There’s nothing like synergy. And a new high-precision solution for location and heading – a collaboration between <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indro Robotics</a> and <a href="https://www.tallysman.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tallysman Wireless</a> – is the result.As you likely know, while GPS is great – and good enough for us driving around using WAZE – its accuracy can leave something to be desired. Traditional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions generally are accurate to around 2.5 metres Circular Error Probability (CEP). That means the reported location has a 50 per cent chance of being within 2.5 metres of where it actually is. What’s more, that error rate exists under ideal conditions – with the detection system stationary and with an unobstructed view of satellites.That’s good enough for a car with a driver, or a cargo ship. But many robotic applications require far greater precision. If you’re running a remote inspection robot using GPS waypoints, 2.5 metres isn’t good enough.Think about it. In the example of a remote inspection robot, the device is generally operating at the location of a high-value asset. You might want a repeatable routine where the robot can get up close to look at gauges, valves, or anything else requiring inspection. You might want it to pass through a doorway, or get very close to – without touching – a highly energised electrical component. So accuracy matters, whether in this application or many other use-cases.Now, InDro and Tallysman Wireless, a Calian company, are pleased to announce a solution.Below: An InDro Sentinel inspection robot<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk5NDY1MzQ4MzgwLTIwMjIwNDI3XzE2NDU0NDAwOF9pT1MgY29weS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>Location, Location, Location</h3>That real estate phrase certainly applies when it comes to high-level robotics. But how do you get from a potential error of 2.5 metres down to, say, 2.5 centimetres – two orders of magnitude?In this case, the solution came by partnering with Tallysman Wireless.The company is known for its leading-edge GNSS and Iridium antennas. Tallysman also has an enviable reputation for customising those antennas for global clients seeking specific GNSS solutions. Ships, aircraft, trains and even drones carry out critical missions daily while relying on Tallysman solutions. InDro, meanwhile, is known for its R&amp;D work, robots and custom innovations in the aerial and ground robotics world. So the potential was there for collaboration.Because – and we know this well – it’s not just as simple as plugging antennas and receivers together and hoping for the best.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk5NDY1Njg1Njk5LVNjcmVlbnNob3QtMjAyMy0wOS0yNi1hdC0xLjUzLjE4LVBNLnBuZy53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">The Issue(s)</h3>Antennas – even really good ones – are finicky pieces of equipment. Depending on what you’re mounting them on, they can be subject to interference that diminishes their performance. The type of connector attaching them to a receiver, even the length of the cable used in that connection, can also detract from optimal signal acquisition and accuracy. That’s why you want someone like Tallysman Wireless on board.“We are experts in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions, specifically the antennae side of &nbsp;things,” explains Gord Echlin, Tallysman’s Director of Business Development.“A lot of people assume, unless you use the term GPS, that it’s a fairly easy thing to implement and get accurate results. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”As Tallysman Wireless explains in a brochure:“The problem is that keeping the antenna to system interface in the analog domain requires a lot of RF expertise to manage, expertise that is not widely available, and these issues amplify with long signal transmission over cables.&nbsp;Digital systems with built-in LTE communication links, common components of autonomous systems, are direct threats to the integrity of the GNSS signal.&nbsp;“Tallysman Wireless has solved this problem by integrating their sensitive, high performance, GNSS antennas in the same package as advanced GNSS receivers, in what is commonly called a ‘Smart’ Antenna. The GNSS processing solution is in compact, carefully engineered to mitigate the potential impairments between the antenna and receiver, and the Position/Navigation/Timing (PNT) information is now communicated to application system over in the digital domain, over a serial interface (UART, USB, CANbus, or Automotive Ethernet).”Or, as Echlin puts it: “We take the receiver, and we take the antenna and put it in the same package to mitigate the outside interference such that you get less than two centimetres of error. That, along with very precise heading information – with accuracy to 0.3 degree.” <h3>The InDro Connection</h3>With the Tallysman Wireless integrated solution, there was just one more piece of the puzzle remaining. How to integrate this into a robot? That’s where InDro’s engineering team came along.The package required a software interface where none had existed before. InDro engineers created a ROS2 coding solution and integrated the Tallysman smart antenna onto our InDro Backpack – which we use with Unitree quadrupeds.InDro Backpack is our system for remote teleoperations over 5G (and 4G), which also allows for rapid sensor integration and other customization using ROS1 and ROS2 software libraries (which, along with an EDGE computer and high-speed modem, are on-board).The complete solution – hardware and software – enable consistent, high-accuracy positioning. InDro Plans to offer this complete solution to clients in need of precision positioning.Below: The Tallysman Smart Antenna solution, integrated with new ROS2 coding into the InDro Backpack<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk5NDY1ODE5MjkyLTIwMjMwOTA2XzEzNDcxOS1qcGVnLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">InDro was pleased to partner with Tallysman Wireless on this integration project. With robots increasingly used for remote inspection of high-value assets, accurate positioning and heading data has become essential.“Being able to tap into the expertise of Tallysman Wireless – and combine their solution with software from InDro engineers – has resulted in a powerful solution,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece.“We’ve already begun integrating this onto our own robots, and look forward to offering this to clients in need of the most accurate and reliable positioning possible.”Looking for more information? <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Connect with us HERE</a>.&nbsp;

GNSS Solution for Ground Robots

InDro Robotics and Tallysman Partner on a New Precision GNSS Solution for Ground Robots

The Robot Operating System (ROS) has been a game-changer in the world of robotics, enabling developers to create and manage complex robot systems with ease. However, as technology evolves, so does the need for more advanced tools and capabilities. This has led to the development of ROS 2, the successor to ROS 1, and it's gaining traction rapidly among developers. Let's explore the key differences between ROS 1 and ROS 2 and why many developers are making the switch:<h3>ROS 1: The Foundation</h3>ROS 1, often referred to simply as ROS, was introduced in 2007 and quickly became the go-to framework for robot development. It provided a flexible and modular architecture for building robotic applications, and its extensive library of packages and tools made it an attractive choice for developers. ROS 1 was built on a message-passing middleware called ROS Master, which uses the DDS (Data Distribution Service) communication standard for inter-process communication.<h3>ROS 2: The Evolution</h3>ROS 2 was introduced as the successor to ROS 1 and addresses several limitations that developers encountered with the original system. Some of the key differences and improvements <a href="http://design.ros2.org/articles/changes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">outlined by the ROS organization</a> in ROS 2 include:<ol><li>Real-time Support: ROS 2 offers enhanced real-time capabilities, making it suitable for safety-critical and time-sensitive applications, which were challenging to achieve with ROS 1.</li><li>Middleware Agnostic: Unlike ROS 1, which relies on the ROS Master, ROS 2 is middleware agnostic. This means it can support multiple middleware systems, such as DDS, Fast RTPS, and more. This flexibility allows for better compatibility with various hardware and network configurations.</li><li>Improved Security: ROS 2 incorporates improved security features, ensuring that robotic systems can operate securely in environments where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount.</li><li>Enhanced Cross-Platform Compatibility: ROS 2 has been designed with cross-platform compatibility in mind, making it easier to run on various operating systems, including Windows.</li><li>Simplified Dependency Management: ROS 2 streamlines package management, reducing dependencies and making it easier to manage the libraries and modules required for a project.</li></ol>Here's a chart outlining some of the key technical differences between ROS and ROS2:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk4OTQ1ODI4MDE5LVJPUyB2cyBST1MyIENoYXJ0LnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>Why More Developers Are Making the Switch:</h3>Improved Real-time Capabilities: ROS 2's support for real-time systems is a significant attraction for developers working on applications where timing and synchronization are crucial, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial automation.Middleware Flexibility:&nbsp;ROS 2's middleware agnosticism allows developers to choose the best communication middleware for their specific use case, ensuring better integration with different hardware and network configurations.Enhanced Security: With an increased focus on security, ROS 2 provides a safer platform for robots operating in critical environments, including healthcare, defense, and manufacturing.Cross-Platform Compatibility: ROS 2's compatibility with various operating systems, including Windows, opens up new possibilities for developers and allows for a broader range of deployment options.Long-Term Support: ROS 2 is well-supported and continually updated, providing developers with a future-proof platform for their projects. ROS 1 is no longer under active development, which means that it may not receive the same level of support and enhancements.Overall, ROS 2 is designed to address some of the limitations and challenges of ROS 1, such as scalability, performance, security, and cross-platform compatibility. While both ROS 1 and ROS 2 have the same core functionality, many differences exist between the two, and the decision to use one over the other depends on specific use cases and requirements. To see a more in-depth analysis please <a href="https://roboticsbackend.com/ros1-vs-ros2-practical-overview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visit “roboticsbackend”</a>.Here's what InDro's Engineering Manager, Arron Griffith, had to say: "Now is the time to make the switch to ROS 2 (or start using it). ROS 2 has matured over the 5 years to equal or better than ROS 1 after its first 5 years. Plus ROS 1 will be going <a href="http://wiki.ros.org/Distributions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">End of Life over the next 2 years</a>, so there is no point in starting with ROS 1 anymore, the future is ROS 2".As the robotics industry continues to advance, ROS 2 is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of robot development. If you're a developer, it's time to consider making the switch to ROS 2 to harness its full potential. &nbsp;Questions about ROS or ROS2? &nbsp;<a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Connect with an expert HERE.</a>

