by Gary Mintchell | May 20, 2024 | Automation, Robots, Technology
This report from Automate 2024 consolidates robotic-oriented news from Doosan Robotics, Kassow Robots, InOrbit CoPilot, and Hirebotics. Collaborative Robots, or Cobots, are now just about everywhere. The software for these is innovative, often no-code, and easy-to-use. There is consolidation of the market. It will be interesting to see what next year brings.
Doosan Robotics to Unveil New Cobot
Doosan Robotics unveiled its latest industrial cobot which boasts a 30 kg payload. It also wins the award for the most marketing hype of any press release I received. Parsing through the release, here are a few tidbits.
The P3020 offers a payload of 30kg (60lbs) and reach of 2,030mm (80in), bringing the ability to palletize from floor to 2m high (stacking up to 10 layers of boxes approximately 8 inches tall) using its simple fixed base without a lift.
Additional key features of the P-SERIES cobot lineup include lower power consumption compared to similar payload cobots by applying its built-in gravity compensation mechanism, inherent wrist-singularity free, and a 5 degree-of-freedom movement with the 4th axis removed and 6th axis speed increased to 360 degrees/second. Doosan Robotics’ continued priority on optimal safety across its solutions is also fully present in the new P3020. This includes achieving the highest PL (e) and Cat 4 safety ratings to ensure both a max-powered and max-safety experience for users.
Dart-Suite an advanced robot ecosystem designed to redefine the way customers utilize Doosan cobots. The scalable platform provides “unlimited” programmable motions, while ensuring accessibility for all.
Kassow Robots launches the world’s first 7-axis cobot series with a controller integrated into the base
With its Edge Edition, Kassow Robots has launched the world’s first 7-axis cobots in which the controller is integrated into the base of the robot. All five of the 7-axis cobots are now available in two versions: the classic variant with a separate controller, and the Edge Edition. Kristian Kassow and his engineering team have succeeded in miniaturizing the controller so that it now only occupies around 10% of the volume of the external controller. The footprint of the Edge edition’s base is compact, measuring only 160 by 200 millimeters. These cobot models are powered by direct current, meaning that they can be directly connected to any DC power supply, for example a battery of mobile robots. There are also easily accessible 60 IO connections. With these new models, the Copenhagen-based cobot manufacturer is making it easier for industrial companies to automate their operations. At the same time, their lightweight robots open up new opportunities for mobile cobot AMR and cobot AGV applications and various space-saving solutions.
InOrbit Unveils RobOps Copilot for AI-Powered Robot Optimization
InOrbit.AI, the leading provider of robot operations (RobOps) solutions, introduced InOrbit RobOps Copilot. This product harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to turn robot operations data into actionable insights in order to optimize autonomous robot fleets.
Leveraging the latest large language models (LLMs), RobOps Copilot enables users to ask questions in their preferred language, get detailed explanations, refine their analysis, and arrive at key optimization decisions, seamlessly transitioning between their favorite messaging platform for casual queries and a fully integrated experience with chat-driven dashboard explorations.
As with the rest of the InOrbit platform, RobOps Copilot works with mixed, distributed robot fleets. InOrbit continues to expand the InOrbit Connect ecosystem, including the ability to define, execute, and analyze missions that support integrations with Warehouse Management Systems, AMRs from different vendors, and Goods-to-Person workflows. One recent addition is support for a novel Automated Storage and Retrieval System developed by Instock, which is now in use at the InOrbit Robot Space in Silicon Valley and will be part of InOrbit’s live remote demonstrations presented at Automate.
Beacon-Powered Hirebotics Cobot Welder
Hirebotics launched support for the new Miller Auto DeltaWeld with their Cobot Welder. The Miller Auto DeltaWeld System is a MIG/Flux-cored, pulsed-capable power source designed for cobots.
Unlike other cobot solutions, Hirebotics Beacon-powered Cobot Welder lets the user control everything in one place—a simple smartphone/tablet interface. This makes the process easier and faster compared to systems where welders must go back and forth between the teach pendant and the power source.
Beacon is cloud-based, allowing total remote and local cobot control.
by Gary Mintchell | May 20, 2024 | Automation, Robots, Technology, Workforce
Festo is an innovative company that continuously surprises me with its creativity. This year at Hannover, for example, they displayed a “flock” of bees. At Automate they showed new electric actuators, an I/O platform, and an AI worker collaboration tool.
