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Mobile Industrial Robots ApS today announced the the latest addition to its growing list of MiR Go-approved products, the MC600 mobile collaborative robot.

“By integrating the ‘legs’ of a mobile robot with the ‘arms’ of a cobot, the MC600 addresses multiple automation workflow challenges such as palletizing and machine tending with one system,” said Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR).

“While some companies have explored humanoid robots or one-off custom mobile cobot solutions for such tasks, they remain far from widespread industrial use,” he stated. “The MC600 is ready today to safely handle these complex automation challenges.”

Mobile Industrial Robots develops and manufactures autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) designed to automate internal logistics and optimize material handling for a wide range of payloads, including pallets. The Odense, Denmark-based unit of testing equipment maker Teradyne Inc. said it integrates robotics and artificial intelligence to serve businesses of all sizes in industries including manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.

MC600 combines Teradyne technologies

The MC600 combines the MiR600 AMR with the UR20 and UR30 collaborative robot arms from Universal Robots A/S, which is also owned by Teradyne. Mobile Industrial Robots said it can handle payloads up to 600 kg (1,322 lb.) and automate complex workflows in industrial environments.

A unified software platform by MiR Go partner Enabled Robotics controls the MC600. MiR said this coordinates its mobile base and robotic arms, simplifying integration into existing workflows and ensuring smooth operations.

“The smaller MC250 has proven especially popular in semiconductor fabrication facilities and other lower-payload manufacturing tasks, but there’s been a clear demand for a mobile cobot that could handle heavier manufacturing applications,” said Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics. “The MC600 meets these requirements, another example of how we consistently offer customers the flexibility, safety, and efficiency that meets their unique automation needs.”

Kumar participated in a fireside chat at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo.

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MC600 promises efficency, flexibility

The global market for mobile cobots, which offer efficient and flexible automation, is projected to grow 46% annually by 2030, said Mobile Industrial Robots. Hathout said the MC600 offers a proven, safe, and ready-to-deploy system designed for ease of use, repeatability, and ongoing support.

“For companies seeking scalable automation, the MC600 delivers operational efficiency and long-term reliability,” the company claimed.

Building on the success of the smaller MC250, the MC600 can handle heavier items to automate tasks such as palletizing, box handling, and machine tending, said MiR. The UR20’s extended reach allows the new robot to tackle tasks that were previously inaccessible to smaller cobots.

The MC600 can improve productivity by operating with little downtime, serving multiple machines, and performing continuous material-handling tasks, asserted MiR. This enables businesses to redeploy human workers to higher-value assignments, it said.

In addition, by taking over the movement of heavy goods, the MC600 can improve ergonomics, reducing physical strain on workers and enhancing workplace safety, said MiR.

Mobile Industrial Robots said it will demonstrate the MC600 for real-world applications next week at Logistics & Automation Madrid.

ASTM proposes mobile manipulation standard

In other mobile manipulation news, ASTM International’s F45 committee for robotics, automation, and autonomous systems has proposed a new standard, WK92144.

It provides guidelines for documenting disturbances of robot arms, such as by heavy equipment, in unstructured manufacturing environments. The proposed standard describes an example apparatus for testing.

“Many applications of mobile manipulators require high degree of position and orientation accuracy and repeatability,” said Omar Aboul-Enein, a member of ASTM International.