Optimization evaluates multiple paths, sequences, poses, end-of-arm tool rotations, and interlocks for robots within a workcell. Source: Realtime Robotics.

Realtime Robotics, a leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, last week named industry veteran Ville Lehtonen as its vice president of product.

Lehtonen brings experience in technology, product, and management, said Realtime Robotics. He most recently served as head of product at Pickle Robot Co., which he guided to a leadership position in the truck and container loading and unloading industry.

“Ville’s track record speaks for itself, and we’re confident he will be an excellent addition to the team,” said Kevin Carlin, chief commercial officer at Realtime Robotics.

“Our Optimization solution is already helping several manufacturing companies to reduce cycle times and improve productivity,” Carlin stated. “With Ville’s expertise, we can evolve to meet additional customer needs and expand its adoption throughout the manufacturing and logistics industries.”

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Lehtonen expects ‘a massive gear change’

Prior to Pickle, Lehtonen was head of product for HighRes Biosolutions, a laboratory automation software company, and he was a co-founder and CEO of LabMinds Ltd., a laboratory automation company.

Lehtonen holds a BS and an MS in computer science from the Helsinki University of Technology and an MBA from Oxford University.

Ville Lehtonen. Source: LinkedIn

“I look forward to helping already highly automated production lines become even more efficient and cost-effective with the use of Realtime’s Optimization technology,” he said. “I am confident we can help manufacturers save tens of thousands of hours on their industrial robotics projects.”

“What Realtime is doing is a massive gear change in deploying automation,” Lehtonen added. “While this will be incredibly helpful for current manufacturers, the most exciting opportunities come from unlocking the economics for companies operating on a far smaller scale than the heavy users of robots. Realtime’s technology stack also can do for kinematics what real-time object-detection frameworks like YOLO [You Only Look Once] have done for computer vision, further lowering the barriers to entry in the robotics space.”

About Realtime Robotics

Boston-based Realtime Robotics said its technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company claimed that its systems expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived.

Realtime said its Optimization product uses a combination of proprietary software and experienced robotics and application engineering insights to drastically improve a manufacturer’s overall productivity. The system analyzes a customer’s existing digital twin, identifying bottleneck areas and recommending improvements based on desired parameters. 

Optimization can do all of this without interfering with ongoing production efforts, said Realtime Robotics.

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Renesas said the RZ/T2H MPU provides powerful application processing and fast real-time control. | Source: Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corp. this week launched the RZ/T2H, its highest-performance microprocessor for industrial equipment. Thanks to its powerful application processing and real-time performance, the RZ/T2H is capable of high-speed, high-precision control of industrial robot motors for up to nine axes, the company said.

As demand grows to augment scarce labor, manufacturers are deploying industrial automation such as vertically articulated robots and industrial controller equipment. Renesas claimed that the RZ/T2H microprocessor (MPU) combines all the functionality and performance needed for developing production applications.

Industrial systems traditionally required multiple MPUs or a combination of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to control these applications. However, the RZ/T2H MPU offers the same functionality on a single chip, said Renesas. This can reduce the number of components and save time and cost of FPGA program development.

The MPU supports a variety of network communications including Industrial Ethernet on a single chip. It targets industrial controller equipment such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), motion controllers, distributed control systems (DCSs), and computerized numerical controls (CNCs).

“We have enjoyed outstanding market success with RZ/T2M and RZ/T2L,” said Daryl Khoo, the vice president of the Embedded Processing 1st Business Division at Renesas. “The RZ/T2H builds on that momentum, allowing our industrial customers to leverage their existing design assets while addressing even more innovative, demanding industrial motor control and Linux applications. Our customers have been particularly impressed that the RZ/T2H enables them to implement a nine-axis motor control all on just one chip.”

A global provider of microcontrollers, Renesas combines expertise in embedded processing, analog, power, and connectivity to deliver complete semiconductor solutions. The Tokyo-based company said its products accelerate time to market for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

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RZ/T2H can generate robot trajectories

The RZ/T2H is equipped with four Arm Cortex-A55 application CPUs with a maximum operating frequency of 1.2 GHz. For external memory, it supports 32-bit LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM. Two Cortex-R52 CPUs with a maximum operating frequency of 1 GHz handle the real-time processing, with each core equipped with a total of 576 KB of high-capacity tightly coupled memory (TCM).

This allows high CPU- and memory-intensive tasks such as running Linux applications, robot trajectory generation, and PLC sequence processing to be executed on a single chip. At the same time, the RZ/T2H can handle fast and precise real-time control such as motor control and Industrial Ethernet protocol processing, said Renesas.

The RZ/T2H can control up to nine axes including three-phase PWM timers, delta-sigma interfaces for measuring current values, and encoder interfaces. It supports A-format, EnDat, BiSS, Hyperface DSL, and FA-CODER.

In addition, the company placed peripheral functions for motor control  on a low-latency peripheral port (LLPP) bus of the Cortex-R52 real-time CPU core, allowing high-speed access from the CPU.

The RZ/T2H has four Ethernet ports, three Gigabit Ethernet MAC (GMAC), plus an Ethernet switch. It also supports EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, and the next-generation Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) standard.

The combination of these Ethernet switches and GMAC allows the MPU to support multiple Industrial Ethernet controllers and devices. Renesas said this allows the system to adapt to a wide range of controller requirements, such as upper-layer Ethernet communications.

Block diagram of new RZ/T2H SOC. Click here to enlarge. Source: Renesas

Renesas offers specialized boards and software

The RZ/T2H comes with the Renesas Flexible Software Package (FSP), the same as all Renesas MPUs, and a Linux package that comes with long-term support. An out-of-the-box, multi-axis, motor control evaluation system is available. It includes inverter boards for driving nine-axis motors, a multi-axis motor control software package, and Motion Utility Tool (a motor control software tool).

Renesas has also included sample protocols for industrial Ethernet and software PLC packages to kick-start system development.

The company offers a “9-axis Industrial Motor Control with Ethernet” solution that combines the RZ/T2H with numerous compatible devices such as the RV1S9231A IGBT Drive Photocoupler and RV1S9353A Optically Isolated Delta-Sigma Modulator.

It said the resulting products enable compatible devices to work together to bring optimized, low-risk designs to market faster. Renesas offers more than 400 of these combinations with a wide range of products from its portfolio.

The RZ/T2H is now available. Renesas said plans to release the new RZ/N2H device, which offers the same performance as the RZ/T2H in a smaller package, in the first quarter of 2025. It said this will be suitable for industrial controller equipment such as PLCs and motion controllers.

