Robotics & Automation News

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SGS introduces ‘cutting-edge testing protocol’ for robots checking furniture drawer slides

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SGS, a testing, inspection and certification company, has launched a new advanced slide test protocol that uses “PROF” – short for “SGS Performance Factory” – to assess the performance and durability of furniture drawers.

The PROF furniture drawer slide test protocol accurately simulates real consumer use and misuse to measure and map the evolution of opening force, damping force and drawer face position when operating. It can also compare the impact of drawer use on the right and left sides and be used to contrast different brands and designs.

This protocol has several key advantages for consumers, manufacturers and brands. Its high-quality, trusted and impartial data supports performance and durability claims, enabling consumers to make better-informed purchasing decisions. It also empowers better commercial decisions concerning design improvements and product selection. [Read more…] about SGS introduces ‘cutting-edge testing protocol’ for robots checking furniture drawer slides

Flexiv to release ‘revolutionary’ robotic gripper

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Flexiv, a builder of general-purpose robotics solutions, is set to release a revolutionary new robotic gripper.

Featuring industrial-grade force control and an adhesive material based on a gecko’s foot pad, the Grav gripper can lift practically any item that fits within its grasp.

Touted as representing the next generation of robotic grippers, it uses impactive and contigutive grasping techniques for maximum handling flexibility. This makes it possible to lift objects which are oddly shaped or have an uneven surface texture. [Read more…] about Flexiv to release ‘revolutionary’ robotic gripper

Flexiv launches ‘revolutionary’ force-controlled parallel robot

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Flexiv, a builder of general-purpose robotics solutions, has released the latest addition to its product portfolio, the Moonlight adaptive parallel robot. 

Flexiv says Moonlight is the world’s first force-controlled parallel robot and is ideal for applications that require precise motion and force control, such as screw fastening, ultra-accurate loading, and polishing. It adds the new machine is “revolutionary”.

Incorporating Flexiv’s innovative force control technology, Moonlight can precisely measure force down to 0.1 N so even delicate objects can be handled. This makes tasks polishing and sanding uneven surfaces possible while guaranteeing output quality and practically eliminating workpiece damage. [Read more…] about Flexiv launches ‘revolutionary’ force-controlled parallel robot

Ritsumeikan University develops ‘soft microfingers’ for robots

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Ritsumeikan University researchers develop a soft robotic microfinger that enables interaction with insects through tactile sensing

Human-robot interactions not only allow robots to interact with humans but also with the environment. Microrobots, for instance, can interact with insects and measure the force exerted by them during flight or walking.

However, this interaction is not direct, with the microrobots measuring insect behavior primarily. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a soft micro-robotic finger that allows humans to directly interact with insects. This could enable human-environment interaction at previously inaccessible scales.

Humans have always been fascinated by scales different than theirs, from giant objects such as stars, planets and galaxies, to the world of the tiny: insects, bacteria, viruses and other microscopic objects. While the microscope allows us to view and observe the microscopic world, it is still difficult to interact with it directly. [Read more…] about Ritsumeikan University develops ‘soft microfingers’ for robots

PickNik Robotics wins contract with US Space Force

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PickNik Robotics, a provider of robotics software and engineering services, has won a SpaceWERX contract to work on robotics for the US Space Force.

In addition, the company recently won a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract for continued work on supervised autonomy for space robotics, as well as a Colorado Advanced Industries Accelerator (AIA) grant for space robotics.

Dr Dave Coleman, CEO of PickNik Robotics, says: “These three wins provide additional validation of our work in space robotics, a major focus area for our company. [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics wins contract with US Space Force

NCKU researchers develop ‘first’ dual-mode piezotronics-based force sensor

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With the rise of Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, piezoelectrics, or materials that generate electric charge when a strain is applied to them, are becoming extremely useful as compact and energy-efficient force sensors.

Accordingly, piezotronics has emerged as a new technological frontier with applications in structural health monitoring in civil engineering and human-machine interface devices.

Piezotronic force sensors are typically governed by either a strain-induced “Schottky barrier height (SBH) modulation” or by a “piezo-gating effect” that redistributes the charge carriers in an induced piezoelectric field. [Read more…] about NCKU researchers develop ‘first’ dual-mode piezotronics-based force sensor

Flexiv unveils new operating system for its adaptive robots

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Flexiv, a developer of robotic and artificial intelligence solutions, has unveiled Flexiv Elements, its all-new operating system for “adaptive robots”.

Adaptive robots are a new category – very similar to collaborative robots – which Flexiv is concentrating on. It describes its “Rizon” model (main picture) as “the first adapative robot” – referring to its ability to maintain performance even amid significant changes in the environment, such as floating base, vibration, and human interference.

Created to provide integrators with “ground-breaking new features” which simplify complex robotic operations, Flexiv says Elements makes it “easier than ever” before to develop customized programs that enhance efficiency and productivity. [Read more…] about Flexiv unveils new operating system for its adaptive robots

Yaskawa launches two new collaborative robots for industrial applications

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Yaskawa Motoman, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots, has launched two new collaborative robots – HC10DTP and HC20DTP, each of which has six axes.

The company describes them as “highly reliable robots (that) enrich easy capability for Yaskawa’s HC-series line”.

Hand-guided programming allows users to direct teach points without a pendant, and an ISO standard tool flange and electrical connections facilitate a plug and play approach for easy deployment of the robot system. [Read more…] about Yaskawa launches two new collaborative robots for industrial applications

ATI unveils ‘ultra-thin’ force torque sensor for robots

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ATI Industrial Automation has unveiled its “ultra-thin” Mini43LP Force/Torque Sensor, which the company says provides “high-precision force sensing in a rugged, yet compact transducer”.

At less than 8 mm tall, the newest member of ATI’s force/torque sensor product range is “uniquely suited for smaller automated applications”, says ATI.

The low profile sensor body allows users to optimize their work envelope and preserve the robot’s lifting power for end-of-arm tools. [Read more…] about ATI unveils ‘ultra-thin’ force torque sensor for robots

Nvidia and USC researchers demonstrate autonomous robotic cutting

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Nvidia and USC researchers have demonstrated an innovative approach to Autonomous Robotic Cutting in new work nominated for a Best Paper Award at the Robotics Science & Systems Conference  last month. (See video and images below.)

Robotic cutting of soft materials is critical for applications such as food processing, household automation, and surgical manipulation. As in other areas of robotics, simulators can facilitate controller verification, policy learning, and dataset generation. Moreover, differentiable simulators can enable gradient-based optimization, which is invaluable for calibrating simulation parameters and optimizing controllers.

In their work nominated for a Best Paper Award at RSS 2021, Nvidia researchers present DiSECt: the first differentiable simulator for cutting soft materials. The simulator augments the finite element method (FEM) with a continuous contact model based on signed distance fields (SDF), as well as a continuous damage model that inserts springs on opposite sides of the cutting plane and allows them to weaken until zero stiffness, enabling crack formation. [Read more…] about Nvidia and USC researchers demonstrate autonomous robotic cutting