Why Developers Are Making the Switch

ROS 1 vs. ROS 2

Building robots is hard.Even if you start with a manufactured platform for locomotion, the work ahead can be challenging and time-consuming. How many sensors will require a power supply and data routing? What EDGE processing is needed? How will a remote operator interface with the machine? What coding will allow everything to work in unison and ensure the best data and performance possible? How will data be transmitted or stored?That’s the hard stuff, which inevitably requires a fair bit of time and effort. &nbsp;Typical robotics development is lengthy, it can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months from idea to a functional robot rolling around. The more complex the robotic solution, the more time it takes. <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/commander/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">InDro Commander</a> can reduce this to 1 to 3 months, depending on the complexity, plus InDro Robotics provides clients with software tutorials and one-on-one support.It’s that hurdle – one faced by pretty much everyone in the robotics R&amp;D world – that led to the creation of InDro Commander.<h2><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1Njc2MjEwMDg5LUNvbW1hbmRlciBvbiBCdW5rZXIuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></h2><h2>What Does InDro Commander Do?</h2><a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/commander/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">InDro Commander</a> is a platform-agnostic module that can bolt on to pretty much any means of locomotion. In the photo above, it’s the box mounted on top of the AgileX bunker (just above the InDro logo). &nbsp;Commander is a single box with critical software and hardware designed to simplify payload integration and enable turn-key tele-operations. &nbsp;Whether you’re adding LiDAR, thermal sensors, RTK, Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras – or pretty much any other kind of sensor – Commander takes the pain out of integration. &nbsp;With its modular system, reduced development time, software tutorials and one-on-one support, clients can get their robot solution to market faster and with less hassle.The module offers multiple USB inputs for sensors, allowing developers to decide on a mounting location and then simply plug them in. A powerful Jetson EDGE computer handles onboard compute functions. The complete Robot Operating System software libraries (ROS1 and ROS2) are bundled in, allowing developers to quickly access the code needed for various sensors and functions.“Our engineering team came up with the concept of the InDro Commander after integrating and customizing our own robots,” says Philip Reece, CEO of InDro Robotics. “We realized there were hurdles common to all of them – so we designed and produced a solution. Commander vastly simplifies turning a platform into a fully functioning robot.”Account Executive, Luke Corbeth takes it further:“The Commander serves as a “brain-box” for any UGV,” he says. “It safely houses the compute, connectivity, cameras, sensors and other hardware in an IP54 enclosure.”It also comes in several options, depending on the client’s requirements.“There are three ‘standard versions’ which are bundles to either be Compute Ready, Teleoperations Ready or Autonomy Ready,” adds Corbeth.“I’ve realized over time that the value of Commander is our ability to customize it to include, or more importantly, not include specific components depending on the needs of the project and what the client already has available. In reality, most Commanders I sell include some, but not usually all, of what’s in the Commander Navigate. We’re also able to customize to specific needs or payloads.”Below: Commander comes in multiple configurations<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1Njc0MDk1MDA2LVNjcmVlbnNob3QtMjAyMy0wOS0xOS1hdC0yLjMzLjQ2LVBNLnBuZy53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2>Commander Does The Work</h2>With InDro Commander, developers can spend more time on their actual project or research – and far less time on the build.“For end-users wanting a fully customized robot, Commander saves a huge amount of time and hassle,” says InDro Engineering Lead, Arron Griffiths. “Customers using this module see immediate benefits for sensor integration, and the web-based console for remote operations provides streaming, real-time data. Commander also supports wireless charging, which is a huge bonus for remote operations.”Commander serves as the brains for several InDro ground robots, including Sentinel. This machine was recently put through its paces over 5G in a <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/putting-sentinel-through-its-paces-at-epri/" target="_blank">test for EPRI</a>, the Electric Power Research Institute.Below: Commander is mounted on Sentinel, a site based autonomous robot, capable of complete continuous monitoring of infrastructure, with the ability to carry out autonomous inspection rounds with thermal, RGB and zoom sensors, for recognition of change detection.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjczODM5MTAwLVNlbnRpbmVsIEVQUkkuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><h2>5G Operations</h2>Depending on the model, Commander can also serve as a plug &amp; play device for operations over 4G or 5G networks. In fact, InDro was invited by US carrier T-Mobile to a 2022 event in Washington State to demonstrate&nbsp;the live, remote tele-operation of a Sentinel inspection robot.Using a simple Xbox controller plugged into a laptop at T-Mobile HQ in Bellevue WA, we operated a Sentinel in Ottawa – more than 4,000 kilometres away. There was no perceptible lag, and even untrained operators were able to easily control remote operations and cycle between the Pan Tilt Zoom camera, a thermal sensor, and a wide-angle camera used for situational awareness by the operator. Data from all sensors was displayed on the dashboard, with the ability for the operator to easily cycle between them.Below: T-Mobile’s John Saw, Executive Vice President, Advanced &amp; Emerging Technologies, talks about InDro Commander-enabled robots teleoperating over 5G networks&nbsp;<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-C88iEnsh7E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe><h2 id="isPasted">Future-Proof</h2>Platforms change. Needs evolve. New sensors hit the market.With Commander on board, developers don’t need to start from scratch. The modular design enables end-users to seamlessly upgrade platforms down the road by simply unbolting Commander and affixing it to the new set of wheels (or treads).Any sensor, including LiDAR, can be quickly integrated with InDro Commander.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1Njc1MDA4NjA2LVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0yNSBhdCA0LjQ5LjIzIFBNLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> You likely know the saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”InDro developed this product because we could see its utility – both for our own R&amp;D, and for clients. We’ve put Commander to use on multiple custom InDro robots, with many more to come. (We have even created a version of this for Enterprise drones.)“On the commercial side, our clients have really benefited from the inherent modularity that the Commander provides,” says Luke Corbeth.“Since the ‘brains’ are separate from the ‘body,’ this simplifies their ability to make the inevitable repairs or upgrades they’ll require. These clients generally care about having a high functioning robot reliably completing a repetitive task, and Commander allows us to operate and program our robots to do this.”It can also save developers money.“On the R&amp;D side, the customizable nature of the Commander means they only purchase what they don’t already have,” adds Corbeth.“For instance, many clients are fortunate enough to have some hardware already available to them whether it’s a special camera, LiDAR or a Jetson so we can support the integration of their existing systems remotely or they can send this hardware directly to us. This cuts down lead times and helps us work within our clients’ budgets as we build towards the dream robot for their project.”Still have questions or want to learn more about Commander?&nbsp;<a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/commander/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click HERE.</a>

A platform-agnostic module that can bolt on to pretty much any means of locomotion

InDro Commander Streamlines Robotics Research and Development

Delineating cobots and industrial robots, this analysis drives deep into their respective roles and divergent characteristics that make each a vital cog in the machinery of Industry 4.0.