The RZ/T2H is managed under the Product Longevity Program (PLP) for industrial equipment that requires long life cycles.

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maxon’s new High Efficiency Joint HEJ 70-48-50 provides 50 Nm
and 28 rad/s at the joint. | Credit: maxon

maxon today launched its High Efficiency Joint (HEJ) 70-48-50, the newest addition to the company’s High Efficiency Robotic Joints portfolio. maxon said this advanced actuator sets new standards in torque density and efficiency. The HEJ 70-48-50 is designed for a variety of autonomous mobile robots that work in unstructured environments, including humanoids, quadrupeds, exoskeletons, and mobile manipulators.

The HEJ 70-48-50 delivers a peak torque of 50 Nm and reaches speeds up to 28 rad/s, all while maintaining a mass just above 1 kg. maxon said the compact design and high torque density make the HEJ 70-48-50 ideal for mobile manipulation tasks, offering roboticists a powerful yet lightweight solution.

“The HEJ 70 represents a significant leap forward in actuator technology for dynamic robotics,” said Stefan Müller, CTO, maxon. “By combining unmatched efficiency and systems integration with a lightweight and compact design, we’re enabling our customers to push the boundaries of what’s possible in autonomous mobile robots.”

maxon’s High Efficiency Joints combine torque-dense electric motors, planetary gears, electronics, sensing and support structures into highly compact, IP67-rated and EtherCAT-controlled robotic actuators. Integrated heat sinks and cross-roller bearings facilitate deep systems integration.

maxon is broadening the High Efficiency Joint platform. There are currently two systems available: The HEJ 90 (140 Nm, 2 kg) and HEJ 70 (50 Nm, 1 kg). | Credit: maxon

According to maxon, the control system can be configured flexibly and supports various topologies for impedance control of the joint. While the new HEJ 70-48-50 is well-suited for mobile manipulation or smaller robots, the larger HEJ 90-48-140 targets locomotion or propulsion systems. maxon said key actuator features for autonomous mobile robots are high robustness, low mechanical inertia, good backdriveability, and high efficiency.

These systems enable roboticists to create high-performing and reliable robots, following modern design principles dictated by deep reinforcement learning and related simulation approaches. maxon said fast-moving robotics companies should focus on their core robotics value drivers and challenges, while maxon handles key complexities typically associated with robotics actuators, such as high performance, reliability, supply chains, integration, and testing.

The HEJ 70-48-50 will begin shipping in early Q2 2025. Click here to find the full datasheet and learn more about how the HEJ 70-48-50 actuator can enhance your robotic applications.

maxon also recently released an ultra-compact, programmable multi-axis motion controller for up to six axes. The maxon MicroMACS6 master controller provides high performance motion control in a package just 55mm long, enhancing embedded design integration for robot and machine builders. Integration flexibility is achieved with communications interface options including USB, CANopen, and EtherCAT.

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The path toward general-purpose robots is being paved by software to accelerate application development. Flexiv last week launched Elements Series 3, the latest version of its adaptive robot control system to makes programming faster and easier.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said its engineers have simplified the user experience, focusing on human-centered design and semi-automated features.

Founded in 2016, Flexiv said it is dedicated to developing and manufacturing adaptive robots. The company said it has integrated industrial-grade force control, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to deliver “turn-key automation” that can enhance efficiency while reducing operational costs and environmental impact.

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Teach pendant plus simulation

Flexiv asserted that its new, ruggedized Teach Pendant and intuitive software allows programmers of any skill level to easily create and manage robotics applications, whether they’re in an office or on the production-line floor.

In addition, the Elements Studio 3D simulation tool allows users to design, test, and refine their applications before deploying them in the real world.

Fully compatible across PCs, the Teach Pendant, and all Flexiv robots, Elements Studio can reduce deployment time and minimize risk by allowing thorough testing in a virtual setting, claimed the company.

Source: Flexiv

Flexiv redesigns Motion Bar

As part of the newly released Elements hardware, the Motion Bar has also been redesigned. Based on user feedback, it now includes a status-indicator light and dedicated buttons for mode switching, Freedrive, and Jogging.

Flexiv said operators can use the Motion Bar independently or docked to the Teach Pendant for convenient robot control.

When coupled with the ability to build applications by physically moving a robot into position in Freedrive mode, the need for complex and time-consuming programming is removed. This hands-on approach means anyone can quickly and efficiently build, test, and perfect their application.

Source: Flexiv

Elements 3 supports more motion

Flexiv said it has enabled support for multiple external axes, bringing users seven-plus degrees of freedom (7+N DoF) motion control, making the software suitable for complex tasks involving dual-axis rotary platforms or linear guide rails.

Elements 3 also features additional enhanced drag-and-drop function blocks — known as primitives—to accelerate programming and application building. Flexiv recently helped a seafood producer develop a fish fillet-shaping application with its Rizon 4 collaborative robots.

The company said its updated hardware and software are fully compatible with all of its robots, including the newly released Moonlight Adaptive Parallel Robot.

Source: Flexiv

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A ‘humanoid for hospitals,’ Moxi has an arm for opening doors and operating elevators. Source: Diligent Robotics

As development continues on humanoid robots, one mobile robot is already at work in hospitals. Diligent Robotics Inc. today announced that its Moxi robot has completed 110,000 autonomous elevator rides at health systems across the U.S.

The mobile manipulator has a single arm for opening doors and pushing buttons to operate elevators. Moxi’s achievement marks a milestone in artificial intelligence-driven automation for unstructured healthcare environments, said the Austin, Texas-based company.

“Achieving autonomy in robotics, particularly in health care environments, is an incredible challenge,” stated Andrea Thomaz, CEO of Diligent Robotics and a 20-year AI veteran. “Navigating elevators seems simple, but the unpredictable nature of shared spaces, real-time changes, and the need for accuracy make it one of many hard tasks that humanoids deployed in human environments need to solve.”

“With Moxi, we’ve demonstrated the ability to integrate AI into environments where collaboration between people and robots is vital for success,” she added. “As of today, we are completing over 20,000 fully autonomous elevator rides each month, something none of our competitors are doing.”

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Moxi moves to greater autonomy

Founded in 2017, Diligent Robotics noted that it has integrated Moxi into existing healthcare workflows, such as delivering supplies and transporting laboratory specimens around the clock. The company said its robot has helped improve operational efficiency and enabled busy staffers to focus on patient care rather than routine transport tasks.

