RoboDK, a pioneer in the world of robotics simulation and offline programming, announces its strategic partnership with Comau, a global leader in advanced automation solutions and robot manufacturer. The latest version of Comau Roboshop Next Gen software seamlessly integrates with RoboDK, making simulation more advanced.

RoboDK’s integration into Comau’s Software

This collaboration solidifies RoboDK’s presence in the OEM market, marking a significant step as an embedded solution. Comau users can now enjoy the benefits of RoboDK directly due to RoboDK’s integration into Comau’s Roboshop Next Gen software suite. This integration allows users to easily simulate and program robots using advanced CAD to path features, import 3D Models, detect collisions, integrate with external axes such as turntables and linear rails, support multiple robot cells in the same project, improved integration with CAD/CAM software and use advanced simulation features such as conveyors and grippers. This allows Comau robot programmers to easily use Comau robots for advanced manufacturing applications such as robot machining or 3D printing.

Realistic Robot Simulation (RRS)

In addition to these technical benefits, the collaboration also introduces support for Realistic Robot Simulation (RRS), providing accurate path and cycle time estimates. This advancement aims to provide businesses with a clear understanding of robot behavior and precise cycle time details, ensuring more efficient and optimized robot operations. Using RoboDK it will therefore be possible to create a program in a very intuitive way. Then through Roboshop Next Gen, it can be executed in a simulation with a Virtual Control and then deployed on a real robot!

While this partnership marks a significant step for embedded solutions, RoboDK remains committed to its ongoing collaboration efforts with various partners, reinforcing its dedication to make automation more affordable across industries.

Phillip from the RoboDK team shares his insights on the collaboration:

By working closely with Comau we were able to improve our integration with Comau robot controllers while keeping everything backwards compatible. The level of integration resulting from this partnership is immensely beneficial for all Comau users.

Albert Nubiola, CEO and Founder of RoboDK, comments:

We’re excited to partner with Comau and bring RoboDK’s advanced simulation features to Roboshop software at an unbeatable price. By working together, we were able to make advanced simulation more affordable. Our mission is to build a software platform where users can program any robot arm using the same software, democratizing robot simulation and programming. Partnering with Comau, one of the world’s premier robot manufacturers, marks a pivotal moment for us.

RoboDK distinguishes itself by embracing modern technologies, thus setting itself apart from peers reliant on older and more expensive software frameworks. With modern tools, integrations, competitive pricing, and an array of complementary features—including advanced CAD to path features, integrations with CAD/CAM software, collision checking, singularity avoidance, robot calibration and brand-agnostic offline programming—RoboDK stands out as a frontrunner. Users have access to extensive documentation and libraries at no cost. Moreover, RoboDK’s website, documentation and YouTube channel offers a rich collection of tutorials.

Alessandro Piscioneri, Head of Product and Solutions Management, remarks:

Comau has recently launched the latest version of RoboShop Next Gen, that allows our customers and partners to program our robots and simulate their functionalities in an easy and fast way. Thanks to the collaboration with RoboDK, a truly innovative company in robot programming and 3D simulation, it is possible for companies to create their virtual environments and simulate their applications in a matter of minutes, while using Comau’s software. It’s important to emphasize that this solution is aimed at both experienced and new programmers, in an effort to make robotics easier to design and use. This is a priority for us and we are investing heavily in this direction.

About RoboDK

Founded by Albert Nubiola in January 2015, RoboDK is a spin-off company from the prestigious CoRo laboratory at ETS University in Montreal, Canada. Designed to bring robust robotics simulation and programming capabilities to various sectors, RoboDK supports over 900 robots from more than 70 manufacturers.

About Comau

Comau, a Stellantis company, is a worldwide leader in delivering sustainable advanced automation solutions. With 50 years of experience and a global presence, Comau is helping companies of all sizes in almost any industry leverage the benefits of automation. Backed by a continuous commitment to designing and developing innovative and easy to use technologies, its portfolio includes products and systems for vehicle manufacturing, with a strong presence in e-Mobility, as well as advanced robotics and digital solutions to address  rapidly growing markets in industrial sectors. The company’s offering also extends to project management and consultancy. Through the training activities organized by its Academy, Comau is committed to advancing the technical and managerial knowledge necessary to face the challenges related to automation and leverage the opportunities of a constantly changing marketplace. Headquartered in Turin, Italy, Comau has an international network of 5 innovation centers, 5 digital hubs, and 12 manufacturing plants that span 13 countries and employ 3,700 people. Together with its wide network of distributors and partners, the company is able to respond quickly to the needs of its customers, no matter where they are located throughout the world.

Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

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Albert Nubiola, CEO and founder of RoboDK, drew inspiration from the challenges he encountered while programming industrial robots. He recalls, “I began my journey at Pratt and Whitney Canada in 2012. Pratt and Whitney designs and manufactures airplane engines. In the factory, many robots from different brands had to be programmed and maintained. There was a designated specialist for each robot brand, specifically when it came to software and programming. However, when asked about other robots, their knowledge was often limited.”

While working at Pratt & Whitney Canada, Albert saw an opportunity to address this challenge and founded RoboDK in 2015. “The need for a universal software solution became clear to me. As a robot programmer, you may feel locked into the ecosystem of software and hardware of a specific robot brand unless you explore alternative solutions. In contrast, our RoboDK software allows users to program any robot, providing many CAD to path tools and integrations with CAD/CAM software. Though there’s an initial learning curve when learning any new software, RoboDK is designed to be user-friendly, and we provide plenty of resources publicly available, including online documentation, video tutorials and examples.”

Ambition

To draw a parallel, this ambition mirrors what Microsoft achieved for personal computers with Windows. “Our goal is to empower users to master one software and use it to simulate and program any robot. Our mission stays the same since we started RoboDK in 2015: to integrate all robots in RoboDK so our customers can simulate and program any robot using our software.”

While some client’s approach RoboDK with challenges specific to one robot, not all see the broader value the software offers. “With our platform, if a customer decides to expand automation with more robots, they won’t face programming challenges if they choose robots from different manufacturers. Unlike RoboDK competitors, who price based on the robot models used, our pricing structure is transparent and publicly available on our website for all customers. Even though we initially targeted small and medium-sized enterprises, several large corporations have since adopted our solutions, signaling promising growth.”

Free version

RoboDK collaborates with major entities in the robotics industry, even though their software might seem to be in direct competition with proprietary programming solutions. “Our strength comes from embracing modern tools, whereas many of our competitors still rely on software technology from the 1980s. Their need to maintaining backward compatibility may slow innovation. Hence, it’s companies like ours that drive broader innovation and make automation more widely accessible.”

“Our partnerships with numerous robot manufacturers, integrators, universities and the widespread use of our free version have significantly increased our brand’s visibility.”

Automation Challenges

The challenges that the manufacturing industry face span the vast spectrum of robotics applications. “Robotics has expanded beyond traditional automation, covering countless sectors. From robot machining, to artists using robots to draw strokes with oil paint to space agencies like NASA using robots for aircraft inspection, the applications are nearly boundless. An example of an advanced application is robot machining, which is among the most complex in terms of robot controller requirements and software.”

“The six-axis robot arm remains the industry’s most prevalent model. Its dominance comes from its versatility, providing full freedom for 6D positioning in space. Five-axis robots are usually more affordable but less common due to their limited freedom of motion. While seven-axis robots introduce greater freedom, they are usually more complex and expensive. The six-axis variant emerges as the optimal choice. It balances capability with ease of use, making it a versatile tool for a multitude of applications.”

Robot accuracy

Manufacturing applications such as robot machining require high precision as it entails following thousands of points accurately. However, robot arms are known to not be accurate. “At RoboDK we have integrated our CAD/CAM features with robot calibration, one of our premium products. With robot calibration we identify robot errors to improve accuracy up to 0.150 mm. Therefore, when you generate robot programs with a calibrated robot, RoboDK automatically compensates robot errors to generate accurate programs.

“For example, a robot cutting through a straight line will deviate slightly from its path because of inaccuracies. To mitigate this, we break down the line into small segments, accounting for expected deviations at each point to compensate robot errors and cut through a straight line accurately. This rigorous method significantly improves accuracy and is essential for high accuracy tasks, such as furniture crafting.”

Future plans

Looking ahead, Albert anticipates a shift in the robotics landscape towards more budget-friendly automation solutions. “Our company plays a significant role in deploying automation solutions at scale, making automation more affordable and easier. Also  many firms, particularly those from China, are achieving notable advancements in hardware.”

