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Tag: robotics

Caja Robotics and Fives Partner to Tackle Europe

Posted on by David Priestman

Caja Robotics, a leading provider of robotic and flexible goods-to-person solutions in fulfilment, engages in a close cooperation with Fives, one of the world’s leading provider and integrator of advanced material handling and smart automation solutions. Through the mutual exchange of know-how and technical expertise as well as a deep understanding of customer needs and market demands, both companies will strengthen their position as key players in warehouse automation.

Caja Robotics’ solution is complementary to Fives’ technology portfolio and will allow Fives to expand its offering in piece picking and to address the apparel and footwear sector to help its customers meet the challenges of omnichannel automation, while giving Caja Robotics the extra boost needed to tackle the Southern European markets where Fives demonstrates leading positions.

Caja Robotics has developed a solution for the flexible and scalable automation of warehouse logistics operations, which combines powerful robots, intelligently planned picking stations and powerful, AI-supported software. Controlled by Caja’s cloud-based advanced fleet management, the robots move cartons and bins between the picking stations and the shelves and thus constantly optimise goods management and the entire warehouse operation. Caja’s state-of-the-art warehouse technology can be easily adapted to the existing warehouse structure, could readapt later with the changing needs, and is flexible enough to handle peaks in orders.

The solution is particularly fitted for the specific requirements of industries with fluctuating throughput figures, such as e-commerce and retail logistics. The cooperation with Fives brings great potential for synergy effects for both companies.

“Automated warehouses are a competitive advantage for mastering the challenges of the future. Our customers also see it that way, which is why we want to proactively develop solutions for their requirements together with Caja Robotics,” explains Massimiliano Fochetti, Global EVP Sales and Marketing for Fives’ Smart Automation Solutions Division.

“We are glad to have found a partner in Fives who attaches great importance to further developing our solution together with us. At the same time, we benefit from Fives’ sales strength. This is essential for our expansion on the European market”, emphasizes Ilan Cohen, Chairman and CEO of Caja Robotics. A particular advantage of the cooperation is Fives’ extensive in-house experience and resources, which enable Caja Robotics to tailor its solution to the requirements of a wide range of customers and target industries.

HAI Robotics attracts US$100 in financing

Posted on by David Priestman

HAI Robotics, a pioneer in Autonomous Case-handling Robot (ACR) systems for warehouse logistics, has received over US$100 million in a D+ round of financing. The lead investor is Capital Today, and co-investors include a top US dollar fund and existing shareholders including 5Y Capital, Source Code Capital, Sequoia Capital and 01VC.

This is the third round of financing it has obtained within the past 12 months.

Richie Chen, the company’s founder and CEO, said: “This round of financing will be spent on stepping up the R&D of warehousing logistics robotic systems and on global business expansion, to provide more efficient, intelligent and flexible products to power every warehouse with robots to address labour shortage and cope with the challenges brought by the aging population.”

Founded in 2016, HAI Robotics now has more than 500 projects globally and has offices in the US, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, serving customers from more than 30 countries and regions.

In an effort to make its warehouse automation solutions easily accessible to worldwide business operators, it has paired up with leading system integrators and players in the supply chain, such as MUJIN, MHS, BPS Global, Savoye, Zion Solutions Groups, Tompkins Robotics, Storage Solutions, as well as UK-based Invar System and Greece-based Voyatzoglou Systems.

In December 2021, the company opened its first demo centre in Silicon Valley, the US. The ACR system was presented for the first time in Europe by Savoye at Log!Ville, a demonstration centre that promotes innovative logistics solutions in Belgium. In March 2022, the first demo centre in Asia opened in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

 

BotsAndUs releases “seminal” white paper

Posted on by David Priestman

“The use of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies allows warehouses to become better at managing and performing a multitude of tasks, improve the operational efficiency by huge margins. They have real-time data transfer, flexible communication, and Big Data analytics. These, along with the cloud-based solution, enable automated, sophisticated, and agent-based control.”