Diligent CEO Andrea Thomaz with Moxi. Source: Diligent Robotics

Diligent Robotics used “humans in the loop” to develop Moxi’s autonomy and ability to interact with elevators.

“There are two approaches: Waymo, which used its own drivers and did R&D until its product was fully autonomous, and Tesla, which got its product out in the wild with real customers and has increased autonomy with supervision over time,” Thomaz told The Robot Report. “We took the latter approach.”

“This milestone means we no longer need close human supervision, which is a significant one for mobile manipulation,” she said. “The number of rides per day really shows that we’ve gotten past R&D and are working in production.”

When it first deployed its robots, Diligent staffers supervised operations on site. They obtained labeled data for AI models, explained Thomaz. The company can now supervise its fleet of 100 robots in 20 sites remotely.

“A lot of our early partner hospitals got used to our staffers being around to do everything the robots would need,” Thomaz said. “In fact, it has been easier for hospitals taken live in the past few months, because they had fully autonomous robots from the start. For sites that were previously under human supervision, we went through a data-collection phase and asked the staff not to do anything.”

Moxi opens doors, a model for other actions 

How hard was it to get Moxi to operate elevators?

“They became a roadmap for autonomy,” replied Thomaz. “Nearly every delivery pass involves an elevator req, from the pharmacy or lab in the basement up to the patient wards. For the simplest elevator, you push a button and get on.”

“The most complex one in operation today, you have to scan a badge to activate the buttons and then push them,” she told The Robot Report. “There are a lot of patient floors that are secure. It’s a complex manipulation skill for a dual device, primarily because of the speed of swiping.”

By solving the problems of manipulating a variety of doors and elevators, Diligent Robotics is developing end-to-end action models.

“Our ability to develop models that are specific to these small skills is creating an infrastructure of training models that could then be applied to other skills,” Thomaz said. “They’re not large, general-purpose models, but we’re excited to have a fleet we can leverage to build foundation models.”

Complex environments still pose challenges

Moxi can communicate with people around it through its screen, shown here in idle mode. Source: Diligent Robotics

As environments with trained but busy personnel, a high degree of safety regulations, and the general public — some of whom are not well — hospitals are particularly challenging for robots.

“That’s why we treated this with white gloves; we’re not just dropping robots in to learn on their own,” noted Thomaz. “We spent two years deploying robots with people because of the sensitive environment and to get the robots to operate efficiently.”

For instance, she cited interventions where healthcare staffers push the emergency stop button and can manually move a robot out of the way for something like an urgent gurney. They sometimes forget to turn the robot back on so it can continue its mission.

“We’ve released a feature where the robot can ask on its screen for someone to un-e-stop it,” Thomaz said. “There are other environments, such as an elevator bay with six different cars and patients coming in and out, that are still complex.”

“Moxi also uses data to avoid routes or elevators that are always busy,” she said. “We collect that data and have preferred elevator bays for at night versus during the day.”

Diligent Robotics works to normalize robots 

With aging populations and workforce challenges, demand for automation is likely to grow, said Diligent Robotics. Moxi provides an example of how robots can address human needs, it said.

“I’ve been talking about Moxi as a ‘humanoid for healthcare.’ We’re doing the things that people are talking about what humanoids could do,” Thomaz said. “Bipedal locomotion isn’t the hardest part — it’s applicability of mobile manipulation. Most humanoids are still proofs of concept.”

“When I walk through hospitals where Moxi is deployed, it’s the first robot that many people have encountered,” she added. “Patients are getting used to seeing a future with robots.”

“Achieving full autonomy to enable hospital-wide transport tasks is just scratching the surface of what humanoid robots like Moxi will do in hospitals and beyond,” said Thomaz. “The knowledge and trust that we gain from healthcare settings will inform future product developments. We look forward to building humanoid social robots to collaborate and assist with caring for people in many different settings.”

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Silicon Sensing’s miniature CRM200 PinPoint gyro. | Source: Silicon Sensing Systems

Robotic missions to Earth’s moon are challenging enough, but motion control on the moons of Mars requires precision technology. Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd. has been contracted by the German Aerospace Centre to supply two miniature PinPoint gyros for use in the Martian Moons eXploration mission. The mission aims to send rovers to survey Deimos and Phobos. 

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) will use the company’s CRM200 gyros in the vehicle that will explore the larger of these moons, Phobos. There, this rover will collect surface samples. The set of PinPoint gyros will help detect unintended movement of the rover on the unknown surface.

Depending on the initial checkout of the drivetrain that includes the gyros, the team will activate an optional safety module in the software. This module will automatically prevent instability during drive sessions of the rover.

“PinPoint has a proven track record in space applications, but this will be a landmark use on a remarkable mission where this gyro’s reliability and endurance will be critical,” stated David Sommerville, the general manager of Silicon Sensing Systems. 

Founded in 1999, Silicon Sensing Systems engineers gyroscope and inertial systems. Jointly owned by Collins Aerospace and Sumitomo Precision Products, the company develops silicon, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based navigation and stabilization technology. 

Silicon Sensing said it has supplied millions of MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers to thousands of customers.

Silicon Sensing designs compact, robust gyros

Just the size of a fingernail, at approximately 5mm x 6mm (0.1 x 0.2 in.), PinPoint is the smallest gyro in Silicon Sensing’s MEMS product range. The company said it is a proven, low drift, single-axis, angular-rate sensor with many applications across diverse market sectors.

In combination, these robust sensors can precisely measure angular rate across multiple axes. This includes any combination of pitch, yaw, and roll – all while consuming very little power, according to Silicon Sensing.

As part of the rigorous selection process for this exploration program, PinPoint completed total ionizing dose (TID) testing at 17kRad radiation and proton tests (up to 68 MeV/proton). This testing demonstrated the gyro’s suitability for space requirements.

“We are also seeing increasing space-sector application for our latest tactical grade IMU [inertial measurement unit] — the DMU41 — which has recently been selected for a number of low-Earth orbit programs,” said Somerville. “This growing interest in our MEMS-based inertial sensors and systems reflects the potential of this technology, with its rugged reliability, compact size, and low power consumption, for the sector.”

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Mission gets ready for Martian moons

JAXA, the Japanese space agency, is leading the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. It will explore the two moons of Mars with contributions from NASA, ESA, CNES, and DLR. CNES, the French national space agency, and the DLR are jointly contributing a 25-kg (55.1 lb.) rover. 