Cobots vs Robots: Understanding the Key Differences and Applications

<h2 id="isPasted">How Forward AM and OECHSLER Enable Robots and Humans to Collaborate Safely at Profitable Speed</h2>In today&rsquo;s modern factories around the globe, many production steps are automated and carried out by robots.<div data-parent="true" data-section="2"><div data-imgready="true"><div data-imgready="true"><hr>Humans sharing a workspace and collaborating with robots has become a reality that companies and their smart factories just can&rsquo;t do without, as it allows flexible manufacturing in variable batch sizes with maximum efficiency. In short, successful human-machine interaction is key for future-proof manufacturing.</div>With Additive Manufacturing (AM), it is now possible to create new functionalities for robots and to unlock novel possibilities. The AM technology is perfectly suited for the production of small, customized batches for robotic parts like grippers &ndash; and it is ideally capable to integrate internal ducts, as air pressure and vacuums play an important role in this industry.</div></div><div data-parent="true" data-section="3"><div data-imgready="true"><h2>The challenge &ndash; safe human-robot collaboration at profitable speed</h2>Collaborative robots (short: cobots) become increasingly present in manufacturing. Designed to work alongside humans in shared areas, they work together &lsquo;hand in hand&rsquo; &nbsp;&ndash; which makes it crucial to ensure safety by avoiding collisions of cobot and human co-worker.This is prevalently achieved by inherent optical sensors which trigger an immediate stop of the cobot in case of unexpected contact: whenever a human co-worker enters the defined warning zone, the system lowers its speed to a minimum and if the person keeps approaching, the system stops &ndash; only after the individuum departs, the system accelerates back to full speed. It&rsquo;s obvious: this results in highly limited processing speeds of the cobot and thus higher cost and lower productivity for the manufacturing company. These interruptions in the workflow may lead to unstable cycle times as well, and foremost &ndash; it is absolutely contrary to the intention of cobots being deployed flexibly and easy to integrate as a plug-and-play system: To achieve an appropriate reaction to an approaching human co-worker, cobots have to be programmed accordingly; always depending on the cobot&rsquo;s task, its exact form of cooperation with the human worker, and its physical position in the factory. Whenever the cobot is deployed at another workstation on the assembly line, or performs different tasks and movements, its programming has to be adapted. This limited flexibility only allows pre-defined reactions of the cobot.</div></div><div data-parent="true" data-section="4"><div data-imgready="true"><h2>The solution &ndash; a protective lattice skin for cobots made of Forward AM&rsquo;s Ultrasint&reg; TPU01</h2><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjg2MTI0MTYzMjMxLWZvcndhcmQtYW0tdXNlLWNhc2UtY29ib3RpY3Mtcm9ib3NraW4tMy0xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><div id="isPasted"><div>The cobot Kuka iiwa with mounted RoboSkin made from lattice structures printed with Ultrasint&reg; TPU01. (Source: OECHSLER).&nbsp;</div></div> A new approach by Forward AM and OECHSLER, a leading German polymer processing company, enables humans and cobots to share a workspace without any safety risks and manufacturing companies to keep productivity constantly high.How? By adding a new layer to the current solution &ndash; literally. A thin, high cushioning second &lsquo;skin layer&rsquo; is wrapped around the cobot&rsquo;s joints. Using Forward AM&rsquo;s <a href="https://forward-am.com/find-material/powder-bed-fusion/ultrasint-tpu-line/tpu01/" target="_blank">Ultrasint&reg; TPU01</a> to 3D print the RoboSkin enables a flexible and individualized lattice structure. <a href="https://forward-am.com/find-material/powder-bed-fusion/ultrasint-tpu-line/tpu01/" target="_blank">Ultrasint&reg; TPU01</a> is a thermoplastic polyurethane powder specifically designed for HP 5200 series Multi Jet Fusion printers. This flexible material is ideal for producing parts requiring high shock absorption at excellent flexibility depending on the functional requirements of the application, making it the perfect match for the cobot&rsquo;s protective skin and its cushioning function.The benefits of the lattice RoboSkin are manifold. Putting safety first, it reduces the risk of injuries to human workers interacting with the cobot. At the same time, production speed can be increased strikingly: Since the collision forces and pressures are highly damped by the RoboSkin, the cobot&rsquo;s speed can accordingly be higher up to 150 percent&ndash; thus enabling increased productivity for the manufacturer.The overall handling of the skin is easy: Because the RoboSkin works as a mechanical collision buffer, it requires no additional sensors, just the TPU layer that takes up only minimal installation space and is mounted with an easy system. Moreover, the lattice design of the skin is easily, rapidly and cost-effectively adaptable to every cobot type, thanks to the advantages of 3D printing. In production halls, cobots are often deployed at different workstations. The RoboSkin eliminates the need for dismantling, re-assembly and re-calibration, thus saving time and cost.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjg2MTI0MTAzOTE3LWZvcndhcmQtYW0tdXNlLWNhc2UtY29ib3RpY3Mtcm9ib3NraW4tMS0xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><div id="isPasted"><div>Thanks to Additive Manufacturing and its design freedom, the RoboSkin is easily adaptable to different shapes and functionalities of each cobot. This image shows a RoboSkin for the axes 2 and 3 of the cobot Kuka iiwa created with a lattice structure printed with Ultrasint&reg; TPU01. (Source: OECHSLER).&nbsp;</div></div> </div></div><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjg2MTI0MTE4OTI5LWZvcndhcmQtYW0tdXNlLWNhc2UtY29ib3RpY3Mtcm9ib3NraW4tMi0xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Different axis, different RoboSkin &ndash; this image shows a cover for the axis 4 of the cobot Kuka iiwa (Source: OECHSLER).&nbsp;<blockquote><div data-imgready="true" id="isPasted">&ldquo;The RoboSkin solves a complex problem with a seemingly simple solution, enabling the end user to optimize the productivity of the human-robot-collaboration application. With AM, we can offer a configurable soft skin according to the safety needs at reasonable pricing &ndash; and which is reliable, easy to handle, lightweight, space-saving and permeable to ensure profitable performance.&rdquo;Meike Wischgoll, Program Manager, OECHSLER</div></blockquote><div data-parent="true" data-section="4"><div data-imgready="true"><div data-parent="true" data-section="6"><div data-imgready="true">Together, OECHSLER and Forward AM are enabling a solution that delivers a significant increase in safety and productivity. Harnessing the advantages of AM, human workers and cobots can work together at minimum risk of injury while maximizing productivity.</div></div></div></div>

Humans sharing a workspace and collaborating with robots has become a reality that companies and their smart factories just can’t do without, as it allows flexible manufacturing in variable batch sizes with maximum efficiency. In short, successful human-machine interaction is key for future-proof manufacturing.

Protective Lattice Layer for Cobots

In a warehouse or production facility, packing refers to the process of preparing goods and products for shipment or storage by placing them into appropriate containers or packaging materials. Packing presents many challenges that can significantly impact operational efficiency and overall productivity. One primary concern is the traditional toll it takes on the human-labor force. The labor-intensive nature of packing tasks can lead to workforce fatigue and decreased morale, potentially affecting safety and productivity.This article explores the need and benefits of automated packing solutions to streamline warehouses and production facilities, reduce time to delivery and increase safety. It highlights the features and applications of BRIXX&reg;, a new automated packaging solution with modular components and click-and-play-based software.<h1>Challenges in Packaging</h1>To understand the challenges in packing, it&rsquo;s crucial to understand the stages of packaging and packing along the &lsquo;product to pallet&rsquo; line. A product packaged in its for-consumption form is known as its primary packaging. Secondary packaging is used to group a certain number of products to create a stock-keeping unit, commonly referred to as a SKU. This helps the handling of smaller products and also adds a layer of protection for them during transport. Tertiary, bulk, or transit packaging is used to group larger quantities of SKUs to transport them from point A to point B (e.g. from the production facility to the point of sale). An example of tertiary packaging is a stretch-wrapped pallet containing a number of cardboard boxes (secondary packaging) to enable efficient product shipping.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTgxOTgyNjU5LTEgZmxleC5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A warehouse with a manual packing process.The challenges in automating packing lie at the secondary and tertiary stages because the conventional method of manual packing is costly and time-consuming due to the need for a large amount of labor. Complex packing requirements such as multiple product types and fragile items increase this labor need. This can then be further increased by seasonal demand.&nbsp;<h1 id="isPasted">BRIXX&reg;: An Innovative Packing Solution</h1>An example of an innovative solution for packing automation is BRIXX&reg;, a solution from <a href="https://www.flexlink.com/en" target="_blank">FlexLink</a>, a Coesia company. BRIXX&reg; is a modular, click-and-play software-based solution that reduces manual operations and provides an easy way to customize the process in co-packing lines. The solution was launched at <a href="https://www.interpack.com/vis/v1/en/exhprofiles/rOVtwM2eQ46OgVnf1sGOVw?oid=55128&lang=2&_query=flexlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Interpack 2023</a> and can be seen live until 10 May.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTgyMDM0MTM1LTIzMDMwMl9CUklYWF9wcm9kdWN0aW9saW5lX0xpZ2h0R3JleV9CYWNrZ3JvdW5kLTMwMDB4MjEyMS01ODliZDMxLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Mixing of products with BRIXX&reg; modules Image credit: FlexLink.With BRIXX&reg;, companies can automate operations for various products, including packages, cartons, and trays. The flexible system provided by Flexlink is scalable to meet varying production needs while remaining affordable and user-friendly. This is possible through advanced mobile conveyor modules and the use of robots to automate repetitive manual packing and co-packing processes.<h3>Modular approach to packing</h3>The BRIXX&reg; system comprises conveyor and robot modules that work with an intuitive software overlay. The modules are easy to move, connect, and power and can be configured in various ways to suit the packing needs of thier location. They are also equipped with visual indicators for operational status, a built-in vision system, and automatic calibration. The modules use the same power connection, simplifying their setup and maintenance.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTgyMDc5MjU3LWZsZXgyLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The&nbsp;BRIXX&reg; units can be configured in various ways to handle diverse packing tasks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Packing facilities can leverage the modularity and ease of set-up of BRIXX&reg; to become a hyper-agile packing line. A facility may set up one configuration of BRIXX&reg; for one packing task, such as palletizing, and then quickly reconfigure to enable them to complete a different type of task, such as labeling. This modular &lsquo;super power&rsquo; means packing facilities can offer more services to their customers and manage unexpected requests rapidly.The robotic arm module has a moveable, connectable base with a multi-degree robotic arm with a single or multi-pick vacuum gripper. The conveyor belt line is a simple unit with a speed-adjustable conveyor belt that can link to other units to form continuous packing lines.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTgyMTkyNjY5LUZsZXhMaW5rLTIzMDIyMi0xNS0yMDQ4eDEzNjUtMjNmMTY2My5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The modules click and connect using the same modular system. Image credit: FlexLink.The flexible combination of BRIXX&reg; modules enables various operations with the same hardware and software. Production companies or co-packers can automate packing actions such as pick-and-place, mixing, labeling, re-labeling, palletizing, or de-palletizing for increased productivity and efficiency. Product transformations, such as case forming, tray forming, and carton closing, are optionally available. <h3>BRIXX&reg; Software&nbsp;</h3>The BRIXX&reg; software is designed to be user-friendly and easy to operate. It has drag-and-drop functionality that enables the rapid setup and adjustment of the system. A functioning automated packing line can be set up with the assistance of step-by-step visual instructions. Additionally, the software provides real-time production monitoring through overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) indicators and alarms. Its human-machine interface also allows you to plan for ordinary and extraordinary maintenance.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTgyMjQ1MTY4LUZsZXhMaW5rLTIzMDIyMi0yOC0yMDQ4eDEzNjUtMjNmMTY2My5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The BRIXX&reg; software enables users to design efficient packing lines, check for maintenance, and monitor processes. Image credit: FlexLink.Hence, the user can rearrange the robotic modules and change instructions and configurations in the code according to the hardware setup. The system supports up to 5 different conveyor layouts.The BRIXX&reg; software also features a built-in SKU management system with a selector guide, allowing the user to manage inventory. It also features MES-ERP integration tools thanks and an optional unified name-space MQTT open interface to support inventory management for packaging and labeling units.<iframe id="644a3752133e690008b02766" width="250" class="specs-iframe" height="420" src="https://wevolver.com/iframe/specs/brixx-packaging-automation-system?iframe=true" frameborder="0" scrolling="true" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> The system also allows up to 4 user levels to help set up various permissions and restrictions on controls. It has real-time monitoring features that include alarms and OEE indicators. Moreover, remote assistance packages and an integrated HMI system are helpful for preventative maintenance and planning.The software features PackML standard support backup and restores features in IPC for additional security. Each unit has a dedicated software license and an additional Android application to enhance functionality for packaging line operators.The BRIXX&reg; solution enables companies to quickly adapt to the increasing demand for automation to increase efficiency and lower costs. The system&rsquo;s unique modularity ensures companies can lower thier risk while being prepared for seasonal and consumer changes.&nbsp;<h3>Applications</h3>The BRIXX&reg; system is suitable for many standard packing applications required by warehouses and other packing facilities. Common applications include adding boxes to pallets, known as palletizing, removing boxes from pallets, adding SKUs to other tertiary packaging, and labeling and relabelling.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTgyMzM5OTI2LWFwcGxpZmxleC5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h1 id="isPasted">Conclusion</h1>Automated packing solutions can increase efficiency and reduce costs and material waste by contributing to reduced packaging time and a company&#39;s sustainable footprint. FlexLink&#39;s BRIXX&reg; solution combines robot modules with intuitive software to automate secondary and tertiary packing applications.&nbsp;<h3>Learn more about BRIXX&reg;</h3>Flexlink is launching the BRIXX&reg;&nbsp; solution during <a href="https://www.interpack.com/vis/v1/en/exhprofiles/rOVtwM2eQ46OgVnf1sGOVw?oid=55128&lang=2&_query=flexlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Interpak 2023</a>. Visit them at their stand in Hall 6/D31.&nbsp;