These are the insights shared by British AI, Data and Robotics company BotsAndUs in its seminal White Paper –  Robotics And Automation: A Revolution In Logistics And Warehouse Management – that clearly lays out the business case for the use of AI and robotics solutions in logistics and warehouse management.  As the industry knows at a great cost, limited visibility of the goods’ journey affects every step and stakeholder within the supply chain. Robotics and AI introduce a total visibility of the good’s journey, together with cost-efficiencies, improvements in processes and optimisation of operations.

In recent years, the logistics and warehouse markets have experienced unprecedented growth. This was mostly driven by the surge in e-Commerce in response to the pandemic and restrictions, as well as by the industry’s need for efficient warehousing, inventory management and real time data to deliver efficiencies and cost savings. Across the supply chain there are challenges in stock changes, shortages in workforce, issues with deliveries and a rise in overall costs. In addition, billions of pounds are lost annually due to the lack of real time data on warehouse operations and crucial logistics nodes.

Coupled with other major concerns that include the ability to quickly identify and act on problems in the warehouse, logistics and wider supply chain early on, it is easy to see why the industry is looking for solutions.

BotsAndUs is a London-based data-driven technology company using artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and robotics. It is transforming the logistics industry through automation and real time digitisation of assets. Its White Paper explains the technology and allays the concerns – and myths – that are worrying operators of logistics and warehouses in the UK.

Oana Jinga, BotsAndUs Co-Founder commented on the White Paper, saying: “The release of our White Paper – Robotics And Automation: A Revolution In Logistics And Warehouse Management – coincides with an increased demand from the industry for practical and cost-effective solutions. At first glance, it would appear that the only way for companies to ease these pressures will be to introduce big changes to the way they operate along the supply chains.

“However, we know that automation in logistics and warehousing present immediate solutions and immense opportunities for early adopters in terms of more efficient processes and space optimisation, regardless of the size of their operations.”

Andrei Danescu, CEO and Co-founder continued: “At BotsAndUs, we are pioneers in this industry and we are building the next generation of AI and robotics technology to help organisations harness the power of real-time data and become more efficient in driving their operations. We have developed autonomous technology that works alongside logistics and warehouse employees. The technology focuses on data capturing and automation through fleets of autonomous robots that scan the entire warehouse, building up data for a digital twin for real-time analysis and insights on storage of goods in warehouse space.

“This then feeds into optimisation programmes. There is no workflow disruption at any stage. The data-gathering robot accelerates productivity, reduces unnecessary time spent processing and tracking and allows businesses to drive better business decisions.”

The White Paper features a clear explanation of this technology and how it can be delivered across the logistics and warehouse operations. The White Paper may be collected/retrieved from the BotsAndUs stand #8045 at Multimodal.

BotsAndUs uses artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and robotics to transform the logistics industry through automation and real time digitisation of assets. Founded in 2015, its state-of-the-art robotics and AI products combine social sciences with human-centred design and cutting-edge engineering. Mim, its fully autonomous mobile and modular robot measures, tracks and finds goods across warehouses without workflow disruption and provides real time data at every stage of the process.

inVia Robotics wins innovation award

Posted on by David Priestman

inVia Robotics – a leader in eCommerce fulfilment automation systems – has been awarded this year’s Best Practices Technology Innovation Leadership Award in the North American goods-to-person robotics market by Frost & Sullivan, a leading third-party research and consulting firm.

inVia’s true robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model beat out category competitors as it provides retailers and 3PLs with a flexible, cost-effective solution that dramatically increases productivity in existing facilities. The RaaS system allows customers to pay for productivity of inVia robots and software versus competitors who lease or sell robots. The subscription service covers all system updates and includes 24/7 monitoring and support through inVia’s Robotics Operation Center (ROC).

A team of robotics experts is dedicated to each customer to oversee fulfilment operations and troubleshoot any problems, often fixing them before they are even visible. This model democratises automation, making it available as an operating expense to businesses of all sizes, versus traditional equipment that was capital-intensive and expensive.