Approximately one year after leaving Earth, the spacecraft will arrive in Martian space and enter into an orbit around the planet. It will then move into a quasi-satellite orbit (QSO) around Phobos to collect scientific data, drop the rover, and gather a sample of the moon’s surface.

After observation and sample collection, the spacecraft will return to Earth carrying the material gathered from Phobos.

The current schedule has a launch date in 2026, followed by a Martian orbit insertion in 2027. The team said it hopes the probe will return to Earth in 2031.

The MMX rover vehicle will eventually gather samples from the surface of one of Mars’ moons. | Source: Silicon Sensing Systems

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Field robotics is redefining industries with technologies that perform complex tasks in unstructured and often dynamic environments – out of the warehouse, facing the weather, and potentially working alongside the public.

Field robotics OEMs are tirelessly innovating solutions to address skilled labor gaps and improve efficiency and safety in a wide range of industries including; agriculture, mining, construction, and search and rescue.

Join the Celera Motion team on December 5, 2024 at 12 PM Eastern for a journey into the enduring the elements in extreme robotics where we can help you tackle the toughest of the tough conditions with precision and reliability including:

• Resistance to elements in extreme environments
• Precise measurements in challenging settings
• Reduced maintenance and downtime

Attendees can register for free here. In this webinar, you will:

• Learn how field robotics is transforming various industries by enabling complex operations in challenging and unpredictable environments
• Discover cutting-edge advancements made by field robotic OEMs to combat skilled labor shortages and improve operational efficiency across various sectors
• Learn how field robots endure harsh conditions, ensure data precision, and minimize downtime for reliable operations
• Explore Celera Motion’s innovative inductive encoders, critical for accurate measurement feedback, precision control, and reduced operational disruptions in extreme robotic applications

The webinar airs live at 12:00 PM Eastern on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Attendees can have their questions answered live, and the recording will be available on demand after the initial broadcast. Register now.

Meet the speakers

Jake Lantner – Application Engineer, Robotics & Automation, Novanta
Jake Lantner serves as the Application Engineer for Encoder Technologies within Novanta’s Robotics and Automation Division. With two years in this role, he specializes in integrating components for unique and demanding applications. Jake holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire. In his free time, he enjoys motorsports, mountain biking, and snowboarding.

Steve Crowe – Executive Editor, The Robot Report
Steve Crowe is Executive Editor of The Robot Report and chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and RoboBusiness. He is also co-host of The Robot Report Podcast, the top-rated podcast for the robotics industry. He joined WTWH Media in January 2018 after spending four-plus years as Managing Editor of Robotics Trends Media. He can be reached at scrowe@wtwhmedia.com

The post Enduring the elements: encoder solutions for extreme field robotics appeared first on The Robot Report.

New Project GR00T workflows and AI world model tools are intended to help developers of robot dexterity, control, manipulation, and mobility. Source: NVIDIA

NVIDIA Corp. today announced new artificial intelligence and simulation tools to accelerate development of robots including humanoids. Also at the Conference for Robotic Learning, Hugging Face Inc. and NVIDIA said they are combining their open-source AI and robotics efforts to accelerate research and development.

The tools include the generally available NVIDIA Isaac Lab robot learning framework and six new robot learning workflows for the Project GR00T initiative to accelerate humanoid development. They also include new world-model development tools for video data curation and processing, including the NVIDIA Cosmos tokenizer and NVIDIA NeMo Curator for video processing.

Hugging Face said its LeRobot open AI platform combined with NVIDIA AI, Omniverse and Isaac robotics technology will enable advances across industries including manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

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NVIDIA Isaac Lab to help train humanoids

Isaac Lab is an open-source robot learning framework built on NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform for developing OpenUSD applications for industrial digitalization and physical AI simulation. Developers can use Isaac Lab to train policies at scale for all types of robot movement, from collaborative robots and quadrupeds to humanoids, said NVIDIA.

The company said leading research entities, robotics manufacturers, and application developers around the world are using Isaac Lab. They include 1X, Agility Robotics, The AI Institute, Berkeley Humanoid, Boston Dynamics, Field AI, Fourier, Galbot, Mentee Robotics, Skild AI, Swiss-Mile, Unitree Robotics, and XPENG Robotics.

A guide to migrating from Isaac Gym is available online, and NVIDIA Isaac Lab 1. is available now on GitHub.

Project GR00T offers blueprints for general-purpose robots

Announced at the Graphics Processing Unit Technology Conference (GTC) in March, Project GR00T aims to develop libraries, foundation models, and data pipelines to help the global developer ecosystem for humanoid robots. NVIDIA has added six new workflows coming soon to help robots perceive, move, and interact with people and their environments:

1. GR00T-Gen for building generative AI-powered, OpenUSD-based 3D environments
2. GR00T-Mimic for robot motion and trajectory generation
3. GR00T-Dexterity for robot dexterous manipulation
4. GR00T-Control for whole-body control
5. GR00T-Mobility for robot locomotion and navigation
6. GR00T-Perception for multimodal sensing

“Humanoid robots are the next wave of embodied AI,” said Jim Fan, senior research manager of embodied AI at NVIDIA. “NVIDIA research and engineering teams are collaborating across the company and our developer ecosystem to build Project GR00T to help advance the progress and development of global humanoid robot developers.”

Project GR00T now includes six new workflows to accelerate humanoid development. Source: NVIDIA

Cosmos tokenizers minimize distortion

As developers build world models, or AI representations of how objects and environments might respond to a robot’s actions, they need thousands of hours of real-world image or video data. NVIDIA said its Cosmos tokenizers provide high quality encoding and decoding to simplify the development of these world models with minimal distortion and temporal instability.

The company said the open-source Cosmos tokenizer runs up to 12x faster than current tokenizers. It is available now on GitHub and Hugging Face. XPENG Robotics, Hillbot, and 1X Technologies are using the tokenizer.

“NVIDIA Cosmos tokenizer achieves really high temporal and spatial compression of our data while still retaining visual fidelity,” said Eric Jang, vice president of AI at 1X Technologies, which has updated the 1X World Model dataset. “This allows us to train world models with long horizon video generation in an even more compute-efficient manner.”

NeMo Curator handles video data

Curating video data poses challenges due to its massive size, requiring scalable pipelines and efficient orchestration for load balancing across GPUs. In addition, models for filtering, captioning and embedding need optimization to maximize throughput, noted NVIDIA.

