by Gary Mintchell | Sep 18, 2024 | Automation, Technology
Zebra Technologies has added a range of new deep learning features to its Aurora machine vision software to support machine and line builders as well as manufacturers faced with quality and visual inspection challenges. Zebra’s judicious acquisitions over the years have compounded it into an interesting high-tech company.
Zebra’s Aurora software suite with deep learning tools provides powerful visual inspection solutions for machine and line builders, engineers, programmers and data scientists in the automotive, electronics and semiconductor, food and beverage and packaging industries. The suite features no code deep learning optical character recognition (OCR), drag and drop environments, and extensive libraries that allow users to create solutions to solve complex use cases that traditional rules-based systems struggle to address.
Users of Zebra’s Aurora Design Assistant integrated development environment can create applications by constructing and configuring flowcharts instead of writing traditional program code. The software also enables users to design a web-based human-machine interface (HMI) for the applications.
The software now comes with deep learning object detection and the latest version of the Aurora Imaging Copilot companion application with a dedicated workspace for training a deep learning model on object detection. Separate add-ons are available for training a deep learning model with an NVIDIA GPU card and running a deep learning model to perform inference or prediction on an NVIDIA GPU and Intel integrated GPU, respectively.
Machine and computer vision engineers using Aurora Vision Studio can quickly create, integrate, and monitor powerful machine vision applications. Its advanced and hardware-agnostic software provides an intuitive graphical environment for the creation of sophisticated vision applications without the need to write a single line of code. It has a comprehensive set of over 3,000 proven and ready-to-use filters, enabling machine and computer vision engineers to design customized solutions in a simple, three-step workflow: design the algorithm, create a custom local HMI or on-line Web HMI and deploy it to a PC-based industrial computer.
A deep learning toolchain has been switched to a new training engine with mechanisms for training data balancing which leads to better training results on low quality datasets. Training is now faster and more repeatable, and the deep learning add-on is compatible with Linux systems, for inference only.
Zebra’s Aurora Imaging Library software development kit is for experienced programmers coding vision applications in C++, C# and Python. It includes a broad collection of tools for processing and analyzing 2D images and 3D data using traditional rules-based methods as well as those based on deep learning.
The latest additions expand its capabilities with the introduction of anomaly detection tools using deep learning for defect detection and assembly verification tasks where the aim is to find abnormalities. Unlike other available deep learning tools, the training is unsupervised, only needing normal references.
The deep-learning-based OCR tool uses a pre-trained deep neural network model to read characters, digits, punctuation marks and certain symbols without the need to specify or teach it specific fonts. The deep learning-based OCR tool includes string models and constraints to enable more robust and relevant reading.
by Gary Mintchell | Sep 11, 2024 | Automation, Robots
I teased about the renewal of Rethink Robotics a couple of weeks ago. This post details some of their announcements from IMTS.
Rethink Robotics Unveils Two New AMRs
With a renewed vision that aims to seamlessly integrate advanced robotics into manufacturing and logistics environments, Rethink Robotics announces the Rethink Ryder line of AMRs. Two models are available on the Rethink Ryder AMR platform. The light-duty MRE 550 model handles payloads of up to 550 kg (1212 pounds), and the heavy-duty MRE 1400 model handles payloads of up to 1400 kg (3086 pounds). Both robots come with an integrated lift function.
Seven New Cobots
The Reacher cobot line includes seven new cobot models (RE 07, 09, 13, 16, 21, 30, and 30L), handling payloads ranging from 7 to 30 kg (15–66 pounds).
RE cobots offer highest precision with ± 0.03 mm pose repeatability — suitable for even the most demanding tasks. Depending on the model, maximum speed ranges from 120 to 200 degrees per second. Reacher cobots feature collision detection to ensure workplace safety and a user-friendly, intuitive interface that feels natural and is easy to use.
Rethink Robotics’ Reacher line comes with connectivity to a wide range of accessories, such as grippers, vision systems, rails, and other end-of-arm and peripheral tools.
Detachable Mobile Manipulator Robot
Unveiling the Rethink Riser MMR. Combining a Rethink Ryder AMR with a Rethink Reacher cobot and a portable battery box allows mobile manipulation to be performed at new levels of efficiency.