“We’re honoured to receive this recognition and award for our technology that is solving the pressing issues facing warehouse employees and businesses on a daily basis,” says Lior Elazary, CEO and Co-Founder of inVia. “We recognise that eCommerce demand is continuing to rise and warehouse workers are still facing immense pressures to fulfil orders quickly. Our mission is deeply rooted in creating an environment where people can do fulfilling work and in order for us to ensure this happens, we are committed to improving the technological offerings that our customers require.”

“Frost & Sullivan applauds inVia for maximising worker productivity and providing eCommerce organisations with an attainable entry point to introduce autonomous mobile robots and the PickerWall into their businesses,” says Sankara Narayanan,  Industry Principal at Frost & Sullivan. “The company’s RaaS model, ROC, and quick deployment further enhance its customer value proposition.”

A key differentiator in receiving the award was the inVia PickerWall, as it demonstrates inVia’s unique workflow that removes interdependencies between robots and people and subsequently unleashes productivity rates, at a time when warehouse labour is hard to hire. The inVia PickerWall helps companies manage higher order volumes without having to increase labour enabling eCommerce warehouses to be 10 times more productive.

Most importantly, inVia PickerWall leverages the strengths of both people and robots. Robots work non-stop doing repetitive tasks like travelling and picking. People are allowed to do higher order tasks like sortation and work on a variety of tasks in bursts. Workers enjoy more stimulating working conditions and businesses enjoy consistently meeting service level agreements (SLAs) without dips in productivity.

inVia Picker robots were also recognised by Frost & Sullivan as solving one of the most challenging problems in the e-Commerce space; quick and easy access to a wide variety of stock keeping units (SKUs). E-Commerce warehouses are often 250,000 sq ft, comparable to three football fields – and may have 100,000 SKUs distributed across the warehouse. The robots are completely autonomous and eliminate the need for people to travel across the facility to retrieve inventory and deliver it to the packing station.

Additionally, inVia Pickers are mobile, unlike traditional shuttle systems, and can be moved to work in different zones or in other locations. This eliminates the need for reengineering facilities, allowing inVia to adapt to different environments.

The Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies across the globe for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. inVia was awarded based on its commitment to innovation, creativity, and application diversity that meet ever-evolving customer needs.

 

Körber and Attabotics sign strategic partnership

Posted on by David Priestman

The international technology group Körber is entering into a strategic partnership with the Canadian robotics company Attabotics. In the future, Körber is to equip European companies with Attabotics’ 3D automated storage and retrieval technology that offers efficient order picking, including sequencing and buffering, all within the footprint of the ultra-high density storage structure. In the US and Canada, the technology has already been successfully implemented at numerous companies in the e-commerce industry.

The Körber Business Area Supply Chain Automation is not only a technological pioneer itself but is also always on the lookout for innovative partners. An innovative partner has been found with Attabotics, which was founded in 2016. Moving forward, both parties want to jointly support European e-commerce companies to overcome the challenges of order fulfilment. Körber will be a reseller, integrator, and implementation partner for the Attabotics solution in most of Europe.

The Attabotics solution is based on a vertical, very space-saving grid structure. Products are stored in square bins (571 x 571 mm inside). Robots can travel on top of the grid, underneath the grid and vertically through the down shafts to store or retrieve totes and transport them to the integrated workstations. This unique architecture increases flexibility and speed of the processes in warehouses immensely.

Customers with fulfilment operations face more and more challenges. Their business is growing rapidly, end-customer requirements are getting more and more complicated, and there is a significant shortage of labour in the market.

The Attabotics solution addresses these challenges. It offers class leading storage density, whilst still offering direct access to every product. It enables high picking speeds, has built-in sequencing and can handle short response times.

“I had this crazy idea of reconfiguring warehouse space after watching a documentary about how leaf cutter ants access their colonies vertically. A 3D system just makes sense,” says Scott Gravelle, CEO and founder of Attabotics. “We are very pleased with this partnership. Koerber’s strong expertise and presence in Europe is very complimentary to Attabotics and will offer customers a trusted partner for their operations.”

Michiel Veenman, Vice President Körber Fulfillment Solutions at the Körber Business Area Supply Chain Automation, adds: “Flexibility, responsiveness and performance are essential for today’s fulfilment operations. We believe that the Attabotics solution offers an especially strong combination of characteristics that was not yet available on the European market. With Attabotics technology, Körber can now offer our customers the next step in automation.”