NeMo Curator streamlines data curation with automatic pipeline orchestration, reducing video processing time. The company said this pipeline enables robot developers to improve their world-model accuracy by processing large-scale text, image and video data.

The system supports linear scaling across multi-node, multi-GPU systems, efficiently handling more than 100 petabytes of data. This can simplify AI development, reduce costs, and accelerate time to market, NVIDIA claimed.

NeMo Curator for video processing will be available at the end of the month.

Hugging Face, NVIDIA share tools for data and simulation

Hugging Face and NVIDIA announced at the Conference for Robotic Learning (CoRL) in Munich, Germany, that they’re collaborating to accelerate open-source robotics research with LeRobot, NVIDIA Isaac Lab, and NVIDIA Jetson. They said their open-source frameworks will enable “the era of physical AI,” in which robots understand their environments and transform industry.

More than 5 million machine-learning researchers use New York-based Hugging Face’s AI platform, which includes APIs with more than 1.5 million models, datasets, and applications. LeRobot offers tools for sharing data collection, model training, and simulation environments, as well as low-cost manipulator kits.

Those tools now work with Isaac Lab on Isaac Sim, enabling robot training by demonstration or trial and error in realistic simulation. The planned collaborative workflow involves collecting data through teleoperation and simulation in Isaac Lab, storing it in the standard LeRobotDataset format.

Data generated using GR00T-Mimic will then be used to train a robot policy with imitation learning, which is subsequently evaluated in simulation. Finally, the validated policy is deployed on real-world robots with NVIDIA Jetson for real-time inference.

Initial steps in this collaboration have shown a physical picking setup with LeRobot software running on NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, providing a compact compute platform for deployment.

“Combining Hugging Face open-source community with NVIDIA’s hardware and Isaac Lab simulation has the potential to accelerate innovation in AI for robotics,” said Remi Cadene, principal research scientist at LeRobot.

Also at CoRL, NVIDIA released 23 papers and presented nine workshops related to advances in robot learning. The papers cover integrating vision language models (VLMs) for improved environmental understanding and task execution, temporal robot navigation, developing long-horizon planning strategies for complex multistep tasks, and using human demonstrations for skill acquisition.

Papers for humanoid robot control and synthetic data generation include SkillGen, a system based on synthetic data generation for training robots with minimal human demonstrations, and HOVER, a robot foundation model for controlling humanoid locomotion and manipulation.

NVIDIA and Hugging Face, which are collaborating on open-source AI and robotics R&D. Source: NVIDIA

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Despite this, innovative technologies continue to create new opportunities for motion control, attracting new entrants to the market through product launches or partnerships. Interact Analysis here discusses two new growth areas it has identified from its research and conversations with manufacturers: smart conveyance technology and robots with machine-integrated control.

Smart conveyance technology

Smart conveyance technology is a multi-carrier transport technology and is available as either linear or planar systems. The market for linear systems has surged over the past three years, with sales revenue growing from $237 million in 2020 to $488 million in 2023.

By 2029, sales of linear systems could exceed $1.1 billion, nearly five times the market size in 2020, according to Interact Analysis. Planar technology is still in its trial period, generating sales of nearly $20 million in 2023.

Since the research firm began tracking smart conveyance market data in 2020, the food, pharmaceutical, and general packaging industries were the main application markets for such conveyance systems. However, over the past two to three years, the landscape has changed with the rapid penetration of smart conveyance products in the Asian market, and a sharp increase in sales from the battery and electronics industries.

Encouraged by the growth momentum, new entrants are rapidly entering the market. As shown in the chart below, the number of suppliers almost doubled in 2023 compared with the year before. As of last month, 12 more companies have launched new linear smart conveyance products in 2024.

Most recently, German rotary indexer and conveyor manufacturer TAKTOMAT presented its new linear smart conveyor system powered by SEW Eurodrive at the Motek trade show. TAKTOMAT’s key clients are primarily from the automotive sector, so the new product is expected to have applications within this industry.

New vendors have not acquired meaningful market share, as the supplier base has not yet consolidated, noted Interact Analysis. However, it said it expects vendors to increase their presence, especially in their local markets: China, Japan, and Europe.

The supplier base for linear smart conveyance systems has expanded, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. | Source: Interact Analysis

Beyond this, Interact Analysis has also conducted research with companies planning to launch new smart conveyance technology products within the next few years. Most of them are suppliers of motion control components such as linear motors and servo products, or conveyor manufacturers.

After the cyclical downturn in the machinery industry comes to an end, we expect the revenue and supplier base of smart conveyance systems to see promising growth in Europe and North America, driven by developments in battery manufacturing and warehouse automation.

Naturally, rising demand for smart conveyance technology represents a growing market for motion control products, including servo and direct-drive technologies. Rather than offering smart conveyance systems in their own portfolio, some vendors are supplying key components to system providers.

For example, many automation companies, including Rockwell and Siemens, have partnerships with Planar Motor Inc. (PMI), which makes planar smart conveyance products, to equip PMI systems with servo drives and controllers.

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Machine-integrated robots

The term machine-integrated robots refers to robots that are fully integrated into machine control platforms, either by eliminating robot-specific controllers or by retaining robot controllers but integrating the programming platform into the machine systems.

The first approach is more common for those machine-integrated robots currently deployed, which include customized robots made by machine builders or OEMs.

In 2023, global machine-integrated robot shipments reached nearly 20,000 units, of which shipments in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions accounted for 31%, 41%, and 28% respectively. From 2023 to 2029, the market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6%.

Compared with the standard industrial robot market — with annual shipments of more than 520,000 units — the machine-integrated robot market is currently much smaller but is expected to grow at a faster rate.

Steady growth is forecast for machine-integrated robots over the next five years. | Source: Interact Analysis

Engineer shortage drives automation demand

The shortage of experienced engineers is one of the major drivers of growth for the machine-integrated robot market. By integrating robot and machine controllers, engineers can control machines and robots in a unified development environment, without using robot programming languages. This helps reduce challenges for both machine builders and end users in finding or training engineers and operators for robotic machines.

OEMs’ motivations to build robots in-house is also fueling the adoption of machine-integrated robots. Machine builders and integrators increasingly have the capability to build mechanical parts for robots, with some OEMs choosing to make robots by themselves to save costs.

In customized scenarios, OEMs build special robot kinematics in-house, with a general automation controller enabling the practical integration of OEM-made robots with machines.

New entrants and partnerships are increasing the number of systems available for machine-integrated robots. Robot manufacturers, machine builders, and motion control system suppliers are all actively introducing new products and solutions.