New Generation of Electric Actuators for Linear Applications
Festo introduced its newest generation of Cartesian-handling-system mechanical axes. The ELGD-TB, tooth belt actuators, and ELGD-BS, ball screw actuators, are based on an innovative Festo design.
- Suited to most electromechanical handling tasks, the ELGD series brings specific benefits to applications, such as:
- Cantilever systems and pick-and-place solutions for small parts handling, where short cycle times, high precision, and repeatability are key
- Handling systems for top loaders, which benefit from the ELGD’s attractive price/performance ratio, high travel speed, and long stroke lengths
- Automation of 3D printing, additive manufacturing, dosing, gluing, and picking and placing are enhanced with the ELGD’s dynamic, virtually vibration-free movement.
Remote and Decentralized I/O Platform
Festo offers both the CPX-AP-A distributed I/O and CPX-AP-I decentralized I/O. Whether physically attached on-terminal or connected via cable, all components such as PLCs, valves, motors, drives, and I/O appear to the programmer to be incorporated within one smart terminal under a single IP address. Having the entire distributed and decentralized I/O topology under a single IP address significantly reduces hardware and installation costs while lowering system complexity. Since many PLCs come with a limited number of IP addresses, the Festo solution means more capabilities are possible per PLC. Festo is a leader in adopting and applying IO-Link, and customers will find IO-Link capabilities integral to the new I/O automation platform. This I/O platform is ideal for effective conveyor control.
AI worker collaboration training package
At the show, Festo demonstrates a UR3e cobot equipped with an AI-powered camera capable of gesture recognition. This setup enables object tracking, allowing the cobot to pick up items and then hand them to booth visitors. The cobot will be handing out individually wrapped hard candy. The Festo Didactic AI/Machine Learning Worker Collaboration package provides learners with the opportunity to explore neural networks, machine learning, and advanced gripping systems. Festo Didactic incorporated into this demo its 360-degree robotic safety awareness package developed in partnership with SICK.
by Gary Mintchell | May 13, 2024 | Asset Performance Management, Technology
Someone else is going to transform the industry. OK, I have worn many Augmented Reality glasses in demos at trade shows. They are cool, but it still looked like a solution searching for a problem. Meanwhile, the Apple Vision Pro supports both AR and Virtual Reality (VR). Everyone is talking about how cool the VR part is for immersive movies. No one has been talking about the AR capabilities.
Until, now.
Averroes.ai has introduced an what they call an “innovative approach to manufacturing that is set to transform the industry.” They are combining the ability to talk to machines sucking in data and visualizing it in real time using the Apple Vision Pro in AR mode.
- Averroes.ai uses machine learning and AI to detect, classify, and segment defects, and carry out predictive maintenance.
- Manufacturers can even spot defects along production lines without direct observation, all without the need to be seated in a back office.
- This integration facilitates instant access to production data and charts, empowering on-the-spot monitoring, defect analysis, statistical insights, and yield optimization, all with unparalleled ease and accuracy, right on the factory floor.
Averroes.ai’s innovative approach is rooted in being data agnostic, a concept that ensures seamless integration of various data types. Whether it’s images, tabular data, or time series, their system effortlessly accommodates them all.
Business reasons. According to recent reports, the global AI Industrial Vision Inspection Service market is valued at US$ 332 million in 2022. What’s more staggering is its projected growth trajectory. By 2029, this market is expected to skyrocket to a value of US$ 1156.2 million, boasting a compound annual growth rate of 19.7%.
Tareq, CEO of Averroes.ai, told me when I asked about walking through a manufacturing plant wearing one of these things, “The Apple Vision Pro uses augmented reality (AR) to enhance, not hinder, your interaction with the environment. Its AR display is designed to subtly complement your real-world view. Whether it’s showing data labels, instructions, or visual enhancements, everything is carefully designed to be unobtrusive, blending seamlessly into your surroundings.”
Second, when will it actually be available? “Averroes is an AI platform that now allows manufacturers to automatically generate visual inspection APIs from models, including anomaly detection, using a no-code approach. With minimal data and no need for extensive support, manufacturers can develop these models efficiently, utilizing the Apple Vision Pro as their imaging system. The platform is not open to the public and is available exclusively to enterprise clients with a subscription.”
Why? There are other, cheaper solutions. “There has always been a demand for inspecting products in environments where items vary and do not conform to a uniform production line. The Apple Vision Pro and Averroes platform are well-suited to address this need. The Apple Vision Pro offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional fixed-installation industrial cameras and delivers superior image quality and resolution, which is crucial for inspecting products in varying lighting conditions.”