An automated packing system leveraging modular components and intuitive software to address labor-intensive challenges, optimize operational efficiency, and streamline product handling processes. 

Modular Automated Packing System Offers New Flexibility and Agility

This is the seventh article in a 7-part series featuring articles on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/embracing-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-industry-40/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Transforming Industrial Manufacturing with Industry 4.0</a>. The series looks at technological developments and emerging trends in the manufacturing industry that drive growth and innovation. This series is sponsored by Mouser Electronics. Through their sponsorship, Mouser Electronics shares its passion and support for engineering advancements that enable a smarter, cleaner, safer manufacturing future. &nbsp;Customer needs and expectations are the driving force behind product development and manufacturing. Customers want product options and personalization. Customers want customized products manufactured and delivered quickly, and increasingly, customers expect manufacturers to align with their values.&nbsp;Although the traditional manufacturing goals of efficiency, accuracy, and safety remain relevant, manufacturing environments are trending toward new characteristics, such as being agile, accessible, data-driven, collaborative, resilient, and sustainable. The final article in the Transforming Industrial Manufacturing with Industry 4.0 series examines these characteristics and how they help meet customers&rsquo; rapidly evolving needs and expectations.<h1 dir="ltr">Agility to Meet Customer Needs</h1>Agile systems are rooted in batch production approaches, where the base product is mass-produced, but customization is carried out in batches &mdash;say, producing one batch with red paint, another with blue, and another with pink. Agility relates to market changes and what customers want; it changes the concept of producing one or two variations to instead offering those variations as options, taking manufacturing from customizing products to personalizing them. Whereas customization leads to customer satisfaction, personalization has an aspect of customer delight attached to it.The most advanced systems produce each product as a separate order along the production line, using customer data to drive personalization. Imagine ordering a product during the week of your birthday, for example. The manufacturer might add a birthday note in the box or print &ldquo;Happy Birthday!&rdquo; on the packaging to personalize the product. Or, say you have been researching meal delivery services online: A manufacturer might put a coupon in the box for a popular food delivery service. With batch production processes combined with customer data, manufacturers can do a lot to personalize products and not just satisfy customers but delight them.<h1 dir="ltr">Enhancing Accessiblity with Digital Technologies</h1>In industrial automation, accessibility refers to two different aspects. First, accessibility refers to connecting a distributed workforce through integrated, secure systems. Such systems have been evolving for decades, but only recently have the technologies necessary converged to enable seamless and secure collaboration. In earlier decades, we saw various components and pieces of technology make collaboration possible, but only now do we have what we need to fully integrate distributed workforces, resources, and services across all aspects of a business.Second, accessibility refers to integrating human factors into system design in terms of ease of use for installers, operators, technicians, floor workers, and others. Designing with humans in mind used to be an afterthought or a nicety. Now, companies realize that the installers, operators, and all the rest are the consumers in these cases. Therefore, considering human factors and applying related guidelines are important parts of design success.In both cases, cloud infrastructure, with system integrators such as infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, software as a service, and similar concepts, is the most significant enabler of accessibility. Teams working in real-time with minimum lag time provide considerable extensibility for the types of collaboration possible. Augmented reality (AR) is a good example. Rather than engineers, technicians, manufacturers, and other stakeholders flying in to install, operate, troubleshoot, or repair a mechanical system, AR enables stakeholders to access data analytics, see the system in real-time, and use visual overlays to make repairs or alterations. The efficiencies related to cost, time, and product life cycle are already significant, and we can expect them to increase the number of AR technologies improved over time.<h1 dir="ltr">Data-Driven Approach</h1>In today&rsquo;s industrial automation, data drives many insights. For instance, data can evaluate how a manufacturer is doing in terms of what is most important to the company. Here, value matrices are used to identify the five or six aspects most important in measuring the company&rsquo;s success, such as speed, accuracy, conformance to standards, conformance to regulations, and customer satisfaction. Using real-time data and data trends over time, stakeholders can see how the company performs overall, in terms of its values, and compared with industry averages.Data insights have moved humans from simply responding to manufacturing issues to instead proactively preventing and addressing them. Fluctuations in data can be used to identify when something is about to go wrong and then trigger email messages to responsible technicians, support tickets filed with the help desk, or text messages to supervisors. In some cases, fluctuations can be benign; nonetheless, real-time data and trends can help put humans in a proactive rather than reactive role.Finally, data can be used to evaluate the industrial automation characteristics discussed here. For instance, data can enable greater manufacturing agility by providing insights about when a manufacturer should start offering a sofa in additional colors or different fabrics rather than manufacturing those instances as product variations. Data can also drive process resilience by minimizing downtime for product variations and ensuring that humans are in the right places at the right times.<h1 dir="ltr">Boosting Efficiency through Collaborative Technologies</h1>The nature of collaboration is also evolving with humans collaborating with other humans and robots. The goal of using machines and robotics in industrial environments has historically been to shift heavy, repetitive, and dangerous tasks away from humans to mechanical and automated systems. Collaborative robotics (cobots) expands these use cases, however, to include:Skills that require years of training for humans to become proficient. Welding is one such skill where more than 100 hours of classroom time and three to four years as an apprentice are required. Even then, human welders typically cannot match the quality and consistency of welds that robots can make. By way of example, even highly skilled welders can weld only a 60cm seam in one continuous motion, and starts and stops can affect the overall quality of the weld. In contrast, robots can weld roughly a 121 cm seam in one continuous motion, producing a higher-quality weld. A collaborative approach for welding might have the robot completing steps that require skills and might affect quality. The human would do the tasks that are more intuitive to humans, such as setting up the process and handling exceptions. The idea here is to use the best of both worlds to achieve maximum efficiency.Tasks where robots can do part of the work. Imagine receiving components that are fragile or sensitive to handling or that require a clean room. In these instances, using a cobot to open boxes of various sizes and shapes would pose several design challenges and be less efficient or effective than having humans perform such tasks because the tasks are intuitive rather than calculated. In contrast, a cobot could easily meet the sensitive component handling requirements after the box has been opened and perhaps do so faster and more consistently than humans.<h1 dir="ltr">Finding the Balance between Resilience and System Complexity</h1>Resilience is about enabling systems to adapt quickly when variations in product manufacturing are needed. For example, imagine a system that is designed to produce product A. At the start of the production run, someone sets up the system to manufacture that product. However, what happens when variations of the product are needed &mdash;a different color, size, fabric pattern, module, or packaging?&nbsp;In less resilient systems, someone would need to manually change the setup to accommodate these variations, which means production downtime and higher labor cost. Resilient systems can withstand such unforeseen adversities and recover quickly. Resilient systems aim to account for possible variations that the system might encounter to adapt with as little downtime and human intervention as possible.From a design engineering standpoint, it&rsquo;s easy to get trapped in the idea of developing super-complex systems that can do many things and account for even rare scenarios. The more complex the system, however, the more opportunities for failures. A simpler system that handles 80% of production scenarios might be better than a more complex system that handles 90% of scenarios. Designing for resilience is about finding a balance between simplicity that requires more human time in the loop, and complexity that has more failure points and potentially affects other production areas.<h1 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h1>Companies that are agile, accessible, data-driven, collaborative with robots, and resilient are better positioned to meet the needs of their customers and stay ahead of the competition. As we move into the future, companies must continue to prioritize customer insights and use them to inform their automation strategies.&nbsp;This means understanding not only what customers want today but also anticipating their future needs and preferences. By doing so, companies can create a sustainable competitive advantage that will enable them to thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. With the right approach to industrial automation, companies can meet customer demands and create a more connected, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem.This article is based on: <a href="https://resources.mouser.com/automation/customers-driving-industrial-automation-innovation" id="isPasted" target="_blank">Customers Driving Industrial Automation Innovation</a>, a blog by Mouser Electronics. It has been substantially edited by the Wevolver team and Electrical Engineer <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/ravi.rao" target="_blank">Ravi Y Rao</a>. It&#39;s the final article from the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/embracing-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-industry-40" target="_blank">Transforming Industrial Manufacturing with Industry 4.0</a> Series.<hr id="isPasted">The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/embracing-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-industry-40/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">introductory article</a>&nbsp;presented the different topics covered in the&nbsp;Transforming Industrial Manufacturing with Industry 4.0 Series.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/sensor-fusion-plcs-and-low-power-components-enable-innovations-in-manufacturing-40/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">first article</a>&nbsp;discusses&nbsp;Sensor Fusion, PLCs, Low-Power Components, and Vision Systems and their impact on the progression of Manufacturing 4.0.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-impact-of-industry-40-on-industrial-engineering-branches" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">second article</a>&nbsp;examines the expanding and evolving roles of&nbsp;systems, process, and design engineers within the design chain of bringing new industrial automation products to fruition.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/building-smart-factories-with-industrial-iot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">third article</a>&nbsp;takes a look at the&nbsp;development of smart factories, their characteristics, benefits, and challenges&nbsp;that need to be addressed for a successful digital transformation.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/overcoming-challenges-in-industrial-robotics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fourth article</a>&nbsp;focuses on technologies like&nbsp;Robot Operating Systems, edge computing, and new software solutions that are improving robotics in industrial and commercial environments.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/ai-driven-ar-in-manufacturing-from-data-to-actionable-insights/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fifth article</a>&nbsp;explores some challenges in&nbsp;accessing information in the manufacturing sector and how AI-driven AR has the potential to overcome them.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/digital-twins-bridge-gap-between-product-design-and-manufacturing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sixth article</a>&nbsp;explains how digital twins are helping bridge the gap between design and manufacturing.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/customers-driving-innovation-in-industrial-automation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">seventh article</a>&nbsp;how&nbsp;manufacturing environments are adapting to the evolving customer needs and expectations.<hr><h1 dir="ltr">About the sponsor: Mouser Electronics</h1>Mouser Electronics is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,200 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgzMTM2NjA0ODUxLTE2ODMxMzY2MDQ4NTEucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="720" height="91" class="fr-fic fr-dii">