 

 

 

Caja and Hörmann Logistik announce partnership

Posted on by David Priestman

Caja Robotics, a leader in robotic and flexible goods-to-person solutions for order fulfilment, and Hörmann Logistik, a leading German-based logistics integrator for innovative warehouse logistics solutions, have announced a new partnership.

The partnership is focusing on close cooperation in offering and implementing warehouse solutions starting with the German, Austrian and Swiss markets. With access to the innovative and smart warehouse technology by Caja Robotics, Hörmann Logistik is now able to enhance its offering portfolio to customers.

Caja Robotics’ solutions are designed to serve the special needs of most efficient and scalable warehousing operations. One of the key benefits is that the Caja solution is very flexible, scalable while maintaining high throughput. It can be easily implemented and adapts itself to the warehouse, its structures and equipment. Therefore, brownfield and dynamically growing warehouses could benefit from the solution.

Caja’s flexible systems have proven their benefits for key verticals such as fashion, e-grocery, industrial and logistics service providers (3PL), offering support for critical activities such as e-commerce and omnichannel logistics. The smart warehouse technology easily adapts to existing infrastructure and is flexible enough to handle peaks in sales. Caja’s fulfilment system consists of the company’s own software, specialized robots, and user-friendly workstations. With Caja’s advanced AI-powered software, the robots move bins between workstations and inventory, constantly optimizing goods management and the overall warehouse operation.

Oliver Vujčić, Managing Director of Hörmann Logistik, commented the new partnership: “Our new partnership with Caja Robotics solutions fits perfectly into our ‘Robotic-Driven Dynamics’ strategy. Considering the growing demand of our customers for easy, flexible and scalable warehousing solutions, we are very happy to add this flexible and modular robotic solution in our robotic solutions portfolio. Hörmann Logistik is well-known for selecting the best technological solution to meet the customer’s needs.

We are convinced of the benefits and performance of Caja Robotics’ solutions, so that we are very much looking forward to generating traction.”

Hanna Yanovsky, General Manager & CRO at Caja Robotics, regards the cooperation with Hörmann as an important milestone for Caja’s expansion in Europe: “Hörmann Logistik’s deep expertise in designing warehouse solutions in demanding environments. Their strong and extensive sales network and professional engineering services will make sure that our innovative and smart technology will find its way to the market in the DACH countries and bring its benefits to the customers. The cooperation will also leverage both parties’ capabilities. We are excited about the partnership and the opportunities to come.”

Addverb makes senior EMEA appointment

Posted on by David Priestman

Addverb Technologies, a leading robotics company in fixed and flexible automation, has announced a key appointment in the international leadership team to accelerate its global expansion and enhance competitive positioning. The company has appointed Pieter Feenstra as the CEO of the EMEA region. This hire comes amongst Addverb’s recent global expansion across US and Europe markets. Feenstra will be formally introduced as the new CEO of Addverb’s EMEA region at LogiMAT 2022.

“We are excited and committed to leading warehouse innovation on a global scale,” says Sangeet Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Addverb. ” We are proud to welcome Pieter as CEO of EMEA region. Under his leadership we will serve our customer in the region in the right way. His thought leadership and rich experience will help us build a strong team.”

Feenstra has a proven track record of project-driven warehouse automation business in different parts of Europe, Australia, India and other parts of Asia and the United States. With nearly 30 years of experience in supply chain automation, alongside his strong aptitude for business growth and automation, he is well-equipped to grow the business for Addverb in EMEA.

”Addverb is uniquely positioned due to the fact that they have both fixed as well as mobile robotic solutions, all backed up by a strong software suite”, says Feenstra. “I think the more traditional types of automation will remain important and they have their place, but to be able to complement that with modern mobile robotic solutions is key and that is exactly the reason why I am very excited to be part of the Addverb family.”