“Although Averroes can also integrate with other, less expensive AR sets, the development kit that comes with the Apple Vision Pro is among the best available, making it an excellent choice for manufacturers tasked with inspecting diverse products in non-standard settings.”
by Gary Mintchell | May 10, 2024 | Automation, Robots, Technology
This news brings together things I’m interested in (robotic, automated) with things on my peripheral (3D measurement). It should be interested to all of you within the discrete manufacturing market. Note: they use the term “revolutionalising” (British English), I am more cautious using that term.
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has announced the launch of PRESTO System – an innovative modular suite of automated robotic inspection cells revolutionising the landscape of 3D measurement for automotive and aerospace manufacturing. PRESTO System builds on the foundation of its turnkey PRESTO quality inspection cell to provide manufacturers a future-proof system that sets a new standard for scalable, versatile, and seamlessly integrated automated quality inspection.
PRESTO System empowers manufacturers to become more agile with automated robotic programming that enables a single quality control specialist to create, test and deploy robust robotic inspection in hours. The deployed cells are highly flexible and accessible to all levels of expertise – an operator can safely load and inspect one part then another simply by selecting the correct part to inspect from the control panel. At a time where skills shortages are impeding daily operations for many manufacturers, the integrated robotic system eliminates repetitive manual setup and calibration processes, enabling teams to work more effectively and focus on operational excellence and halving total inspection time compared other modern inspection technologies.
Some features:
- Hexagon’s Absolute Scanner AS1 combined with absolute positioning from the Leica Absolute Tracker AT960.
- Blue laser line technology – PRESTO is the first Hexagon turnkey inspection cell to utilise the most advanced and intuitive method for capturing a rich and complete digital representation of both the key features and surfaces.
- SHINE technology that ensures effortless measurement of reflective surfaces, eliminating the need for part preparation.
- Sophisticated robotic automation software that utilises a digital twin to simulate and programme complete inspection programmes offline, and to coordinate the real time execution of all processes for repeatable and uninterrupted operations.
- Full integration and coordination of all systems, from robotic actuation to metrology scanning, enabling near-line inspection at higher speeds, in total safety.
The modularity of the PRESTO System provides flexible deployment, enabling manufacturers to rapidly scale their quality inspection capacity in alignment with their business needs. Once the first cell is deployed, additional modules can be added with short lead times and rapid installation. This scalability not only enhances operational agility – the standardised single-vendor solution also helps businesses to optimise their investment strategies by facilitating upgrades and enhancements rather than replacement.
by Gary Mintchell | May 8, 2024 | Automation, Embedded Control, Software, Technology, Workforce
I received many releases regarding automation from Siemens resulting from the Hannover Messe last month. They presented them to assembled press, analysts, and blogger this week at Automate in Chicago. These are all pretty cool.
- Siemens Industrial Copilot with Generative AI
- Spatial Computing Electrical Training for Apple Vision Pro
- Simatic S7-1200 G2—a new generation of controller
Siemens Xcelerator: Scaling roll-out of generative AI with Siemens Industrial Copilot
- Siemens makes automation easy with the first generative AI-powered product for engineering in an industrial environment
- Siemens Industrial Copilot accelerates the generation of complex automation code, reduces development times, and increases productivity
- TIA Portal connection offers customers SCL code generation, customization of HMI visualization, and document search in natural language
- Available for download from the Siemens Xcelerator marketplace starting in summer 2024
The Siemens Industrial Copilot, the generative AI-powered assistant, is now seamlessly connected to the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal. This will enable engineering teams to find the right help topic and to generate a basic visualization and code faster for programmable logic controllers (PLC). As a result, they will be able to significantly reduce their workload and offload repetitive tasks to the Siemens Industrial Copilot. In addition, the engineering of complex tasks will become less susceptible to errors. This in turn reduces development times and boosts quality and productivity over the long term. The Siemens Industrial Copilot for TIA Portal Engineering will be available for download from the Siemens Xcelerator marketplace starting in summer 2024.