Article #7 of Transforming Industrial Manufacturing with Industry 4.0 Series: Customer needs are driving innovation in industrial automation, with manufacturing environments trending towards new characteristics such as being agile, accessible, data-driven, collaborative, and resilient.


Customers Driving Innovation in Industrial Automation

Robotic joints, which are sometimes known as axes, are the moveable parts of a robot that cause relative motion between adjacent links. These links refer to the rigid components that connect the joints to ensure their proper and straightforward operation. 

Mastering Robotic Joints: An In-Depth Guide to Anatomy, Physics and Challenges in Design

<a data-attribute-index="0" data-entity-hovercard-id="urn:li:fs_miniProfile:ACoAAAFeVQkBW6afBYfUUh_JYbfniwGE2Y7yljQ" data-entity-type="MINI_PROFILE" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAFeVQkBW6afBYfUUh_JYbfniwGE2Y7yljQ" id="isPasted" target="_blank">Daniel Haefliger</a> from&nbsp;<a data-attribute-index="2" data-entity-hovercard-id="urn:li:fs_miniCompany:3072981" data-entity-type="MINI_COMPANY" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/sateco-ag/" target="_blank">Sateco Group</a> presents its non-printed technology based on multilayers of moulded conductive silicone. &nbsp; This is a unique technology. The sensor typically has a size of 10-40mm with a thickness of &gt;3mm. It can measure forces in the range of 10-100 N with a resolution of around 0.1 N. The sensor can follow the direction of applied force for some 1mm.&nbsp; Interestingly, the exact behaviour of the sensor can be designed and adjusted by controlling the spaces between the layers to suit specific application requirements.&nbsp; The technology is reliable. It is shown that at room temperature, it experiences only 5% driff when subjected to 5,000,000 cycles of 20N force. It experiences only 20% drift over full scale when subjected to 100k cycles of 20N force at much harsher conditions&nbsp;(T range: -40 - 85C | RH: 0-90%) In clip from Daniel&#39;s full presentation given at&nbsp;<a data-attribute-index="4" data-entity-hovercard-id="urn:li:fs_miniCompany:71510477" data-entity-type="MINI_COMPANY" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/techblick/" target="_blank">TechBlick</a> in March 2022, you learn about some unique applications of this technology, including: 1- Collaborative robots: these robots work alongside or in close proximity to humans. They are not caged as are typically industrial robots. As such, they require integrated soft 3D sensors to measure proximity as well as impact. This Sateco technology is uniquely suited to this application. 2- Smart steering wheel: the moulded silicone force sensor technology can be integrated within the centre of the steering wheel.&nbsp;They provide soft touch input and still enable the airbag to be deployed. 3- Wearable devices: in this example, developed with&nbsp;<a data-attribute-index="6" data-entity-hovercard-id="urn:li:fs_miniCompany:1576237" data-entity-type="MINI_COMPANY" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/fraunhofer-iao/" target="_blank">Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO</a>, they show how the sensor can be integrated into pagbacks to measure the load that children bear when carrying their bags Join us on 12-13 OCT 2022 to learn more about this super exciting technology and how it can enable 3D soft touch and force sensors &nbsp;<a href="https://www.techblick.com/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.techblick.com/</a>Application Info in the Video<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/737506180" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" style="width: 727px; height: 437px;"></iframe> Technical Info in the Images Below <img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1659976672664-1.png" style="width: 556px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1659976685332-2.png" style="width: 523px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1659976696777-3.png" style="width: 550px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1659976709296-4.png" style="width: 576px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1659976725317-5.png" style="width: 590px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Meet the Sateco team at TechBlick in Eindhoven on 11-13 OCT 2022<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1659976795489-1.emil-banner-v1+%281%29.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

Technology for creating 3D force and proximity sensors based on silicone, offering also the ability to customize shape and characteristcs.  Key application is in collaborative robots



3D-shaped mechanically-compliant soft force, pressure, or proximity sensor with ease of integration and good reliability data?

With a revolution in robot programming coming in the form of easy to use collaborative and industrial robots, more machine shops are taking on automation projects. Although some of the initial setup and programming becomes much easier, the problems with integrating configuring and programming these peripheral devices still persist.&nbsp;READY simplifies the processes of integrating the robot with those peripheral devices. READY makes the process of programming the entire task easy enough that anyone on the factory floor can do it. Using Forge/OS, a cross platform automation operating system, it enables anyone to configure and control all aspects of the automation cell no matter the brand of robot or peripheral.<h2>High Mix using Forge/OS</h2>Automation can be difficult to justify In a high mix &nbsp;manufacturing environment. &nbsp;When a machine runs a wide variety of parts, the automation needs to be just as versatile. Many machinists are accustomed to adjusting features of the job to get the best result. Commonly machinists often modify parameters in the CAM software and changing tooling on the machine depending on the job. Robots traditionally don’t work the same way. During changeover it can be complicated and &nbsp;difficult to modify a program or change a peripheral. This can lead to the potential loss of time due to the lack of knowledge and skill in robot programming.<a href="https://www.ready-robotics.com/software/forge-os/" target="_blank">Forge/OS</a> vastly simplifies the changeover process in a high mix environment. Automation becomes much more accessible utilizing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ready-robotics.com/software/productivity-apps/" target="_blank">Task Canvas</a>, the flowchart programming application. In Task Canvas each action is controlled by a block that has customizable control built in. We’re going to look at a few blocks within Task Canvas that will simplify changeover.<h2>Camera Block</h2>The Camera Block can be a great &nbsp;solution for a high mix manufacturing environment. Vision systems have a wide variety of uses, most often allowing the robot to locate parts within the workspace. The camera is programmed in the vision system’s native software. This is used to &nbsp;locate the part specified in the software and give the robot a point in space to grasp the part.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1643636229091-Text-Overload.00_00_07_08.Still004-1024x576-1.webp" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">READY makes these vision systems much more useful with the Camera Block. In Task Canvas these blocks are used &nbsp;to send and receive signals from the vision systems controller after the camera takes the image. When part changeover happens the vision system will need to be updated for the new part, but the blocks and the logic in Task Canvas stay the same. This vastly reduces the time it takes to change to a new part.<h2>Grid Block</h2>The grid block lets the robot to move the end effector (end of the robot) &nbsp;from one position to another following a customization grid pattern. Since the camera is mounted to the end of the arm, the vision system can be programmed to take an image every time it gets to another point in the grid. With only creating 3 waypoints and changing a few parameters, the robot can continuously scan for parts on the work surface, and even alert the operator if the parts need to be refilled.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1643636256709-DSC_0543.MOV.00_00_07_13.Still001-1024x576-1.webp" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">Gripper Block</h2>Once you can locate the parts using the grid move and camera blocks its time to pick the part up. In this high mix environment your parts will change so your gripper will need to be just as flexible. The gripper block will allow you to control a gripper no matter the actuation type. If you have a suction gripper or an electric gripper they both are programmed the same way. This vastly opens up the possibilities in your manufacturing space. If your parts change you can easily modify the program to accommodate the parts. If the parts are different enough, the gripper can be changed and the program can be updated in minutes.Check out our video that puts these principles into action.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CzbQZv1yVxw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 761px; height: 439px;"></iframe>Forge/OS can help boost your production by simplifying the difficult parts of automation. Using the blocks built into Task Canvas anyone in the shop can learn and master automation

With a revolution in robot programming coming in the form of easy to use collaborative and industrial robots, more machine shops are taking on automation projects. 