Prior to joining Addverb, Feenstra was the CEO of Supply Chain Automation North America for Körber. Before his time with Körber, he spent 20 years in various executive roles for Swisslog across the world.

similar news

Addverb’s shuttle system optimises delivery demands

 

 

EFFIMAT brings SINA to LogiMAT 2022

Posted on by David Priestman

EFFIMAT is bringing its SINA automated solution to life once again together with its German partner Ecosphere Intralogistics at LogiMAT 2022 in Stuttgart.

SINA – Smart kitting solution for Intralogstics Automation – a solution that automates the intralogistics and material handling processes, in for example production, from inbound to delivered kitted items directly at the production line.

The solution can also be applied to 3PL and e-commerce businesses by automating the order handling process. This makes companies able to operate flexibly 24/7 at a low picking cost.

SINA has its origin in EFFIMAT Automated which work with the thought of connecting various robotics solution, matching the customer’s needs. SINA became the result of eight partners coming together with some of the absolute best solutions within each of their product range and of course the knowledge of integration.

SINA is built around the EffiMat, which is a tote-based solution for storage and handling of items. The patented technology within the EffiMat ensures fast picking and the design allows picking processes to be more dynamic and efficient as five totes are presented in every picking cycle. This technology and design make EffiMat the optimal goods-to-robot solution.

Optimal components

To automate the picking and kitting process the most essential components was added. In the front the UR10e collaborative robot is placed to secure efficient picking. With its payload of 12.5kg and large reach of up to 1,300mm and high level of flexibility the UR10e is perfect for the SINA setup.

Attached to UR10e is the Piab MX suction cup. This suction cup is a real all-rounder and is ideal for holding all products, regardless of what material the product is made of or what surface and finish is has. To ensure picking accuracy the AI-based robobrain.vision from robominds has been added.

For safe transport of the kitted items to production line, the AMR MiR250 is used together with the TR125 top module from ROEQ. The top module can recognize and precisely control the loading station via its WLAN-independent optical measuring system.

To make the SINA solution safe, the sBOT nanoScan3 from SICK is mounted on the solution to ensure that the speed of the solution reduces the closer an employee comes to the solution and stops entirely if the employee comes too close.

The intelligence behind SINA

Every solution like this needs a software to connect all the pieces. EFFIMAT Connected was developed for this exact purpose. With a simple interface the software connects all components to the EffiMat, making it a complete and efficient solution.

If needed EFFIMAT connected can be integrated with the customers ERP system, which enables seamless kitting and order handling.

Ecosphere Intralogistics has been the integration partner on the SINA project. It has been taking care of everything from plugging in the components to testing and optimising the entire SINA Solution. Ecosphere Intralogistics will be the EFFIMAT partner in Germany, who will take care of sales of SINA in the German region.

At LogiMAT 2022 in Stuttgart, the eight partners are once again coming together and EFFIMAT will together with Ecosphere Intralogistics be showcasing SINA. You will find SINA in hall 5 at booth F60 where it will showcase how kitting can be handled. Further EFFIMAT and Ecosphere Intralogistics is bringing something new – an updated, even better SINA.

 

IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: robobrain.NEUROS

Posted on by David Priestman

Continuing our product-by-product examination of each of the IFOY Award nominated finalists ahead of the winners announcement at BMW World on 30th June, we look at robobrain.NEUROS, the AI-based robotics operating system from robominds.

IFOY category: Robot

robobrain.NEUROS: running intelligent robotics. The latest coup of the Munich robot company robominds is the neural robot operating system for intelligent robotics and a platform for the next generation of automation.

NEUROS – optimised for robobrain, the industrial PC and as a platform for all robots, grippers and other kinematics – creates an automation environment that is user-centric and easy-to-use: for application scenarios of any industry and company size.

Description

robobrain.NEUROS (= Neural Robotic Operating System) is the industrialised operating system for intelligent robotics. The innovative basic principle is that every feature of the robotic components becomes a skill on the industrialised OS – easily obtainable via the robominds Skill Store, adaptable to individual needs or self-developable thanks to the robominds Skill SDK.