The Rethink Reacher and Rethink Ryder, components of the Rethink Riser, each have their own battery packs, requiring separate charging. The Rethink Reacher offers an 22-hour uptime. The Rethink Ryder can be charged in two ways: manually or wirelessly through inductive charging. Each Ryder comes equipped with three or four battery units based on its size. If higher uptime is required, customers can request up to two additional battery units per Ryder.
The control box that comes with Reacher is a compact and integrated unit designed to manage and control the robot’s operations. This control box houses the essential electronics, including the robot’s processor, power supply, and communication interfaces. It serves as the central hub for executing commands, processing sensor data, and coordinating the robot’s movements. The Rethink Riser’s control box is added as an attachment onto the Ryder so it can fully move along with it in combination with the Reacher cobot arm.
by Gary Mintchell | Sep 11, 2024 | Automation, Robots
More robotics news emanating from IMTS, the International Manufacturing Technology Show. This from Olis Robotics who provides remote monitoring, diagnostics, and debugging across complete industrial cells thanks to PLC functionality built into the company’s flagship solution.
This sounds like the dream of 20 years ago and M2M, or machine-to-machine, technology. The problem was, and has been, reluctance of the final customer to allow third parties access to their often-proprietary operating algorithms. Not to mention security risks. But the idea of helping both OEM and user remains intriguing.
Olis provides video and telemetry-based diagnostics for industrial cells, enabling technicians to diagnose the root cause of downtime events, such as a robot failure. Immediate access to diagnostic data enables the robotic cell to be debugged quickly and remotely, slashing manufacturer downtime while empowering integrators to take on more business.
Using Olis software, users can monitor and set alerts for pre-defined runtime parameters through the PLC, including I/Os, registers, and custom tags. Common uses for PLC tags include measuring Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), monitoring cycle times, and fault detection.
For integrators, the new PLC capabilities enhance their ability to debug a system before shipping, and their ability to successfully monitor the system after deployment and remotely monitor and debug entire industrial cells.
For end users, this means reduced downtime costs –not just in cases of robot failure, but across the entire cell. The new functionality can even be used to maintain and improve standards in production throughput. For example, in an application involving a robot inserting bolts into a part, users could create an alert that indicates when the feeder is running low on bolts. The PLC can then send Olis an alert informing the operator that it’s time to refill the feeder.
by Gary Mintchell | Sep 11, 2024 | Automation, Robots
I am writing this from Phoenix while attending the annual meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. That doesn’t prevent reporting on the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS). Most of the news I’ve seen on the “automation” side concerns robotics and autonomous mobile vehicles. This news comes from Kawasaki.
Perhaps the most intriguing of their announcements concerns the shortage of skilled workforce—an educational robot platform said to be a fraction of the cost of others. Named Astorino, it equips students with the foundational skills needed for modern manufacturing.
Named after the popular open-source Arduino platform and development partner ASTOR, Astorino leverages Kawasaki Robotics’ extensive technology expertise, including hardware, firmware, control system, application software and training. The platform also supplies STL files so students can rapidly print 3D replacement parts for 99% of the robot. It weighs in at 12 kg and is powered by 110 Vac.
At the core of Astorino is a 1kg payload, 6-axis robot with a structure and programming environment nearly identical to that of a Kawasaki industrial robot. It includes a built-in control system; dedicated firmware and software; Modbus TCP and USB/Ethernet communication, and safety functions such as E-Stop and safety brakes. Motor control uses three signals (pulse/direction/enable) and steel gears reduce backlash to <5 arcmin. The robot is flexible and can also be paired with multiple options such as three kinds of grippers, a 24V IO module, a cube feeder with optical sensors and external sensors.
The base price is just $5000.
Now, we turn to industrial-grade robots introduced at the show.
CL Series
Developed in partnership with NEURA Robotics, the CL Series cobots offer industrial scale performance and speed paired with maximum protection without compromising the safety and flexibility advantages of human/robot collaboration. The CL Series cobots can operate without protective covers in crowded and harsh environments. Operating in Zero Gravity (Zero G), the CL Series cobots requires only light guidance and precise adjustments by hand to create highly efficient solutions for applications such as machine tending and welding.
Robotic Machine Tending Shelf System
This turnkey, no code, easy-to-set-up robotic machine tending solution using a modular shelf system for part feeding was developed in partnership with Hurco, a developer of CNC machining equipment. The demo features a Kawasaki RS013N robot, 16 workpieces—four fixtured to pallets and 12 held in 5th Axis LiteVises and a Hurco VM15Di CNC machine that is all operated using Hurco’s WinMax CNC Controls. The system was designed to keep up with customer demand for high-mix, low-volume parts manufacturing without the need to learn how to program a robot. Ultimately, machinists receive a safe solution that can handle a range of part sizes and volumes and can expand capacity to meet highly specific application needs.