High Mix Manufacturing - Simplified with Task Canvas Blocks

In this episode, we talk about how collaborative robotics can reinvent the construction industry and how software can be used to hack your brain. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/b8317b85-c754-419a-9618-cd428daeff87?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> <hr>This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1632759161635-Mouser-sponsor-1-a.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>(0:55) - <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/robot-assistants-project-aims-to-reinvent-construction-industry" target="_blank">Reinventing The Construction Industry</a>:&nbsp;There are 150,000 accidents on construction sites every year and there have been little technological advances to mitigate these risks - until now. University of Michigan is leading research efforts to develop a collaborative robot that can handle all the physically strenuous, and dangerous, tasks on the job site with instructions from seasoned construction workers.&nbsp;(11:46) - <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/software-that-helps-us-increase-our-mental-strength" target="_blank">Software To Increase Mental Strength</a>: Have you ever struggled to focus when you really need to? Or worse, find your brain to be incredibly active when you are trying to sleep? Well, ETH Zurich researchers have designed a software program to analyze and display brain activity on a spectrum - MyFlow - to make your life a little easier. MyFlow does this via retinal image analysis and can provide activities to train your brain in a manner that best suits you.&nbsp;<hr>About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a>if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.

In this episode, we talk about how collaborative robotics can reinvent the construction industry and how software can be used to hack your brain.

Podcast: How To Reinvent Construction Using Robotics

This is the fifth article in a <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">7-part series</a> examining solutions for robot control. The series looks into solutions for power, data, and signal, necessary to push the role and capabilities of industrial robots. This series is sponsored by<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/mouser.electronics" target="_blank">&nbsp;Mouser Electronics</a>, an online distributor of electronic components. Through their sponsorship, Mouser Electronics is dedicated to sharing knowledge about the possibility of a greener, more reliable, and better-connected manufacturing future.<h2 dir="ltr">IoT delivers increased coordination and control of automation</h2>The Internet of Things (IoT) has arrived, and its future is profound. Billions of devices are being connected to the Internet, allowing for the capture, manipulation, and processing of signals from a wide range of sources. Everyday objects and devices employ sensors to capture information and are then networked for greater connection and visibility. Collecting analog data from the external world, the network encodes it into digital signals and transfers it across time and space with the Internet. Information is managed at the levels of device, edge, and cloud.One major benefit of the IoT is the increased coordination and control of automation, which is increasingly being deployed within industry. In this setting, this subset of the IoT is known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). It is primarily concerned with the use of mostly automated and networked equipment within a system of manufacturing or other industrial production. The availability of increasingly large amounts of data brought into the network by way of the IoT-enabled devices allows for massive amounts of data to be processed quickly and efficiently, providing insight and better decision-making and process control for industry.IIoT is converging with another key industrial technology: robotics. Robots have long been used in industrial processes. The example most people are familiar with are robotics used on manufacturing lines, such as those for automobile assembly. Semiconductor manufacturing also makes excellent use of robots for steady and reliable process control and the handling of sensitive products that require great care and consistency.The growth of IIoT is enabling the rise of industrial cobots. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/what-is-a-collaborative-robot" target="_blank">Cobots</a> are collaborative robots that have been adapted to work synergistically with humans. The use of cobots is increasing because the IIoT allows for robots to be coordinated with human activity, achieving higher levels of cooperation and efficiency. Whereas traditional robots are programmed to work mostly independent of human-specific interactive activities, cobots engage with people. They work with them cooperatively and synergistically.&nbsp;This is not a cobot invasion&mdash;the taking over of an industry by intrusive force. Instead, it is an engagement, a mutually beneficial arrangement and relationship, which provides benefits for both human workers and industry as a whole. This article will look at the enabling technologies of this change, as well as some applications of cobots in an industrial setting.&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMwMzM2NDM5MzM4LWNvYm90LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 1: A new generation of robots, termed &ldquo;collaborative robots&rdquo; or &ldquo;cobots,&rdquo; is now being integrated into manufacturing environments. Image credit: KUKA.</div><h2 dir="ltr">Enabling Technologies</h2>Cobots are engaging with IIoT because technology is allowing the robots to be transformed by acquiring new skills that were previously outside the domain of traditional robots. These technologies serve to enhance human and robotic interaction, improve worker safety, and reduce costs. Improvements in sensor, actuator, control, and computation technologies empower the cobot&rsquo;s perception, data fusion and processing, artificial intelligence, and actuation. Other technologies promote ease of use, adaptability, and lower costs. Let&rsquo;s look at three specific enabling technologies that are giving rise to cobots engaging in IIoT: artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer/machine vision, and intelligent edge computing.<h3>Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning&nbsp;</h3>Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technique to process digital data in a manner that seeks to emulate the function, behavior, or results of human thinking. Machine learning (ML) is a subset of AI that uses algorithms that automatically improve through experience and the use of data.&nbsp;Traditional robots operate according to preprogrammed instructions that get repeated without regard to changes in its operational environment. A cobot, on the other hand, incorporates AI. Cobots can to some extent perceive their environment; reason and solve problems; recognize, learn, and adapt to new situations and contexts; autonomously make decisions; and interact with humans. The &ldquo;programming&rdquo; of a cobot to operate in a new environment is not necessarily complicated and can involve a human operator manually walking through the desired motion by moving the cobot&rsquo;s arms through the desired trajectory.&nbsp;AI and machine learning is enabled through high-speed computer processors and software that may incorporate a variety of technologies such as fuzzy logic, probabilistic methods, neural networks, and expert systems. These technologies provide cobots with human-like qualities that promote human-robot interaction and collaboration.&nbsp;Cobots take and process large amounts of raw data from numerous sensors. This data is integrated, processed, and interpreted, enabling the cobot to make informed and accurate deductions about the environment so that appropriate actions may get taken. This must be accomplished in virtually real-time to avoid latency issues in the cobot&rsquo;s operation with humans. Machine learning algorithms effectively integrate all the data from various types of sensors, which may come from different locations within the workspace or may be sensed at different times to make informed and accurate deductions about the environment and situation. AI and ML enable the cobot to have a form of cognition that mimics human behavior, thereby allowing them to more successfully engage with humans in IIoT environments.<h3 dir="ltr">Computer/Machine Vision&nbsp;</h3>Vision is one of the most significant human senses, and is typically the primary way in which humans perceive the external world. Similarly, cobots can be made to perceive through a process called computer or machine vision. Machine vision allows the cobot, in a manner mimicking human eyesight, to detect and identify objects, spaces, scenes, orientations, and locations in the visible (30nm&ndash;730nm), infrared (&gt;730nm), and ultraviolet (&lt;430nm) wavelengths. Light detection and ranging (Lidar) is a detection system that works on the principle of radar but uses light from a laser. Much of the focus on machine vision is related to working out the problems associated with adequately distinguishing and correctly categorizing objects, so that decision making and object handling do not become industrial process bottlenecks. Machine vision allows for improved accuracy, higher throughput, collision avoidance, and situational awareness.&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMwMzM2NTEyNTgyLU1JVC1SaWdodGhhbmQtcm9ib3RpY3MtMDEtcHJlc3NfMC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2: A robot sorting products. Image credit: MIT.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Intelligent Edge Computing</h3>Cobots themselves are built from edge devices, which are interconnected together within the IoT. These edge devices are continually increasing in technical capabilities and intelligence. They are becoming smarter, with the ability to sense and respond to more things and communicate and process it accordingly.&nbsp;Cobots represent the next step of autonomy for robotics, giving them more ability to operate and decide how to perform their particular tasks within their work environment, even as they work alongside and in contact with humans. Increasing the complex interaction of machines and humans requires a way of handling and coordinating the vast amounts of data closest to the location of operation. The preference is for intelligent processing of the data to be done locally rather than remotely or at a hub or gateway.&nbsp;The intelligent edge consists of network systems and technologies created and adjusted to meet the needs of localized data management. It must have sufficient data capacity, proper system performance, system bandwidth, security, and reliability. Further development of edge computing will allow the creation of new generations of cobots with increasingly autonomous capabilities.<h2 dir="ltr">Cobot Applications</h2>New applications for collaborative robotics within manufacturing continue to develop and expand. Reliable cobots provide a safe and secure way to assist manufacturers in producing higher quality and highly adaptable processes with productivity gains. Some of the IIoT applications include assembly and manipulation, handling and loading, and inspection.<h3 dir="ltr">Assembly &amp; Manipulation</h3>Production machines such as the kind used for computer numerical control (CNC) machining must continuously be tended by an operator. This operator is responsible for loading raw material, starting the machine, ensuring its proper operation, and unloading finished parts. Assembly and manipulation tasks such as this are some of the most common industrial jobs. Often monotonous and boring, they usually do not require a high skill level, and operators are prone to injury due to repetitively lifting heavy materials and parts. Other examples of assembly and manipulation operations include stamping, grinding, trimming, welding, injection molding, printed circuit board (PCB) testing, part inspecting, and coordinate measuring.Cobots may be an ideal fit for assembly and manipulation applications. They can be placed in front of a traditional manufacturing machine and are easily programmed to perform the required loading and unloading tasks. Periodically, skilled technicians may examine the machine and tools and perform regular maintenance. This can lead to better workforce utilization, where the cobots get used for the lower-skill-level manual operations, and technicians get used for the higher-skill-level tasks such as inspecting, repairing and changing tools, performing quality control tests, and taking appropriate corrective actions. This, in turn, can result in significant labor savings, lower injury rates, less production downtime, a more highly motivated workforce, and higher productivity.<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMwMzM2NTk0MDcyLVBlcnNvbiBXb3JraW5nIG9uIENvYm90IC0gQ05DIE1hY2hpbmUgVGVuZGluZyBLaXQtMS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 3: A cobot tending a CNC machine. Image source: Robotiq.</div>Pick and place robots require the precise location of the unfinished assemblies and parts. Cobots are adaptable to non-precise placement, as they incorporate machine vision systems that facilitate positional feedback. A collaborative or adaptive assembly operation may involve the use of a human operator first to inspect, sort, and select a particular part, then roughly align the part onto an unfinished assembly (that is, a work-in-progress). In a subsequent assembly step, a cobot would complete the construction by fastening the part to the incomplete assembly. An operation such as this might be advantageous in situations where pieces are too small to align with unaided human vision; or where the final alignment and attachment of the part requires a great deal of dexterity or strength; or where final assembly must get performed at high temperatures, in a challenging environment, or with hazardous chemicals or adhesives. A cobot is useful in any situation where the location, orientation, or placement of parts onto an unfinished assembly is not accurate or repeatable.<h3 dir="ltr">Handling and Loading&nbsp;</h3>Handling and loading tasks may involve the removal of products from an assembly line or conveyor belt, counting and wrapping them appropriately, applying labels, placing them into cartons, and sealing the cartons. High-speed, high-volume manufacturers can create specialized robotic machines and equipment for packaging. Cobots may be an ideal fit for such handling and loading applications.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BmObKCnxv6c?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 767px; height: 499px;" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> Collaborative robots can be used to augment human capabilities during manufacturing and assembly operations by assisting in the performance of repetitive tasks or tasks that require strength or extended reach. Manufacturing operations often may require lifting and positioning a substantial part, like an automobile door, onto an unfinished assembly, like an automobile body. Such a process might not lend itself to a completely automated operation if it requires fine adjustments to the part&rsquo;s position to ensure the part properly fits onto the unfinished assembly. In an automobile assembly operation, different vehicle styles might require varying numbers and forms of doors for installation, which may not be a suitable situation for a completely automated process. However, a cobot may be useful in this situation to lift the massive part. It could then carry out &ldquo;instructions&rdquo; from the human operator by responding to the operator&rsquo;s touch and then move to position the piece on the desired location of the unfinished assembly.&nbsp;<h3>Inspection&nbsp;</h3>Cobots can provide careful examination or scrutiny of items and never get tired, bored, or distracted. This makes them significant assets to improve IIoT processes related to safety, quality, and productivity. Cobots may be easily programmed to recognize and count items on a conveyor belt, apply packaging materials and labels, and place them into the appropriate cartons. Human workers may still work with the cobots while performing higher-skill-level tasks such as oversight related quality-control inspections. Programming for the cobot may get easily modified to adapt to changes in the product configuration or packaging requirements.<h2>Conclusion</h2>Cobots are already working alongside humans and becoming increasingly engaged in the world of IIoT. The IIoT is fostering new relationships between man and technology that are enabling digital and robotic technologies to improve performance and satisfy human needs. The future of industrial automation is not robots invading the workplace, but rather engaging with the workplace to make it better.This article was initially published by Mouser and TE in an<a href="https://www.mouser.com/news/teroboticssebook/mobile/index.html#p=1" target="_blank">&nbsp;e-magazine</a>. It has been substantially edited by the Wevolver team and robotics writer Dillon Garrison. It&#39;s the fifth article of a 7-part series exploring solutions for robot control. Future articles provide an overview of servo motor connections, discuss the role of digital twins in robot connectivity and look at trends in manufacturing automation. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>Article one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-enables-new-efficiency-gains-for-robots-in-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">looked at gains made by improved connectivity in industrial settings.&nbsp;</a>Article two&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/high-performance-connectivity-in-robotics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">looked at the quality of connectors for harsh environments.</a>Article three <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/motion-control-in-robotics-4-types-of-motors-for-industrial-robots" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">provided an overview of common motor types.&nbsp;</a>Article four <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/6-connectivity-solutions-for-industrial-robotic-applications" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">listed 6 Connectivity Solutions For Industrial Robotic Applications.&nbsp;</a> Article five&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/cobots-and-iiot-create-a-synergistic-working-relationship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">explores cobots and connectivity.</a><h2>About the sponsor: Mouser Electronics</h2><a href="https://eu.mouser.com/" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,100 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMwMzM2ODUxODU3LWxvZ28gYm90dG9tIGJhbm5lciBvay5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