For example, Rockwell Automation partnered with autonox Robotics in 2023, having previously entered a partnership with Atom Robot in late 2022. Now, robot arms from three vendors can be directly equipped with Rockwell PLCs.

Most recently, Siemens confirmed new cooperation agreements with collaborative robot makers Universal Robots and Jaka, further expanding the range of robots that can be directly programmed on its platform.

In the meantime, motion control suppliers also work closely with machine builders to provide solutions for OEM-made robots. For example, SEW offers a Parallel Arm Kinematics Kit to OEMs looking to make their own delta robots.

In China, many packaging machinery manufacturers exhibited machines with picking robots made in-house at the recent CIIF tradeshow.

Motion control has room to grow, finds Interact Analysis

The surging smart conveyance market and the emergence of machine-integrated robots offer new opportunities to motion control suppliers. Driven by the trends of digitalization, flexibility, and ease of use in the manufacturing industry, both technologies are expected to increase their penetration in the machinery industry.

Despite current challenges, many suppliers are preparing strategies for the next growth cycle. Companies with competitive products and solutions will gain an advantage when demand inevitably picks up.

About the author and Interact Analysis

As a research analyst based in China, Samantha Mou provides support in the industrial automation sector. Mou has a master’s degree in economics and has experience, while working in Germany, of conducting market research in industrial equipment and automobile components.

Interact Analysis said each of its team members has more than 15 years of experience in technology and market research. The firm has offices in Irthlingborough, U.K.; Austin, Texas; and Shanghai, China.

Editor’s note: This article was syndicated from Interact Analysis.

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Here are the top 10 most popular stories on The Robot Report in October 2024. Subscribe to The Robot Report Newsletter or listen to The Robot Report Podcast to stay up to date on the robotics developments you need to know about.

10. Relay Robotics proposes levels of autonomous navigation for indoor robots

When we think of autonomous navigation, the first thing that usually comes to mind is self-driving cars. Although their development has spanned decades, recent years have seen significant advancements. One important framework that is used ubiquitously in the self-driving car industry is the classification of levels of driving automation. Defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in 2014, this framework remains a standard reference in the field. Read More

9. Robot Utility Models: the coolest thing you never heard about (yet)

Robot Utility Models (RUMs) are a new area of research and development for the advancement of AI training for robotics. Lerrel Pinto, an assistant professor of computer science, and a team at at New York University created RUM. This open-source research project is trying to generalize training for robots so that one doesn’t have to train thousands of examples of a task. Read More

8. Innovative motion solutions are supporting the latest trends in robotics

Rapidly growing markets for robot innovation include applications that enhance human health and wellbeing, such as bionics and robotic surgery. Robots in these fields rely on miniature DC motion technology, which require state-of-the-art motion control. Motors with increasing torque density and dynamics are helping robot designers improve precision and control. Read More

7. Atlas humanoid robot shows increasing competence in latest Boston Dynamics video

Boston Dynamics Inc. released a new video of its Atlas humanoid robot. The video shows the electric robot handling large automotive parts autonomously. According to the company, the robot uses machine learning to execute its tasks and 3D vision to perceive the world around it. Read More

6. Robotics investments near $1B in August

Fifty producers of robots and robotics-enabling technologies received funding in August 2024, pulling in a total of approximately $1 billion. This figure is on par with the $1.2 billion average The Robot Report has tracked each of the previous 12 months. Investment targeted to robotics companies for the first eight months of 2024 equals about $10.86 billion.  Read More

5. Fourier launches GR-2 humanoid, software platform

Shanghai-based Fourier launched GR-2, the latest generation of its GRx humanoid robot series. It has upgraded its hardware, design, and software. This announcement followed the company‘s rebranding from Fourier Intelligence to Fourier earlier this year, and the GR-2 release builds on the production release of the first-generation GR-1 in late 2023. Read More

4. PULS acquires Wiferion’s wireless charging business

DIN rail power supply provider PULS has acquired Wiferion from Tesla. This deal comes after Tesla acquired Wiferion for an undisclosed amount in June 2023. PULS said it plans to continue manufacturing, marketing and selling the company‘s wireless charging products worldwide. Read More

3. Renishaw and RLS help to drive a robot revolution

A revolution in collaborative robots promises to change how assistive care is delivered to the elderly, how people interact with their work environment, and even how surgeons perform heart surgery. RLS d.o.o. has over many years cultivated a value-added partnership with the German company, TQ-RoboDrive, part of the TQ-Group. Read More

2. Universal Robots AI Accelerator offers to ease development of cobot applications

The latest advances in artificial intelligence promise to improve robot capabilities, but engineers need to bring the technologies together. Universal Robots announced its UR AI Accelerator, a hardware and software toolkit to enable the development of AI-powered collaborative robot applications. Read More

1. Corvus Robotics soars to new heights with Series A round for drone inventory

Corvus Robotics Inc. has closed an $18 million Series A round and seed funding led by S2G Ventures and Spero Ventures. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company has been engineering and validating its inventory drone system since it was founded in 2017. Read More

The post Top 10 robotics developments of October 2024 appeared first on The Robot Report.

Boston Dynamics Inc. released a new video of its Atlas humanoid robot today. The video shows the electric robot handling large automotive parts autonomously. According to the company, the robot uses machine learning to execute its tasks and 3D vision to perceive the world around it.

There are no prescribed or teleoperated movements; all motions are generated autonomously online, said Boston Dynamics. The Atlas humanoid is able to detect and react to changes in the environment using a combination of vision, force, and proprioceptive sensors, the company explained.

For example, it could detect moving fixtures and react to actions like failure to insert the cover, tripping, and environment collisions (1:24). 

In the video, Atlas demonstrates some unique motions including turning its head with a range of motion beyond that of a human and walking backward with its hip joint turned 180 degrees, while the torso rotates mid-motion to orient itself for the next operation.

This design provides mobility and joint rotations that are larger than the range of the human body. The video demonstrates some of the possibilities for Atlas to take advantage of its joint motion.

The electric model is following in the very big footsteps of its larger sibling, Atlas hydraulic, which handled heavy automotive parts in an industrial setting.

Atlas humanoid grasps with three-fingered hand

This close-up shows how Atlas’ three-fingered gripper operates to pull parts off of shelves. Source: Boston Dynamics

In the video, you can also watch how the Atlas humanoid uses its three-fingered hand, with a rotating digit, to pull items off a shelf and then grip the item for transfer. The gripper appears to be designed to handle large and heavy items.