In many ways, robobrain.NEUROS helps its users to improve their economic efficiency and saving in resources. Parameterising and configuring instead of programming: the profitability of this simplified adaptation of own processes and hardware is plain to see. Because the process is at the centre and provides the intelligence itself, it remains flexible and scalable to further installations. This ensures investments and allows responses to changed products and production processes.

Those who want to automate their process, either can reach for the existing skill or optimise it to their own requirements. Alternatively, one can develop a skill entirely on its own – thanks to the numerous integrated assistants and wizards based on a framework that already has many functions. When the new or adapted skills are trained, the patented robominds-process impresses once again with its resource savings: Thanks to the unique physics simulation environment, the most complex AI models can be trained within a few hours – without humans or machines having to be involved in the physical learning process.

CLICK HERE to watch a video of robobrain.NEUROS

IFOY TEST REPORT

The Munich-based robotics company robominds, founded in 2016, has reached the IFOY AWARD final with its neural robot operating system “robobrain.NEUROS”. Different skills can be uploaded to the software platform, for example a palletising application for intralogistics.

One platform, many applications, independent of components – this is how robominds comes to Dortmund. Optimised for the industrial PC robobrain and as a platform for all robots, grippers and other kinematics, NEUROS (Neural Robotic Operating System) creates an automation environment that is user-centric and easy to operate – for scenarios of any industry and company size. On the industrialised operating system, every function of the robotic components becomes a skill. The modular principle applies to both the software and the hardware. One skill, for example, is order picking. Several applications can be shown in the test setup: Palletising, box recognition, etc.

One does not see oneself as a system integrator, but as a problem solver. So the focus is not on the gripper itself, but always on the application. The skills, in turn, are easy to obtain: via the robominds Skill Store, individually adaptable or to develop yourself thanks to the robominds Skill Software Development Kit (SDK). There are vision skills (such as item picking or bin picking), control skills for the simple programming of robots or the fleet management of several robot cells, or driver skills for various robots, grippers, cameras, etc.

In times of shorter product life cycles and production quantities up to batch size 1, flexible processes place ever new demands on production and material flow for all companies. That’s why the processes are always coming to the fore – the process is actually the core of modern production. And this is where robobrain.NEUROS comes into the game: Valuable process knowledge becomes more easily accessible through the robot operating system. At the same time, data security, data integrity and trusted AI are maintained through adherence to European standards, which is essential in the digital world and especially in the production environment.

The transformation towards adaptive processes affects just about all processes in the production of a material or goods flow. In robotics in particular, the potential for flexible applications is being exploited, which are thus becoming increasingly diversified and finding their way into different environments and applications. Especially the new fields of robotics, for example logistics or medicine, are growing the fastest – and so is the market potential for NEUROS. robobrain.NEUROS is already being used by corporations in various industries, especially in the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, and intralogistics.

Flexible systems independent of hardware: This means that standard components can be used and the process adapted over their lifetime. This means that applications can not only be implemented cost-efficiently, but also that investments can be safeguarded for the future. The same advantages also apply to the areas of commissioning and operational capability – uncomplicated, fast and far-reaching thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).

IFOY Test Verdict:

The robobrain.NEUROS neural robot operating system can serve as a platform for the next generation of automation in logistics. It can be used to (create) an automation environment that is easy to use, economical and can save resources.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: The manufacturer-neutral neural robot operating system for intelligent robotics NEUROS aims to provide flexible robot processes for material flow and manufacturing as an answer to ever shorter product cycles and small series production. In this context, NEUROS addresses not only a wide variety of logistical processes in the areas of warehousing, pharmaceuticals and food, but also in production intralogistics through to assembly skills. The very high market relevance results from the breadth of applications and supported robot systems and the self-image as a technology supplier for system integrators.

Customer benefit: The user benefits from the process knowledge encapsulated in reusable robot skills, which are purchased instead of developed for individual automation systems in the Skill Store, as well as parameterised and configured instead of programmed. This enables new processes to be set up quickly and existing hardware to be used flexibly for a wide range of tasks in the long term. Due to its manufacturer-independent applicability, the Skill-Store also offers developers an ecosystem for marketing new capabilities.

