A Chinese company called Han’s Robot has launched a new range of collaborative industrial robots.
Han’s Robot is a subsidiary of Han’s Laser, also linked to Han’s Motors, and the new collaborative robot is called Elfin.
The robot is available in three variations according to payload – 3 kg, 5 kg and 10 kg.
Han’s Robot has licensed Energid’s Actin software for Elfin. Actin is said to be an “easy-to-use robot control and simulation framework that offers robot manufacturers faster time to market, reduced software development costs, and powerful control with real-time adaptive motion”.
The collaborative robots market has been growing very fast over the past couple of years and more companies are entering the market – both establish robot makers as well as entirely new startups.
Unlike traditional industrial robots, collaborative robots are designed to work safely side-by-side with humans, and, therefore, are technically different to traditional industrial robots, according to ISO standards.
Key characteristics include built-in safety features, easy programming and use, and low up-front costs, making cobots accessible for a much wider range of applications than traditional robots.
In this competitive and demanding market, the Actin control software allowed Han’s Robot to quickly introduce its first Actin-enabled cobot.
The Elfin 5, with a 5-kilogram payload, is the first in a planned portfolio of cost-effective, Actin-enabled industrial robots.
Guangneng Wang, CEO of Han’s Robot, says: “Compared to other solutions, the ease-of-use and power of the Actin framework is exceptional.
“By leveraging Actin to build the real-time robot controller, our engineers were able to focus on the Elfin hardware and bring our new robot to market quickly and cost-effectively.”
Actin’s patented control architecture provides smooth, fluid motion for the most complex robotic systems with a simple task-based user interface.
Han’s Robot was able to leverage powerful collaborative features including collision avoidance, simplified task-based programming, interactive control, and the ability to extend, customize, and rebrand any of the components for advanced product differentiation.
This focus on performance, flexibility, stability, and portability makes Actin the ideal control solution for new robotic systems, with any number of degrees of freedom or joint types.
James English, CTO of Energid Technologies, says: “Rather than creating a robot control system from scratch, Han’s Robot was able to use our adaptive software and configuration tools to enable a complete motion control solution.
“Han’s Robot can add new product offerings to its line of collaborative robots without needing to reprogram the control system.”
Energid provides robotic control systems for a wide range of global customers, from startups to Fortune 50 companies, to help them develop and launch competitive robotics products quickly and cost-effectively.
Neil Tardella, CEO of Energid Technologies, says: “The robotics market in China is the largest in the world and growing, and with our software Han’s Robot will be able to bring new and competitive collaborative robots to manufacturing customers who need them.
“This licensing agreement is another proof point for Actin, and is one of many licensing agreements we will be announcing.”
Han’s Robot seems to produce a wide variety of robots, including scara and delta robots as well as mobile platforms for warehouses.
