Robotics & Automation News

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cobot

Hanwha Robotics and Wipro team up on Indian cobot market 

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Hanwha Precision Machinery’s Robot Business Division has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN) to establish a local sales and operations office in India.

The partnership combines the core competencies between the two companies: Hanwha’s cobot manufacturing and development capabilities and WIN’s Automation Solutions business and broad sales network in India.

Through this partnership, Hanwha Robotics will be able to sell its factory automation cobots to WIN’s customer base through its sales network.

[Read more…] about Hanwha Robotics and Wipro team up on Indian cobot market 

Universal Robots opens authorised training centres in North America

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North American distributors of Universal Robots are now opening Authorized Training Centers (ATCs), offering classes spanning basic to advanced programming of UR cobots. The first four ATCs have been launched, with another nine to follow by end of 2019.

Universal Robots says it is committed to making collaborative robots (cobots) in the workplace accessible to all. The company is now building on the popular online modules offered through the UR Academy by enabling its sales channel to open ATCs.

Through hands-on classes hosted by UR trained teachers, the ATCs will broaden users’ understanding of the UR cobots’ range of use cases, while providing opportunities for hands-on practice in real-life applications.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots opens authorised training centres in North America

Ket-Met reduces machine costs by more than 40 percent, says Universal Robots

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Ket-Met has been able to reduce machine costs by more than 40 percent through the application of collaborative robots, according to a case study by Universal Robots

Ket-Met is a Finnish subcontract machine tooling shop.

Until recently, the company had progressively lost its cost competitiveness – the main reason for this was that its traditional way of using CNC machines required too much manpower.

Machine hour costs were reduced by over 40 percent due to Universal Robots’ cobots.

This helped the company win new orders. [Read more…] about Ket-Met reduces machine costs by more than 40 percent, says Universal Robots

Taiwanese store employs robot to make and serve tea

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A Taiwanese food and beverage store called Babo Arms is now using a collaborative robot from Universal Robots to make and serve tea.

Universal Robots’ UR5 unit was chosen by Babo Arms to “add a twist of modernity” into their production process.

Babo Arms were searching for an automated device to enhance operations and address the ongoing recruitment issue faced by the food and beverage industry. [Read more…] about Taiwanese store employs robot to make and serve tea

RIA publishes new technical report on collaborative robots

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The RIA R15.06 Standards Committee has finalized Technical Report R15.806-2018 to address the test methods and metrics for measuring pressure and force associated with quasi-static and transient contact events of collaborative applications.

A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a type of robot intended to physically interact with humans in a shared workspace. Collaborative robots are experiencing rapid market growth.

According to Markets and Markets research, the collaborative robots market is expected to reach a value of $4.28 billion by 2023, growing at an astounding 56.94 percent compound annual growth rate.

[Read more…] about RIA publishes new technical report on collaborative robots

Festo unveils human-like hand for robotics applications

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Whether its grabbing, holding or turning, touching, typing or pressing – in everyday life, we use our hands as a matter of course for the most diverse tasks.

The human hand, with its unique combination of power, dexterity and fine motor skills, is a true miracle tool of nature.

What could be more natural than equipping robots in collaborative workspaces with a gripper that is modelled after this model of nature, that solves various tasks by learning through artificial intelligence?

[Read more…] about Festo unveils human-like hand for robotics applications

New algorithms for heavy industrial robot-human collaboration

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Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have developed an innovative technology enabling people and large industrial robots to work together in an intuitive way that feels a lot like human teamwork.

Currently, heavy-duty robots operate alongside their human coworkers without safety fencing, but direct interaction is a no-go. Safety precautions dictate that the robot freezes as soon as a human sets foot in a sizeable surrounding safety zone.

Using the benefit of this technology, robots can recognise gestures, faces and postures to make this collaboration that much safer and more efficient.

[Read more…] about New algorithms for heavy industrial robot-human collaboration

Xyntek unveils collaborative robot case-packing solution

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Xyntek Inc. has delivered a turnkey collaborative robot case-packing solution to a customer in time to meet the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) deadline.

The validated serialisation and aggregation solution integrates state-of-the-art technologies in packaging line automation, real-time controls and material handling, machine vision, and collaborative robotics to address the regulatory and business requirements of a major pharmaceutical company.

The solution, designed, implemented, and validated by Xyntek, handles a wide variety of bottles.

[Read more…] about Xyntek unveils collaborative robot case-packing solution

Analysis: Universal Robots continues to dominate cobot market but faces many challengers

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By Ash Sharma, research director, Interact Analysis

Universal Robots continued to dominate the collaborative robot industry in the first half of 2018, although Interact Analysis estimates its market share dipped a little this year.

Despite the exit of cobot pioneer, Rethink Robotics, UR faces an increasing number of challengers and the fledgling industry remains fragmented.

Universal Robots still maintains an incredibly strong hold over the collaborative robot market. However, its market share has gradually decreased from more than 55 percent in 2016 to 46 percent in 2017 – which was inevitable given how quickly the industry is growing and the increasing number of suppliers now competing.  [Read more…] about Analysis: Universal Robots continues to dominate cobot market but faces many challengers

Omron launches TM Series collaborative robot

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Omron has announced the global launch of the TM series collaborative robot family in 40 countries in order to “realize an innovative manufacturing environment where humans and machines work in harmony”, says the company.

As changing consumer trends continue to shorten product life cycles, manufacturers are increasingly looking to quickly and flexibly set up production lines to meet frequent product change-overs.

In addition, as labor shortage become more “real” manufacturers are striving to automate the simpler and monotonous tasks, making it increasingly necessary to create a workplace where people can contribute with more creative tasks.

[Read more…] about Omron launches TM Series collaborative robot