It’s likely that the end effector deployed with the electric robot will be dependent on the types of work that it will do and the characteristics of the parts. This release follows another video in which the Atlas humanoid performed various calisthenics.

Boston Dynamics also announced this week the first deployment in Europe of its Stretch and Spot robots at Otto Group. The company recently discussed its partnership with the Toyota Research Institute on The Robot Report Podcast.

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The PCMM2G programmable motion controller has a 1.5 to 3.5 times faster fieldbus cycle rate than previous models. | Source: Kollmorgen

Kollmorgen this week released its new PCMM2G programmable motion controller. The company said this scalable controller offers simple integration with systems based on the Kollmorgen Automation Suite as well as with third-party devices. This allows it to bring new capabilities and increased performance to everything from standalone machines to complex, modular automation systems. 

The PCMM2G controller is compatible with previous-generation PDMM and PCMM controllers from Kollmorgen. The company claimed that It offers a simple migration path while enabling greater flexibility and a 1.5 to 3.5 times faster fieldbus cycle rate than the PDMM or PCMM.

The controller also supports most third-party automation systems while improving performance and ease of use, said Kollmorgen.

“Whether you’re a Kollmorgen Automation Suite customer, or you’re looking to maximize the performance of third-party motion components, our next-generation PCMM2G is designed for you,” stated Chris Cooper, product management senior director at Kollmorgen.

“It’s exceptionally fast and powerful. It’s fully featured and versatile,” he added. “And it’s an easy way to bring advanced automation capabilities to practically any industrial application, from small simple machines to large highly complex environments.”

The PCMM2G’s technical details

Kollmorgen said its new controller is based on a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor that delivers industry-leading cycle times. It supports up to 64 axes of synchronized path motion, including S-curve and other complex moves.

The PCMM2G controller also includes 16 GB of internal flash memory, six digital inputs, two digital outputs, integral functional safety modules, and an onboard human-machine interface panel.

For fast integration with most systems, the system is equipped with 100BASE-T connectivity that supports UDP, HTTP, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, and PROFINET. The controller also includes dual Ethernet ports, which allow system configuration while connected to an industrial network.

An uninterruptible real-time clock with battery backup, plus support for an external time-keeping server via network time protocol (NTP), ensures precise timing and synchronization across all axes, Kollmorgen said.

Kollmorgen offers plug-and-play support

For Kollmorgen PDMM and PCMM controller users, the PCMM2G offers step-by-step migration assistance. The company said all customers can count on full support, both online and live. 

The new product also includes plug-and-play capabilities with the Kollmorgen Automation Suite and third-party systems. The controller’s integrated tools simplify and speed network configuration, servo tuning, and machine optimization, said Kollmorgen.

In addition, support for file management and backup/restore is provided through a USB slot to accommodate removable flash drives.

When used as part of the full Kollmorgen Automation Suite, the PCMM2G controller offers the additional benefits of simplified inventory, reduced setup time and consolidated software, said the company. It also asserted that PCMM2G provides the confidence of having one trusted automation supplier with fully integrated components and complete system validation.

Kollmorgen said it has more than 100 years of motion experience. Its extensive product portfolio includes motors, drives, linear actuators, automated guided vehicle (AGV) control systems, and automation control platforms. The The Radford, Virginia-based company said its technology combines performance, reliability, and ease of use to give machine builders a marketplace advantage. 

Meet with Kollmorgen at RoboBusiness

If you’re interested in learning more about Kollmorgen’s latest products, the company will be exhibiting at RoboBusiness 2024, which takes place Oct. 16 and 17 in Santa Clara, Calif. The company will be exhibiting at Booth 325 on the expo floor. 

Additionally, at 2:45 p.m. PT on Oct. 16, Todd Brewster, director of electromagnetic engineering at Kollmorgen, will discuss the evolution of motor science, from theory to action. He will examine the technology‘s role in enabling robots to satisfy industrial demands and to be commercially successful.

Brewster’s session, which will be on Day 1 of RoboBusiness, will share insights into how motors can be designed to improve thermal dynamics and robot efficiency. He will also discuss how to design high-performance systems while also considering weight, size, and cost factors.

Register now for RoboBusiness, which is co-located with DeviceTalks West. The events are produced by WTWH Media, which also publishes The Robot Report, Automated Warehouse, and Collaborative Robotics Trends, as well as produces the Robotics Summit & Expo.

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The PBC15 cable connector from binder comes with flange components to support industrial applications. Source: binder

Today’s demanding industrial applications require compact, robust connectors that can reliably transmit high currents and voltages, noted Binder USA LP. The provider of circular connectors today announced special flange components that act as plug-in partners for its PBC15 cable connector.

The PBC connector system is designed to transmit high currents and voltages in tight spaces, said Binder. It claimed that combining it with the new components enables tailored systems for a wide range of applications, such as in-drive technology.

“The system is particularly suitable for applications where power and signals need to be transmitted via a cable,” stated Philipp Zuber, product manager at Binder. “With the option for shielding, the connector is also optimal for applications with high demands on signal integrity or where electromagnetic transmission is required.”

PBC15 flanges provide secure connections

The PBC15 connector supplies power and signals to three-phase and asynchronous motors and frequency inverters, said Binder. Due to its properties, it can be used in drives, automation, intralogistics, and mechanical engineering—for example, in fans, pumps, and packaging machines.

The new flange components create seamless connections for secure power and signal transmission, the company explained. This further enhances the PBC15 system’s advantages, said Binder.

The flange components are available as flange plugs and sockets — with locking mechanism — each in unshielded plastic or shielded versions with metal components. They offer standard wire cross-sections of 1.5 mm² and 2.5 mm² with wire lengths of 250 mm, enabling current transmission of up to 16 A at 630 V.

The PBC15 flange components feature an M20x1.5 mounting thread, which can be directly mounted in the customer-specific housing, device, or motor housing using a locknut. A quick locking mechanism can be achieved with a ¼ turn.

The standardized flange components are cross-manufacturer compatible, according to DIN EN IEC 61076-2-116, offering maximum flexibility, Binder said.

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About binder

Camarillo, Calif.-based Binder USA is a subsidiary of Baden-Württemberg, Germany-based binder Group AG, a leading global manufacturer of circular connectors, custom cord sets, and LED lights. Its products are used in industrial environments for factory automation, process control, and medical technology applications.

