Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

bin

Ocean Aero partners with KAUST and Shelf Subsea to advance maritime research in Red Sea

by Leave a Comment

Ocean Aero, a manufacturer and service provider of ocean-going Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicles (AUSVs), has agreed a partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), one of Saudi Arabia’s preeminent centers of academia, research, and development, and Saudi Shelf Subsea, part of the Shelf Subsea Group of companies headquartered in Perth, Australia with extensive operations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The trilateral partnership will center on novel maritime research in the Red Sea and has several core tenets:

  • applied research on tailored payloads for Saudi-specific applications with a number of the Kingdom’s maritime organizations;
  • exploration of advanced concept development utilizing existing and joint IP; and
  • continued execution of scientific services with a fleet of Ocean Aero’s TRITON AUSVs.

Kevin Decker, CEO of Ocean Aero, says: “We couldn’t be happier to work alongside the oceanographers, researchers, and marine scientists at KAUST. [Read more…] about Ocean Aero partners with KAUST and Shelf Subsea to advance maritime research in Red Sea

AutoStore launches Bin Lift 2.0 to North American market

by Leave a Comment

Warehouse automation company AutoStore has launched its Bin Lift 2.0, which will extend the reachability of AutoStore bins in multi-level warehouses, enabling a flexible warehouse layout and reducing real estate costs.

Now available in North America, the vertical lift assists AutoStore bins, which are durable containers used to hold inventory and are handled precisely by AutoStore robots.

Compared to the previous Bin Lift 1.1 model that was only available in Europe, the Bin Lift 2.0 offers notable mechanical improvements and a better user experience, thanks to a significant noise reduction. [Read more…] about AutoStore launches Bin Lift 2.0 to North American market

Pickit unveils its first gripper with integrated vision and software aimed at forging and automotive sectors

by Leave a Comment

Robot vision specialist Pickit has unveiled its first gripper. Aimed at the forging and automotive sectors, the end-of-arm-tool has integrated vision and software.

“The bin picking revolution is happening now,” says Pickit. “With matured 3D vision and software, the implementation risks for bin picking revolve around the gripper design. We have integrated gripper, vision, and software to achieve unprecedented reliability. Here’s our new Billet Picker for forging and automotive applications.”

The company’s new product is called the “Billet Picker”, and is a combination of Pickit EOAT + Pickit 3D vision + Pickit software. [Read more…] about Pickit unveils its first gripper with integrated vision and software aimed at forging and automotive sectors

SICK and Vention partner to bring enhanced robot guidance systems to manufacturers

by Leave a Comment

SICK is partnering with Vention, a next-generation manufacturing automation platform.

This partnership combines SICK’s PLB and PLOC2D systems with Vention’s manufacturing automation platform to accelerate the design and deployment of applications custom-built for robot guidance systems.

Vention’s cloud-based platform allows customers to design, automate, and deploy SICK robot guidance systems with 2D and 3D vision solutions for use in automated bin picking applications. [Read more…] about SICK and Vention partner to bring enhanced robot guidance systems to manufacturers

Universal Robots handpicks systems integrators to implement ActiNav next-generation machine loading

by Leave a Comment

To better address demand for its popular ActiNav flexible machine loading system, Universal Robots has “handpicked” a number of integrators as ActiNav solutions providers.

Today, solutions for unstructured picking and placing of parts into machines are solely focused on the vision aspect, often requiring additional programming to bridge the gap from “pick” to “place” – especially if the “place” is not just dropping into a box but accurately inserting parts into fixtures for further processing.

Universal says its ActiNav product changes all that, combining real-time autonomous motion control, Universal Robots cobots, vision and sensor systems in one seamless Application Kit that solves the random bin picking challenge in machine tending applications. [Read more…] about Universal Robots handpicks systems integrators to implement ActiNav next-generation machine loading

Robotiq launches new robotic bin picking solution

by Leave a Comment

Collaborative robot application specialist Robotiq has introduced a “versatile and affordable” bin picking system which will bring additional proficiency and flexibility to a broad spectrum of mid to high volume manufacturing and processing operations.

In line with the company’s core value of democratising automation, the Robotiq Bin Picking Kit provides a complete solution for locating, picking, handling, and placing flat and cylindrical parts – with rapid set-up that ensures optimal return on investment.

Compatible with Universal Robots, the Kit is particularly well-suited to appliance manufacturing, automotive components, general industry, and metal and plastic products, for applications ranging from stamping, bending, engraving, marking and painting, to deburring, grinding, line feeding and assembly. [Read more…] about Robotiq launches new robotic bin picking solution

Fanuc unveils new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications

by Leave a Comment

Fanuc America, the leading supplier of robotics, CNCs, RoboMachine’s and industrial IoT solutions recently demonstrated its new 3DV/1600 vision sensor.

Fanuc demonstrated the sensor at the show, an M-710iC/45M robot used the 3DV/1600 vision sensor to quickly find and snap boxes of varying sizes and shapes in a large bin.

The robot picked each package and dropped it into another bin. Once a bin was emptied, the sensor moved to the full bin and the cycle repeated. [Read more…] about Fanuc unveils new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications

Universal Robots launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending

by Leave a Comment

Universal Robots has launched what it says is “the world’s first” autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending applications.

“ActiNav” is a new UR+ application kit for companies of all sizes that, Universal says, simplifies the integration of autonomous bin picking of parts and accurate placement in machines using UR cobots.

ActiNav synchronously handles vision processing, collision-free motion planning and autonomous real-time robot control, eliminating the complexity and risk usually associated with bin picking applications. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending

Fanuc launches new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications

by Leave a Comment

The world’s largest industrial robot maker Fanuc has launched a new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications.

The company’s new 3DV/1600 vision sensor quickly finds and snaps boxes of varying sizes and shapes in a large bin – an ideal application for the warehousing, e-commerce and logistics markets.

Fanuc claims to be the leading supplier of robotics, CNCs, RoboMachines and industrial internet of things solutions in America. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches new vision sensor for robotic warehousing applications

SSI Schaefer automates central warehouse for Rossmann

by

The chemist chain Rossmann has commissioned SSI Schaefer to automate its central warehouse in their Polish subsidiary in Łódź.

SSI Schaefer will equip a 10-aisle miniload with more than 100,000 bin storage locations operated by Schaefer Miniload Cranes.

In addition, it will install a custom-fit pallet and bin conveying system, introducing 84 ergonomic work station systems and the logistics software WAMAS,

Rossmann’s Polish central warehouse supplies two regional warehouses and over 1,300 shops in Poland. The product range comprises up to 21,000 items, depending on store size.

[Read more…] about SSI Schaefer automates central warehouse for Rossmann