Welding Robots
New models featured at IMTS include the BA013N and BA013L with built-in intelligence, real-time path modification, and adaptive arc welding and RTPM capabilities to help manufacturers improve quality and meet production goals.
Robofin
Developed in partnership with AMT and NEFF Automation, this versatile robotic material removal solution solves various finishing needs. RoboFin can handle diverse materials and surface types, increase abrasive life up to 3X, and provide unrivaled precision and consistency to deliver the same high-quality output every time.
K-Positioners
These positioners enable robots to easily manipulate workpiece position to ensure the welding torch is positioned at the optimal angle and distance for consistent, high-quality welds. By automating workpiece movement, positioners speed up the welding process, reducing overall cycle times while at the same time reducing the need for reworking.
by Gary Mintchell | Sep 4, 2024 | Automation, Security
Cybersecurity initiatives resemble the Whack-a-Mole game. As long as everything is connected, especially to outside environments, securing digital assets will be impossible.
Certainly companies formed to combat these threats are trying. Take this news from Tenable. It has added new risk prioritization and compliance features for Tenable Nessus. Nessus supports new and updated vulnerability scoring systems – Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) and Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) v4 – to help customers implement more effective prioritization for risk reduction and maintain compliance.
Due to evolving threats and expanding attack surfaces, organizations rely on multiple risk scoring systems, which are not effective risk qualifiers on their own to determine criticality. With Tenable Nessus, customers can take advantage of the latest industry-adopted vulnerability scoring systems – EPSS and CVSS v4 – and Tenable Vulnerability Priority Rating (VPR) to identify and take action on the vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk specific to their environment. Leveraging an advanced data science algorithm developed by Tenable Research, Tenable VPR combines and analyzes Tenable proprietary vulnerability data, third-party vulnerability data and threat data to effectively and efficiently measure risk.
Key features in this release include:
- EPSS and CVSS v4 Support enables users to see and filter plugins by EPSS and CVSS v4 score, further informing prioritization strategy. This feature enables security teams to remain compliant with organizational policies that require the use of EPSS or CVSS as the primary scoring system.
- Nessus Offline Mode addresses challenges with conducting vulnerability scans offline in air-gapped environments. Building upon existing offline scanning capabilities, Nessus runs critical services only, removing unwanted traffic generated by functions that rely on an active internet connection, thereby ensuring the security of sensitive data within a secure environment.
- Declarative Agent Versioning On-Prem enables users to create and manage agent profiles in Nessus Manager for Tenable Security Center. Users can specify a product version for an agent deployed in an environment, thereby reducing disruptions in day-to-day operations and enabling users to adhere to enterprise change control policies.
by Gary Mintchell | Aug 30, 2024 | Automation, Robots
Speaking of robotics and collaborative robotics—my last post mentioned Universal Robots. The company is alive and well as a part of a conglomerate since 2017. UR leaps on the AI bandwagon at IMTS announcing an AI-powered machine tending solution. This enables faster batch changeovers by eliminating the need for fixtures.
Universal Robots (UR) recently surveyed 1,200 manufacturers across North America and Europe about their use of technology and future investment plans, over 50% of the respondents indicated they are now using AI and machine learning in their production processes.
So, AI isn’t just hype, they conclude.
“AI isn’t just hype,” says Ujjwal Kumar, Group President of Teradyne Robotics, parent company of Universal Robots. “We’re seeing significant interest in physical AI. By adding high-performance compute hardware to our control systems and investing in targeted software upgrades, we’re establishing UR as the preferred robotics platform for developing and deploying AI applications.”
The company will show a machine-tending application with new AI-based perception capabilities running on NVIDIA Jetson and Isaac acceleration libraries integrated into UR’s new PolyScope X platform. This combination enables dynamic path planning, ensuring the robot takes the most effective, collision-free paths in and out of the machine without requiring extensive user configuration.
Service has become an important strategy for mature companies. Not surprising, UR has launched the enhanced UR Care Service Plans that now offer preventive field service, onsite break-fix, dedicated remote support and secure cloud connectivity-based cobot service/performance monitoring through UR Connect.
The company will also showcase its extensive partner ecosystem.
