well for any size business and it is capable of being fully integrated with other machinery, hence decreasing cycle time.

Features:

• Multiple colors
• Multiple shapes
• Mark one or both sides of the tire
• Adjustable radial force
• Totally adaptable to the shape of the tire
• Quickly exchangeable cassette
• Simple and easy to maintain
• 3D accuracy marking
• Compact footprint

The robot solution processes finished tires using an automatic marking system based on an anthropomorphic robot and a double clamp system with a tape marker.

Thanks to the combination of a measured tire by a laser sensor and the 3D position marking database, the robot is able to achieve high accuracy performance.

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Peer Robotics has two primary versions of its autonomous mobile robot. | Credit: Peer Robotics

Mobile robots that can understand human touch are being developed by Peer Robotics CEO Rishabh Agarwal and his team in New Haven, CT.

The firm revealed that it has secured $2.3 million in its seed round, money it plans to use to expand its fleet of robots across North America.

Peer Robotics is currently funded by six investors. Axilor Ventures and Innopact are the most recent investors. Also participating in the round: Kalaari Capital, Connecticut Innovations, STANLEY +Techstars AI in Advanced Manufacturing and Laila Partridge.

The company was founded in 2019 by CEO Rishabh Agarwal and CTO Tanya Raghuvanshi. The company is currently part of the Stanley+Techstars Accelerator and has offices in both New Haven, CT and Guragram, India. It currently lists 13 employees on LinkedIn.

The company offers two versions of its autonomous mobile robot. The base version can move 205 kg (550 lbs) of payload on top of the unit at speeds up to 1500 mm/sec (3.4 mph). The specs for runtime are 16 hours (two shifts).

The second configuration of the unit engages with a cart or trolley and can move a payload on the cart up to 250 kg (670 lbs).

The system includes a feature called “human training,” which allows a person to “push” the robot through the facility “like a shopping cart,” so that the robot can learn the layout of the facility and the route that it should follow. This is illustrated in the following video.

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Realtime Robotics’ RapidPlan software automates the programming, deployment and control of industrial robots. | Source: Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics and Siemens have partnered to integrate Realtime’s RapidPlan software with Siemens Process Simulate. RapidPlan will be offered as part of Siemens’ Tecnomatix portfolio. 

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. 

Realtime’s RapidPlan software, which was released in June 2022, automates the programming, deployment and control of industrial robots. The software calculates robot paths and avoids collisions during operation. With the software, users create a digital twin of their robotic work cell in simulation and then point and click on robots are target points to create task plans. 

“Robot programming and task planning has been a time-consuming – and frankly, difficult – process for far too long. We founded Realtime Robotics to change that once and for all,” George Konidaris, co-founder and chief roboticist at Realtime Robotics, said. “This integration with Siemens will make it much easier for those using Process Simulate to eliminate collisions and quickly take robot task plans from simulation to reality.”

The integration will help Siemens’ customers streamline cell commissioning, improve decision-making, quickly evaluate and validate options and create automatic via points and interlocks all while working directly in Process Simulate. 

“The combination of Process Simulate with Realtime Robotics’ automated motion planning and interlocking has provided a significant improvement to our efficiency, reducing our off-line programming efforts by more than 80%,” Michael Schaubmayr, the Group Manager of Mechanical Engineering Simulation at VALIANT TMS, said. “This presents to us a tangible and strategic advantage in the industry.”

Realtime recently raised $14.4 million in funding for its motion planning software. Soundproof Ventures led the funding round, which also included participation from Heroic Ventures and SIP Global Partners. The latest round brings the company’s total funding to date to more than $60 million. 

The company is a former resident startup of MassRobotics. It moved out in 2019 after it grew to 30-plus employees. You can read more about the founding of Realtime Robotics in this profile written by MIT.

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The ARM Institute will complete a national survey in the summer and fall of 2022. | Source: ARM Institute

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is looking for manufacturers and technology providers to complete a major, national survey. The survey aims to identify tools, strategies and guidance that should be prioritized to help manufacturers implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions for advanced manufacturing robotic systems. 

The survey is being led by the ARM Institute’s Data for Artificial Intelligence Working Group (DAWG). The DAWG aims to develop tools that can decrease the technology gap for manufacturers, so that manufacturers can better understand how to obtain, assess and structure data that’s essential for enabling the use of AI for robotics in manufacturing. 

Companies of all sizes looking to advance manufacturing techniques, like AI, ML and robotics, to improve quality, performance and safety, but unsure how to start or maintain these capabilities could benefit from the results of the survey.

This survey will build upon the ARM Institute’s AI Discovery Workshops, which aimed to create a roadmap for AI applications in robotics for manufacturing. For the workshops, the ARM Institute invited a group of leaders representing industry, government and academia to take part in four interactive sessions over a four week period in April 2021. 

Manufacturers and technology providers who are interested in taking part in the survey can sign up at the ARM Institute’s website. 

Recently, the ARM Institute announced its technology project call. The ARM Institute’s project calls are an opportunity for projects that help bridge the gap between the push of technology and the pull of the need of the robotics industry to receive funding. 

The ARM Institute announced eight new robotics technology projects in February 2022. At the time, it planned to award nearly $4 million in funding across the projects. The projects chosen address issues found by the DoD and commercial community to be the most urgent and important. 

The ARM Institute won a 2022 RBR50 Robotics Innovation award for its Roboticscareer.org website from our sister publication Robotics Business Review. 

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Dexterity robots performing parcel handling operations. | Source: Dexterity

Dexterity announced it’s establishing a strategic partnership with Dematic. Through the partnership, Dematic will offer Dexterity’s full-task robots as part of its intelligent automation solutions. Dematic will sell and deploy Dexterity’s robots globally and facilitate its entry into the European market.

Dexterity offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) robotic platform that turns standard industrial robot arms into full-task robots with a sense of touch and vision, and the ability to learn and multitask. To date, its robots have picked over 37 million goods in warehouses across the United States.

The partnership brings together Dexterity’s robotics technology and Dematic’s expertise in advanced supply chain solutions to provide fully integrated, autonomous and scalable solutions to the market. Dematic will offer everything from specific subsystems to complete operations.

“Dexterity-powered robots have increased the market demand for flexible automation that can operate in existing workflows and infrastructure,” Dexterity CEO Samir Menon said. “Partnering with an industry leader like Dematic will accelerate Dexterity customers deploying robots and greatly expand the global reach of Dexterity robots.”

Dematic plans to deploy robotic systems already contracted with Dexterity’s consumer goods, manufacturing, retail and parcel customers. The company will also sell and deploy Dexterity’s solutions within its own warehouse, distribution and order fulfillment customers over the next several years. The first Dematic-deployed Dexterity robot system is scheduled to be deployed in Q4 2022.

“Our growing partnership with Dexterity is yet another example of Dematic taking the necessary steps to continue to be a software and technology leader,” Hasan Dandashly, the president of Dematic and KION Group executive board member, said. “As a leader, we provide our customers with the intelligent solutions they require for success, and fully integrated robotic solutions fit hand-in-glove with that.”

The partnership will accelerate Dematic’s ability to offer customers adaptable and autonomous solutions that offer its customers increased flexibility. Additionally, its customers will have expertise from both companies during every phase of deployment, from initiation and planning, to execution and live operations. 

Earlier this year, Ed Mullen, previously the VP of sales for the Americas at Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) joined the Dexterity team as senior director of partnerships. The company recently emerged from stealth in 2020 and recently raised $140 million in Series B funding.

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