Robotics & Automation News

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Italian port Livorno provides Comau exoskeletons to cargo handlers

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The logistics and cargo handling activities carried out in the port environment are largely managed manually by workers in order to ensure the required operational standards.

With the aim of making their employees’ tasks easier, more efficient and ergonomic, the Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Settentrionale (Port System Authority of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, AdSP MTS) and the Compagnia Portuale di Livorno (Livorno Port Company, CPL), together with IUVO, a spin-off company of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa), and Comau have conducted a pilot study – among the first carried out in Europe and in the world – for the adoption of wearable MATE-XT and MATE-XB exoskeletons designed by the 2 companies.

MATE-XT helps to reduce the muscle load of the upper limbs during static or repetitive activities, which require workers to keep their arms raised for extended periods of time, while MATE-XB relieves the muscle effort of the lumbar area when handling loads. [Read more…] about Italian port Livorno provides Comau exoskeletons to cargo handlers

Comau’s exoskeleton producing ‘significant, measurable benefits’ at Pintarelli

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Comau’s wearable exoskeleton with its news model, the MATE-XT, aims to satisfy the special needs of those working in harsh conditions in industry, other sectors and even outdoors.

Comau’s MATE exoskeleton is the first and still the only exoskeleton in the world to be EAWS (Ergonomic Assessment Work-Sheet) certified. This confirms its effectiveness in reducing the risk of biomechanical upper limb strain in workers whose daily activities involve repetitive flexion and extension of the arms.

MATE has become an indispensable aid for some of the operators at Pintarelli, who perform repetitive manual movements involving continuous use of the upper limbs and shoulders. Pintarelli Verniciature is based in Lavis in the province of Trento and employs around 30 people. [Read more…] about Comau’s exoskeleton producing ‘significant, measurable benefits’ at Pintarelli

Fanuc launches new ‘tabletop’ industrial robot

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Fanuc America, a supplier of CNCs, robotics, and RoboMachines, has introduced the LR Mate 200iD/14L, the 10th model variation of the popular LR Mate series of tabletop industrial robots.  

Since the LR Mate series was launched nearly 30 years ago, it has become one of Fanuc’s biggest sellers, with over 70,000 units installed across the globe.

The popularity of the LR Mate robot series is due to Fanuc’s world-renowned reliability along with a number of unique features including its lightweight, tabletop size, which is often compared to the size of a person’s arm. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches new ‘tabletop’ industrial robot

Comau exoskeleton ‘first’ to be awarded EAWS certification

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Comau Robotics & Automation claims its “MATE” exoskeleton is the first on the market to receive the Ergonomic Assessment Work-Sheet certification.

The company says the certification provides clear evidence of its exoskeleton’s effectiveness in reducing the “risk of biomechanical overload” of the upper limbs.

Based on the evaluation system promoted by Ergo Foundation, Italy’s reference for the organization and measurement of work and ergonomics, the successful recognition studied workers who used MATE to perform daily tasks requiring flexion-extension of the arms. [Read more…] about Comau exoskeleton ‘first’ to be awarded EAWS certification

ABB expands RobotStudio with ability to control SCARA robots from PC

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ABB says it has “simplified” the use of its popular SCARA robots by giving users the ability to commission and control the robots from their PC through RobotStudio, ABB’s simulation and offline programming software.

Robot Control Mate is an add-on to RobotStudio, enabling users to jog, teach and calibrate robots from their computer, making it easier than ever to control a SCARA robot’s movements.

For the first time, ABB’s offline programming software can be used to control the physical movements of a robot in real-time. Robot Control Mate also makes robot programming possible when a FlexPendant is not in place. [Read more…] about ABB expands RobotStudio with ability to control SCARA robots from PC

Comau features its exoskeleton in Pack Expo robotics showcase

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Comau, an industrial automation company and part of the Fiat Chrysler Group, is presenting its Muscular Aiding Tech Exoskeleton (Mate) in the all new Robotic Zone (booth N-850G) at Pack Expo Las Vegas.

Visitors to Comau’s interactive booth will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefit of incorporating exoskeletons into material handling processes by wearing a Mate in a typical pick and place operation.

Mate has been designed to improve work quality in an efficient and highly ergonomic manner by providing consistent and advanced movement assistance during prolonged overhead, as well as daily tasks. [Read more…] about Comau features its exoskeleton in Pack Expo robotics showcase

Comau ‘Mate’ exoskeleton used in CC Jensen’s manufacturing processes

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Danish company CC Jensen is using exoskeletons from Comau in its manufacturing processes.

Comau calls its exoskeleton ‘Mate’ and has been supplying it to the market for around a year.

CC Jensen specialises in the design and manufacturing of oil filtration solutions, and says it uses Mate to better support workers in carrying out their daily activities. [Read more…] about Comau ‘Mate’ exoskeleton used in CC Jensen’s manufacturing processes

Comau launches exoskeleton for factory workers

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Comau has released the first Muscular Aiding Tech Exoskeleton – MATE, which is a lightweight, passive, portable upper-limb exoskeleton.

Released in China, it was developed in collaboration with ÖSSUR, an Icelandic leading non-invasive orthopedic company, and IUVO, a spin-off company of the Italian BioRobotics Institute specialized in wearable technologies.

MATE can reproduce shoulder movement with joint axes parallel to the user’s shoulder axes, providing effective gesture support and stable movement assistance to reduce the burden of repetitive tasks.

[Read more…] about Comau launches exoskeleton for factory workers