Novelty: Open robot operating systems with a skill library have been realised in part before (e.g. ROS), but not consistently with the technical quality standards as with NEUROS. The profound support of AI methods should be emphasised as an innovation. Thanks to a physics simulation, new robot skills can be developed and trained in a few hours without real data. At the same time, the operation always remains clear and controllable. Another special feature is the quality assurance of software contributions from external developers and the assurance of Trusted AI according to European standards.

Functionality / type of implementation: The test robots reliably demonstrated a wide variety of logistical tasks such as model-free product separation, palletising of packages or sorting of test tubes. The special focus on stability, function and safety of the overall system is also reflected in the use of the specially developed AI industrial PC robobrain. In addition, NEUROS implements the specifics of AI-based solutions in an expedient, market-oriented and application-oriented manner, including simulation-based training methods, useful software tools, generic basic functions and the inclusion of hardware design. The system is modular and open to new technologies.

Verdict: The market relevance of a manufacturer-neutral and reliable robotics operating system with native support for AI-based processes can be classified as very high. Reusable robot skills, the possibility of using data and experience across manufacturer boundaries, and Trusted AI from Germany offer customers innovative added value. Even if not all ideas are entirely new, their high-quality implementation in NEUROS represents a new quality.

market relevance ++
customer benefit ++
novelty +
functionality / type of implementation ++
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about robobrain.NEUROS.

 

 

MAN trials automation with Magazino robot

Posted on by David Priestman

The robotics company Magazino has acquired MAN as a customer for a pilot project with its SOTO mobile robot. SOTO automates the material supply between the warehouse and the assembly line, by handling and transporting small load carriers (KLT) completely autonomously. The pilot operation started at MAN’s Nuremberg, Germany site in the engine production for trucks, and offers both sides the opportunity to gain experiences with the robot for a future live operation.

MAN and Magazino have had a close development partnership in recent years. Among other things, hardware and software, as well as environment requirements for a live operation in an industrial plant were defined. The pilot project is now scheduled to run for around one year and lays the foundation for the implementation of an entire fleet of SOTO robots in 2023.

Dr Ingo Essel, Plant Manager Nuremberg, says: “We want to set up our logistics efficiently and effectively for the future and use the potential of digitalisation and automation in the process. With the help of SOTO, the entire delivery process can be fully automated, from depalletising in the automated small parts warehouse to provisioning in assembly.

“This way, we are pushing the topic of “advanced robotics” and building a smart supply chain in the interaction of humans and robots. We are pleased to have found a partner in Magazino who can optimally serve our high demands for automation in factory logistics and provide a flexible and scalable automation concept.”

Paul Seluga, Magazino’s Project Manager for the pilot project with MAN, describes the target process as follows: “The robot SOTO picks up the KLTs from the handover-rack of the automatic small parts warehouse and brings up to 18 KLTs simultaneously to the production line. There, SOTO places the KLTs, which can weigh up to 20kg, into common flow racks. On the back of these racks, the workers can easily access the individual parts for assembly. SOTO can also pick up empty KLTs in the process and bring them to the central collection point.”

Common VDA KLT formats up to a size of 600mm x 400mm x 280mm are used in the Nuremberg plant. The robot’s adaptive gripper automatically adjusts to the corresponding KLT size and flexibly moves to the different chutes of the transfer racks. Machine-readable codes on the racks as well as barcode labels on the containers help the robot to identify them. In future, the robot will obtain the material transport requests from the warehouse management system.

While assembly lines in the manufacturing industry are already highly automated and optimised, the supply of replenishments is still mainly done manually. Previous solutions such as tugger trains or simple automated guided vehicles (AGVs) cannot fully automate the process, as manual labour is required for loading and unloading the KLTs into racks.

SOTO combines these elementary logistical processes in a single, fully autonomous solution: the pick-up of different KLTs from a warehouse, the autonomous transport of several KLTs through the production, and the put-down of KLTs into flow racks close to the production line. The collection of empties as well as the rotation of small load carriers by 90° to 180° are also part of its features. The automation and combination of all these process steps clearly sets SOTO apart in the market and, for the first time, enables true end-to-end automation in the material supply.

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