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Tag: cobot

Added value thanks to Autonomous Logistics Bot

Posted on by David Priestman

The autonomous GESSbot Gb 350 from Gessmann sets new standards in intralogistics by optimising production processes through advanced automation. This autonomous mobile robot takes over human tasks, ensuring faster and more precise operations. Gessmann prioritises not only the seamless integration of machines, production lines, and storage systems but also the smooth interaction between people and machines.

New benchmarks

Automated Guided Vehicles are versatile in intralogistics, but these systems often rely on physically marked routes. The GESSbot Gb 350 stands out as it requires neither magnetic tracks nor complex environmental adaptations. Instead, this autonomous mobile robot (AMR) navigates precisely along the desired routes using LiDAR sensors and a digital map. This makes its behaviour predictable for people around it. It can adapt flexibly to new conditions, recognise and avoid obstacles, and transport loads of up to 350 kg through both wide and narrow passages. The GESSbot communicates with its surroundings via a sound system, display, and LED indicators. Its user-friendly interface and ‘expressive eyes’ make it an approachable and intuitive counterpart.

With a battery life of up to 12 hours, the GESSbot is typically sufficient for a standard working day. If the battery level drops below a specified limit, the GESSbot automatically searches for the nearest charging station. Thanks to inductive charging stations, such as those at loading and unloading points, it can also recharge during the working day.

Software and customisation

The flexible and efficient GESSbot solutions from Gessmann can be adapted to a wide range of applications. GESSbots can be integrated into various order control systems in the intralogistics sector, whether for simple round trips, connecting to existing systems, or full integration into MES or ERP systems. With the VDA 5050 interface, GESSbots can be managed alongside other autonomous vehicles within a single fleet management software. The software also facilitates the creation and customisation of environment maps and routes, ensuring smooth operations, especially for large fleets. Additionally, lifts, gates, and fire alarm systems can be integrated. The fleetmanager optimises order processing by considering factors like battery charge and distance to the destination. It can be easily operated via pushbuttons or touch displays.

Tailor-made automation solutions

Gessmann offers a broad range of automation solutions, enabling customised robotics for various industries. The GESSbots can be equipped with different attachments, such as shelves, while automated roller conveyors allow for seamless connection to conveyor belts. Collaboration with Techman Robot Inc. has led to innovative solutions featuring collaborative robots (cobots) capable of handling payloads from 5 kg to 35 kg. These cobots, characterised by their intuitive user interface, can be used flexibly with the GESSbot, such as for autonomous machine loading or safe collaboration with humans at assembly workstations.

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Autonomous models for the warehouse

 

 

Smart Fashion Picker: Cobot picks items of various sizes

Posted on by David Priestman

As of today, Smart Robotics, a global leader in picking automation as a service for warehouses and logistics processes, is announcing the official launch of their latest cobot – the Smart Fashion Picker. The reliability of the cobot, and its ability to run continuously, ensures quicker return on investment – whilst answering the labour crisis in logistics and bettering the physical and mental health of warehouse employees.

The Smart Fashion Picker addresses the pain point of transformation within warehouse automation. The need arises from the notion that the warehouse sector is quite late to automation, compared to other industries, and is now looking at a rapid transition to modern processes. Transformation is greatly needed since the efficiency of piece picking in warehouses plays a key role in creating a frictionless course of the logistics to follow.

The Smart Fashion Picker’s name is derived from its function – the cobot can pick a large variety of fashion items, which are placed in protective wrapping, straight from a cart or bin. The vision sensors, motion and task planning algorithms help the cobot to calculate what to pick next, as well as how to pick and place the item accurately into the next bin, plus it can easily detect when the bin is empty or filled.

“We’re super excited to introduce this product to the wider market after successful implementation with our initial customers. It has proven to deliver steady, reliable performance with the throughput necessary to be relevant in a warehouse whilst it is able to cope with the often-changing large product ranges that are typical for the industry. This product is an important step in our master plan to reduce repetitive and harmful work in warehouses around the globe.” – Johan Jardenvall, CEO of Smart Robotics.