Article #5 Robot Control Series. For several generations, industry has been well served by robots. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) now brings collaborative robots—called cobots—into a synergistic working relationship with humans inside the future of industrial automation.

Cobots and IIoT Create a Synergistic Working Relationship

In this episode, we talk about a collaboration between two professors at Cornell University to combat the multi-billion dollar annual loss of grapes by combating powdery mildew using AI and how a novel material developed by NASA JPL researchers can significantly reduce the cost of robotics worldwide. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/5b1d5989-c187-406f-881b-6f077c18f5bb?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> <h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>(1:04) -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/facial-recognition-ai-helps-save-multibillion-dollar-grape-crop" target="_blank">Facial Recognition AI Helps Save Multibillion Dollar Grape Crop</a>:Powdery mildew causes multi-billion dollar losses of grape crops on a yearly basis so it is no surprise that researchers like Professor Lance Cadle-Davidson from Cornell University are working on developing more fungus resistant varieties. The process of analyzing grape leaf samples is quite cumbersome and would’ve required 6 months of manual labor had engineer and computer scientists - Professor Yu Jiang - not stepped in. Professor Jiang was able to reduce the analysis timeframe down to just 1 day by developing a robot powered by a modified facial recognition artificial intelligence model and equipped with an optical microscope.(7:50) -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/metallic-glass-gears-up-for-cobots-coatings-and-more" target="_blank">Metallic Glass Gears Up For 'Cobots,' Coatings, And More</a>:&nbsp;Robots are composed of many mechanical components, the most important of which are the gears. NASA has leveraged the benefits of robotics in many missions (Mars rovers being the most famous) but the harsh atmospheric conditions have proven to be problematic for operation since the necessary lubricant for the gears has to be constantly heated up before conducting any task. NASA JPL recruited the help of Douglas Hoffman to address this problem and through his work they were able to develop bulk metallic glass gears which possess the hardness of crystals, maintain the favorable mechanical properties of metals, can be injection molded for mass manufacturing, and do not require lubrication. This breakthrough is a substantial move in the right direction concerning affordable robotics since gears account for ~50% of the price in robotic applications.--About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!

In this episode, we talk about a collaboration between two professors at Cornell University to combat the multi-billion dollar annual loss of grapes by combating powdery mildew using AI and how a novel material developed by NASA JPL researchers can significantly reduce the cost of robotics worldwide

Podcast: Robot That Will Save Grape Farmers Billions & How Metallic Glass Will Result In Affordable Robotics