The company said its quality management system is ISO 9001 and 14001-certified. Binder asserted that its focus on solving customer problems and commitment to service differentiate it from the competition.

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Shanghai-based Fourier today launched GR-2, the latest generation of its GRx humanoid robot series. The company has upgraded its hardware, design, and software.

“GR-2 is a big step into the future of humanoid robotics,” stated Alex Gu, CEO of Fourier. “We’re passionate about building the most intuitive embodied agent for AI, allowing it to engage with the physical world in ways like never before. Fourier is excited to have developers, researchers, and enterprises join us on this incredible journey.”

This announcement followed the company‘s rebranding from Fourier Intelligence to Fourier earlier this year, and the GR-2 release builds on the production release of the first-generation GR-1 in late 2023.

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Fourier improves hardware design

The GR-2 stands 175 cm (68.9 in.) tall and weighs 63 kg (139 lb.), whereas the GR-1 is 165 cm (65 in.) tall and weighs 55 kg (121 lb.). GR-2 offers 53 degrees of freedom and a single-arm load capacity of 3 kg (6.6 lb.).

A new feature of Fourier’s humanoid is a detachable battery with twice the capacity of its predecessor and a runtime of up to two hours. Since the battery is now swappable, users will be able to swap batteries quickly and return GR-2 to work.

GR-2 features an integrated cabling design for power and communication transmission, allowing concealed wires and more compact packaging. The efficient layout optimizes space for easier modularization and greater adaptiveness for application-oriented customization.

To simplify the control system and reduce maintenance, Fourier redesigned GR-2’s joint configuration, shifting from a parallel to a serial structure. It said this improves debugging, lowers manufacturing costs, and enhances the robot’s ability to rapidly learn and transition from AI simulation to real-world applications.

Dexterous hands have 12 degrees of freedom

The 12-DoF Dexterous Hand is equipped with six array-type tactile sensors. | Credit: Fourier

The robot includes hands with 12 degrees of freedom, doubling the dexterity of previous models. The hands are designed to mirror the flexibility of human physiology and offer greater precision in the tasks that the robot will be asked to complete, said Fourier.

The fingers on GR-2 also have six array-type tactile sensors that sense force and can identify object shapes and materials. This enables new algorithms to optimize parts handling, the company said.

Supporting multiple upper-limb teaching modes—virtual reality remote control, lead-through programming, and direct command—GR-2 can record a comprehensive set of operational data, from motion paths to tactile responses. Fourier said it expects robust data collection to bridge the gap between virtual models and real-world applications, pushing the boundaries of robot training and deployment further.

FSA 2.0 powers dynamic mobility

To optimize its movement, Fourier developed seven distinct Fourier Smart Actuators (FSA) for GR-2, each tailored to meet the specific torque demands of each joint.

With peak torques exceeding 380 N.m (280.3 ft.-lb.), the FSA 2.0 actuators boost GR-2’s agility and dynamic capabilities. The dual-encoder system doubles control accuracy, ensuring precise movements even in high-pressure environments.

Designed for both speed and precision, FSA 2.0 empowers GR-2 to navigate complex tasks with greater flexibility, said Fourier.

Fourier optimizes tools for open-source software development

Fourier GRx series outlines six key areas for humanoid development—locomotion, manipulation, cognition, bionic design, user experience, and commercial viability. | Credit: Fourier

Fourier optimized GR-2’s development platform by introducing a new software development kit (SDK) compatible with programming languages such as ROS. Developers can access a suite of pre-optimized modules for machine vision, path planning, and force feedback control through application programming interfaces (APIs), said the company. 

Supporting frameworks such as NVIDIA Isaac Lab and Mujoco, the new platform empowers developers to focus on innovation, streamlining their workflows, claimed Fourier.

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Ultra Accuracy enables GoFa robots to address new industrial applications, claims ABB. Source: ABB Robotics

ABB Robotics today launched Ultra Accuracy, a new feature for its GoFa collaborative robot line. The company said it enables more than 10 times greater path accuracy compared with other cobots on the market.

“As industries look to automation to enhance product quality and achieve tighter tolerances — continuously decreasing the maximum allowable deviation from the standard in quality control — there is a growing need for robots that can perform tasks with exceptional precision,” stated Andrea Cassoni, global head of collaborative robots at ABB Robotics.

“By combining ultra-accurate path performance with GoFa’s inherent simplicity, safety, and flexibility, ABB’s new Ultra Accuracy feature opens a wide range of possibilities for the use of cobots in businesses including electronics, automotive, aerospace, and metal fabrication,” he added.

Ultra Accuracy gives GoFa abilities for more applications

ABB said Ultra Accuracy meets the demands of applications where exact positioning is crucial for maintaining product quality and operational efficiency. They include gluing and sealing in consumer electronics production, laser welding of car parts, composite material layers in aerospace manufacturing, and precision laser cutting in metals fabrication processes.

The new feature can also be used for accurate positioning of additive layers in building prototypes in 3D printing, as well as for performing precision quality checking in metrology applications.

In addition, ABB touted the combination of precision with speed and a full range of motion. Unlike conventional 2D gantry systems traditionally used in electronics manufacturing, GoFa cobots offer full 6D motion across their entire workspace upon delivery, it said.

The robots do not require additional calibration work, providing the flexibility and mobility to handle a broader range of tasks, according to ABB.

GoFa’s compact and portable design ensures that it can be easily integrated into existing production lines without the need for expensive customization, offering a distinct advantage over gantry-based systems, asserted the company.

It also said GoFa with the Ultra Accuracy feature can be introduced into production with minimal installation and deployment time, as the calibration is done in the factory prior to delivery.

ABB says feature is compatible with RobotStudio

The combination of Ultra Accuracy and RobotStudio enables the programming of applications offline, said ABB. This provides “a 99% match between the simulation and reality, eliminating the need for touch-ups and guaranteeing precise and efficient implementation,” it said.

The Ultra Accuracy feature is available for new GoFa collaborative robots and as a retrofit option for existing GoFa cobots.

ABB Robotics claimed that it is the only automation provider whose integrated portfolio includes industrial robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and machine automation. The unit of Zurich-based ABB Group employs approximately 11,000 people in about 53 countries and has U.S. offices in Auburn, Mich.

Editor’s note: John Bubnikovich, president of ABB Robotics U.S., will participate in a keynote panel on “Driving the Future of Robotics Innovation” at RoboBusiness 2024, which will be on Oct. 16 and 17 in Santa Clara, Calif. Register now to attend.

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