Picking items in warehouses is a repetitive process that’s hard-wearing on the people who manually pick and place items. Automating thus enables warehouse employees to tend to the robotised systems, rather than wearing themselves out by picking and sorting items.

The cobot is capable of handling items at a pace that matches human pickers, requiring very little oversight. The system ensures reliable and uninterrupted operation and doesn’t require any special training from its operators. Not to mention, it can safely be managed by people of all skill levels.

In addition, the Smart Fashion Picker is smarter in its ability to adapt with changing circumstances around it, such as changes in assortment, how the cobot interacts with people moving around it, etc. As such, the Smart Fashion Picker is capable of working in the real world of warehouses, instead of a predefined, coded, environment.

Smart Robotics has been developing picking applications based on cobots, since 2017, and is confident that the Smart Fashion Picker will help ensure more reliable capacity in highly demanding logistics. This launch is a great achievement in Smart Robotics’ continuity of improving their cobot designs. The Smart Fashion Picker is but one of the many improvements Smart Robotics has in the pipeline to make warehouse automation more versatile and dynamic in a highly performant logistics industry.

Universal Robots unveils enhanced cobot

Posted on by David Priestman

Universal Robots (UR) is launching an enhanced version of its best-selling robot – UR10e – with an increased payload of 12.5kg, creating new possibilities for applications such as palletising, machine tending, and packaging. The robot’s price remains unchanged. “Universal Robots is committed to continuous improvement based on meaningful conversations with customers and our ability to address critical market opportunities. Our customers have already deployed UR cobots on a wide variety of palletising applications. Over time, they have identified opportunities to utilise our UR10e cobot in handling tasks with heavier items,” says Kim Povlsen, President of Universal Robots.

“In response to this demand, we have enhanced the UR10e to support greater payloads, providing customers with exciting new deployment capabilities.

”The enhanced UR10e retains the small footprint, intuitive programming experience, uncompromising repeatability, commitment to quality, and trusted performance that Universal Robots customers have come to expect, but its increased payload capacity means that users can now do more:

  • The UR10e can now be used in palletising applications with cartons weighing up to 10kg and a 2.5kg gripper
  • The UR10e is now more versatile for other material handling tasks, too, such as loading and unloading heavier workpieces in machine tending deployments and packaging of heavy items
  • The enhanced UR10e’s greater payload takes more weight from the hands and shoulders of humans, leading to improved ergonomics and working conditions. With overexertion and repetitive motion accounting for an estimated 24% and 8% of workplace injuries respectively in the US alone, this provides significant relief to human workers

“Humans are not designed to lift heavy goods repeatedly, but our cobots handle these tasks with ease. By taking over unergonomic activities, UR cobots boost productivity, improve product quality, and help businesses rethink how to best use the creative and problem-solving abilities of their workforce –all while keeping people safe,” says Kim Povlsen.

Feedback from UR partners has been extremely positive; MBO Postpress Solutions in Germany has integrated the UR10e as part of its CoBo-Stack stacking cobot. “Increasing the payload of the UR10e will make our MBO CoBo-Stack much more profitable for our customers by expanding their application possibilities to include larger packages and heavier products, such as perfect bound or saddle stitched catalogues and brochures,” says Sebastian König, Head of Research & Development at MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH.

In addition, the updated UR10e also provides plug-and-play compatibility with products from Universal Robots’ UR+ ecosystem of hardware and software peripherals, ensuring that users can quickly and easily get started with collaborative applications.

Nicolas Lauzier, Senior Product Manager at Robotiq comments: “The greater payload of UR10e makes a big difference to palletising applications by enabling users to handle loads up to 12.5kg in weight. And with 25% greater automation potential, it also means that the UR10e can help whenever there is a single line that needs to palletise a wide range of products of different weights.”

Orders can be placed with UR distributors globally now, with shipments of the new UR10e scheduled to start in the second half of June 2021.

 

 

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