<h2 dir="ltr">What is a Cobot?</h2>Cobot is short for collaborative robot and they are designed to work directly with people within a shared space. In comparison to traditional industrial robots, cobots utilize force feedback to detect collisions to ensure that no humans collaborating with the robot get harmed because of a potential impact. They are often designed with rounded or soft features and can only be operated with lower speeds (unless they are behind fences) to prevent injuries to people.Cobots can complete high precision and heavy-duty tasks with minimal oversight. Their function is to complement human skills, not to be a replacement for human workers. Hence, intuitive low code programming opportunities are a vital component to achieve a high acceptance from the users. Cobots are smaller, lightweight, and significantly more affordable than earlier industrial robots. Working alongside humans, they increase productivity and help to create safer, more efficient workplaces.<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/industrie.40.deep.dive.part.1.introducing.smart.manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Industrie 4.0</a>, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is the next movement in manufacturing. It’s the convergence of several technologies that combine continuous data gathering and artificial intelligence (AI) to be more agile, responsive, and customizable than traditional manufacturing. Collaborative robotics is an essential Industrie 4.0 technology. As Industrie 4.0 marches forward and AI continues to mature, more intelligent and capable cobots are on the verge of becoming ever-present. &nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">What is MAiRA?</h2>The Multi-sensing Intelligent Robotic Assistant <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/industrie.40.deep.dive.part.1.introducing.smart.manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">(MAiRA)</a> is the new cognitive cobot from German-based NEURA robotics. It delivers previously unseen features for cobots that will push them towards the goal of making them smarter, more user-friendly, and autonomous. moving them beyond industrial applications and into homes, healthcare, retail, and office spaces.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">Safety enables close working conditions</h3>MAiRA is equipped with an integrated proprietary sensor system that enables “Touchless Safe Human Detection.” The sensors can detect and distinguish people from other objects within a 3 meter range and provide instructions to the robot to change direction, slow down or stop. The sensor system provides a secure and robust 360° view and doesn’t struggle with problems like occlusion, dirt, or bad lighting conditions.&nbsp;This makes human collaboration with MAiRA much easier, safer, and more intuitive. While not having the safety fences of traditional industrial robots, cobots still must operate under complex safety rules and regulations that reduce the danger of harm for collaborative tasks.&nbsp;MAiRA’s extensive safety features based on the safe human detection feature allow a much closer physical interaction without the normally required risk assessment. The impact of this type of sensor in collaborative robotics is not to be underestimated. Current regulations are prohibitively restrictive and compulsory for most international markets. Any change to the operating environment, the cobot’s gripper, or other components affects the risk assessment of the robot. MAiRA's advanced system enables it to be employed more quickly and easily through a variety of settings.<h3 dir="ltr">Intuitive interaction and contextual awareness</h3>MAiRA is also equipped with advanced speech recognition enabling her collaborators to interact and give commands using voice. &nbsp;It also enables the cobot to recognize and track people using their voice or other sounds. Voice commands are a critical aspect of future cobots and other assistive technologies. Voice is perhaps our most intuitive method of communication and something that we constantly utilize when working in partnerships. MAiRA’s voice capabilities elevate its usefulness in industrial and healthcare settings where a person’s hands are likely to be already engaged in another activity. Voice is also a huge benefit when thinking about the role of cobots in personal healthcare; users with limited mobility can interact and command MAiRA without moving.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">Giving cobots cognition</h3>In addition to its voice capabilities, MAiRA is powered by an Intelligent Cognitive Robot Controller, called NEURON. This modular system enables MAiRA to understand her environment even when there are minute changes and adjust her own tasks or movements to be able to continue to operate at the highest productivity. &nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">MAiRA In-Depth</h2>The MAiRA Pro M has a reach of 1,400mm, repeatability of 10µm, and a dynamic payload of up to 12-15kg. Repeatability in cobots is its ability to achieve repetition of the same task. MAiRA’s NEURA encoders have a resolution of &nbsp;24 bits. This coupled with high precision NEURA motors allows for 0.1mm absolute accuracy and 0.2mm path accuracy. Path accuracy is the difference between the robot's actually traveled trajectory and its precalculated trajectory. MAiRA’s high accuracy and repeatability mean the cobot is extremely good at hitting its target and doing it repeatedly. This opens up many use cases to MAiRA which can not be performed with other cobots. <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjE5NzcxNzMyNjY3LU1BaVJBX2Z1bGxfYm9keTAwMV9zaGFkb3cuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="MAiRA, a white collaborative robot arm with blue light sensors. ">MAiRA Pro M. Image credit: NEURA RoboticsThe MAiRA cobot can be further customized with a suite of perception sensors depending on the client’s needs. These advanced sensors consist of a 3D RGB-D camera, six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) Force/Torque sensor, Smart Sensitive 6-DOF Sensor Skin for guidance by touch, 3D Voice Recognition Sensor, and Touchless Safe Human Detection. All of these sensors contribute to the cobot’s ability to map out its environment and react to it. This leads to a cobot that can avoid dangerous interactions with humans and perform dull, dirty, and dangerous jobs without excessive human intervention which opens up the workers to pursue more creative tasks.<h3 class="fr-img-space-wrap2">Drag and drop programming</h3></div>MAiRA comes equipped with an Intelligent UX Control Tablet called PERSPECTiVE, with a 10.1” touchscreen, running on the NEURON OS operating system. PERSPECTiVE also features a dead-man switch and an emergency button for an additional level of safety. The app-based interface is intuitive and requires no coding. Commands are drag and drop. This makes MAiRA more accessible to a wide range of users as it requires less training to operate than traditional cobots. And for more control, advanced users can program the robot in Python.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SjXnbXa2FFY??list=PLCIuXnSQHFF64X98DDSUxEKPsuMlCKSv5&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 788px; height: 437px;"></iframe>Advanced AI, easy programmability, capacitive and voice sensors for guidance, combined with the 360° sensor makes MAiRA easy to use and safe. Essentially, this would allow anyone to operate MAiRA with limited training. Interactions with the robot are intuitive, so that it becomes more of a helper, and not a machine meant to replace workers. Exactly how cobots and other automation tools will replace or augment human workers is a critical topic to consider. MAiRA’s intuitive programming ability means almost anyone can learn the skills and tools required to play a role in the maintenance and operation of the cobot.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">Where Will MAiRA Work?</h3>Of course, MAiRA is perfectly capable of working on the factory floor. Its high accuracy and repeatability make it ideal for pick and place. For example, it can be trained with a step-by-step wizard to recognize and identify objects and it learns with every training session to grasp different objects independently.MAiRA can get moving when paired with the Multisensing Autonomous Vehicle (MAV), an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) that is also designed to collaborate with humans. MAiRA, can be mounted onto the MAV robot to become a mobile manipulator. This opens up a wide range of applications for these cobots. Combined with MAV, MAiRA can organize the warehouse or stock the shelves of a supermarket.Its advanced AI and sensing capabilities help MAiRA work in challenging environments, and its ability to interact with people safely makes it a perfect robotic assistant for surgical and medical screening, and for use in dentistry. This frees up healthcare workers from doing mundane, routine tasks. Their skills and highly valuable time can be spent on more pressing matters. As we have an aging population and not nearly enough caregivers, MAiRA will be invaluable for eldercare.&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjE5NzcxODU1NzgwLWRlbnRpc3QuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A robot places a dentistry tool inside a patients mouth. ">Intelligent robots can assist with surgery and dental procedures. Image credit: NEURA Robotics.<h2 class="fr-img-space-wrap2">Looking Forward</h2></div>MAiRA brings cobots one step closer to full automation but is designed to work with people, not to replace them. Future versions of MAiRA will bring more capabilities to the cobot. Next year there are several new iterations of the cobot and its kin. A double arm version of MAiRA enhances its utility.A smaller version, the MAiRA Jr., is planned for the education sector and a more compact and agile MAV Jr. is in the works. Designed for smaller payloads, it could be paired with MAiRA to make an even friendlier, more useful assistant for all aspects of our lives. There is a real need for small, affordable, and lightweight cobots in these difficult times. Imagine a fleet of cobots preparing or even administering COVID vaccines. That would certainly help speed up the process of getting to herd immunity.Cobots have the potential to change our lives for the better by speeding up production safely and providing assistance in a wide range of applications. Intuitive controls, multi-sensing, and a powerful, teachable AI, makes MAiRA a better cobot. Enhanced safety features and the ability to safely interact with humans, allow this cognitive cobot to move beyond the limits of industrial settings. MAiRA can safely operate in offices, classrooms, and even in our homes. Soon, cobots like this will be ubiquitous enabling a new era of collaboration.

MAiRA robot in a medical setting. Image credit: Neura Robotics. 

Advanced sensors and sophisticated AI power intuitive robotic assistant.

MAiRA Smart Cobot Promises Next-Level Cognition and Interaction

This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1640817319915000&usg=AOvVaw2nPRdRwJrXSYYeM9RCFu5x" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/ef727514-e071-4310-94c3-ab0d48d9b24d?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>The full article will continue below.<hr><h1>The Digidog</h1>The New York Police department purchased a Spot robot from Boston Dynamics - which the department later named Digidog (personally I feel like this is a missed opportunity to call it RoboPup but oh well) - with the intention of providing an extra layer of safety for the officers called to a scene by having the robot inspect the perimeter.&nbsp;<h1>First Day On The Job</h1>Digidog's first call to action came when two men were being held captive and tortured in their home by armed intruders who were disguised as plumbers to gain entry. When police were eventually called to the scene by one of the captives who managed to escape, they decided to deploy Digidog and get a better idea of the situation inside the building before officers entered. Unfortunately, the intruders had already escaped but the victims were able to walk away from the situation with non life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/24jufNhuUSI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> <h1>Robots On The Force</h1>Although this might be the first utilization of a Boston Dynamics Spot by a police department, authorities have actually been getting extra assistance from robotics for quite some time now. In fact, here are some notable instances in recent years:2016 | Dallas, Texas: officers naturalized a target that had murdered 5 officers using a robot2015 | San Jose, California: robot delivery of some pizza and a phone helped talk down an armed man off the ledge who was planning on jumping off a bridge2014 | Albuquerque, New Mexico: gunman surrendered after robot deployed chemical munitions into the motel room where he had barricaded himself<h1>The Opposition</h1>Skeptics aren't too eager to embrace the addition of our new metallic friends to the force. Some, including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, have voiced their concerns regarding over-policing of underserved communities and the hefty price tag accompanied by each unit (base price = ~74,000 USD) which could be better spent elsewhere; however, since the Digibot has already started to prove its worth by minimizing endangerment of officers in the field, I suspect it is only a matter of time before we start seeing officers and their robotic partners nationwide.

The New York Police Department has started using a robotic companion to ensure the safety of officers in potentially life-threatening environments

Meet Digidog, The Real Life Robocop

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collaborative robots (cobots)

collaborative robots (cobots)

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