Siemens and BILT Launch Spatial Computing Electrical Training for Apple Vision Pro
- Siemens leverages BILT on Apple Vision Pro to provide immersive step-by-step guided instruction for electricians
- BILT becomes newest Siemens Xcelerator Ecosystem partner
- BILT spatial computing app on Apple Vision Pro available at Hannover Messe tradeshow
Siemens and BILT, the creators of 3D Intelligent Instructions, are optimizing their mobile guides into spatial models for Apple Vision Pro. As the need for skilled electricians and other trades grows, training the entering workforce, while up-skilling the existing one, is essential. Tools such as BILT on Apple Vision Pro provide a highly immersive and visual training experience that helps users not only learn faster, but safer.
Siemens’ first product assembly and installation guides available on BILT on Apple Vision Pro include Siemens Smart Infrastructure’s Class 14 NEMA motor starter, designed to control and protect motors applied in industrial processes, and the P5 Power Distribution Panel.
To further the partnership and accelerate applications globally, BILT will become the newest addition to Siemens’ Xcelerator Ecosystem and Marketplace. Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform and powerful ecosystem of partners, is where industrial clients from around the world can look for solutions that suit their needs. As part of Siemens Xcelerator, BILT will now be available as a turnkey solution to accelerate digital transformation and learning easier, faster and at scale.
A new generation of controller with Simatic S7-1200 G2
- Simatic S7-1200 G2 will be available in winter 2024
- Key benefits include efficient motion control, flexible machine safety, increased performance, and seamless scalability
For the first time in ten years, Siemens is announcing a new generation of controllers, available in winter of 2024, at Hannover Messe 2024. The Simatic S7-1200 G2 controllers are part of the Simatic controller family.
The new controllers help bridge the worlds of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). The controllers’ high communication performance and efficient data processing increase production output. By connecting the controllers to IT systems, it is also possible to use advanced data analysis, for example in the cloud.
The new controllers are part of Siemens Xcelerator, allowing customers to benefit from the standardized engineering approach in the TIA Portal. The Simatic S7-1200 G2 controller generation enables customers to address major challenges, such as productivity, flexibility, and cost optimization.
The new range of controllers combines integrated motion control functionalities with space-saving and flexible machine safety solutions.
For example, the S7-1200 G2 controllers make it possible for machine builders to control multiple coordinated axes and simple kinematics. Customers experience increased performance capabilities thanks to improved processing power, dedicated communication performance and more memory, as well as Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality with in-app access to diagnostic, operational, and device data. Plain text diagnostic information about the entire programmable logic controller (PLC) station reduces machine downtime and gives users quick access to data.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 29, 2024 | News, Security, Technology
I haven’t had word from ISA for quite some time. And especially the cybersecurity certification program. This news concerns GE Power Conversion’s HPCi Controller achieving cybersecurity Security Level 3 certificates of conformance. Congratulations.
The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced that its ISASecure cybersecurity certification program has issued the world’s first Security Level 3 (SL3) certificates of conformance. The ISASecure program certifies conformance to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of internationally recognized automation and control systems cybersecurity standards.
Among the first automation products to achieve this challenging security classification is GE Power Conversion’s HPCi Controller.
“We are pleased to see GE taking a leadership role in securing automation that affects our everyday lives,” said Andre Ristaino, managing director, ISA conformity assessment programs. “Securing products to SL3 surpasses the minimum SL2 needed to defend against intentional cyber attacks.”
The ISASecure SL3 certification provides confidence to GE Power Conversion customers that the HPCi Controller is free of known cybersecurity vulnerabilities and is robust against network attacks, and independently confirms conformance to ISA/IEC 62443-4-2 SL3 security requirements. This is the world’s first ISASecure CSA 1.0.0 Level 3 certification.
Following soon after GE, Bitron Electronics also completed the necessary requirements to pass the SL3 certification evaluation, making Bitron the second supplier to achieve this advanced certification level under the ISASecure certification scheme.
“With two SL3 certifications already complete, these certifications further demonstrate the marketplace’s growing acceptance of the ISASecure ISA/IEC 62443 conformance scheme as the leading certification scheme on the market today,” said Brandon Price, senior principal for industrial cybersecurity at ExxonMobil and ISASecure board chair.
Companies that choose to achieve higher levels of certification understand how to apply the ISA/IEC 62443 standards and recognize the value of protections and assurances they provide to their end-user customers. As the need for advanced security protection grows, ISASecure certifications – recognized and accepted globally – continue to be the most sought-after certification specified by end users.
ISASecure recently published a whitepaper describing the value of securing automation and control systems to SL2 or higher. “The Case for ISA/IEC 62443 Security Level 2 as a Minimum for COTS Components” is available for download on the ISASecure website.