“A widespread misconception exists that equates Chinese products with lower quality. In my opinion, some Chinese companies produce good quality robotic arms that match the standards of their Western competitors, yet come at a much lower price.”

This shift underscores China’s escalating prominence in the robot installation domain. Data from the International Federation of Robotics indicates that, in the past year, China’s robot installations exceeded the combined total of installations for the rest of the world.

Innovation at RoboDK

The next significant leap in robotics will come from AI integration. “The challenge lies in its implementation, given the high costs associated with hiring proficient AI programmers.”

He concludes: “We are dedicated to developing new products that make automation more accessible and easier to integrate with existing production lines. Computer Vision is one such area where we’re aiming to enhance our capabilities. Self-calibration procedures is another domain we’re exploring.”

“When it comes to the future of RoboDK, our primary focus is innovation and ease of use. We develop new products based on specific customer requirements that align with our vision. We work on multiple new projects trying to make automation as easy and affordable as possible.

What questions do you have about RoboDK? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.”

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Robot simulation software company, RoboDK, recognized the need for a more compact and versatile solution that doesn’t rely on conventional computers. Following customer demand for such a product, they created TwinBox. This self-contained system offers a full suite of features that enable users to easily set up and manage robotic systems in their workspaces using a simple single-board computer or IPC.

TwinBox can be easily controlled through a web browser, allowing you to trigger actions remotely and have a 3D view of your cell.

Dmitry Lavygin, software developer at RoboDK, says:

RoboDK is already able to run programs directly on real robots using its online mode and robot drivers. However, it is not common to see desktop or laptop computers in production environments.

The goal with TwinBox is to provide a dedicated version of RoboDK for industrial computers and enable remote control on embedded devices, without the need of a local display, keyboard, or mouse. You can simply control the system remotely from anywhere, using your browser or another remote RoboDK connection.

The need to minimize clutter and save space with production robots

The team at RoboDK conceived TwinBox after identifying a gap in the market – there were no space-efficient solutions for production engineers wishing to directly implement RoboDK into the production line. The product’s compact size offers the advantage of easy positioning – it can be installed either next to or within the factory robot’s control system.

A key feature of the TwinBox is its ability to function effectively without the need for a mouse, keyboard, and monitor. It solely requires network interfaces to seamlessly connect to an internal network and a robot control system.

This allows users to save more of their valuable floor space while still being able to utilize the full suite of features that RoboDK has to offer.

TwinBox is an all-in-one solution for robot programming and automation engineers, with many benefits including its compact size, low cost, easy setup, and versatility.

Remote robot programming built on reliable technologies

RoboDK’s approach to product development is to build new solutions on the back of tried and tested technologies, where possible. This means the company can deliver high-quality remote robot programming solutions without compromising on reliability or stability.

With TwinBox, RoboDK has crafted a reliable system that runs on both industrial and consumer-grade hardware. It supports multiple operating systems and hardware architectures, including Windows and Linux Debian or Ubuntu running on Intel x86-64 platforms or ARM. RoboDK provides dedicated builds for systems such as the Nvidia Jetson or Raspberry Pi-based industrial computers.

Samuel Bertrand, software developer lead at RoboDK, says:

The software works just like the Desktop version of RoboDK. The main difference is that the system can be controlled remotely from any browser.

With its remote interface, users can also access their TwinBox from anywhere in the world, with full control of all connected external robots, devices, and sensors. This allows users to monitor their robots remotely, in real-time, giving them more flexibility and control over their automation than ever before.

Streamlining Multiple Devices into One Cohesive System

A common challenge with industrial robots is that each programming solution is often limited to a single manufacturer. This means that each robot brand needs to be programmed separately, which slows down deployment.

With TwinBox, users can connect multiple robots from different manufacturers together into one cohesive system. This increases flexibility and significantly speeds up the integration process.

RoboDK supports over 900 robot models from over 50 brands. This wide compatibility means that users can be sure that their TwinBox will work with almost any robot model they need it to. The system is also designed to effortlessly handle simultaneous connections from various devices. This includes not only robots but also additional devices like external sensors and computer vision cameras.

TwinBox enables simultaneous connections, allowing you to control it from a remote desktop with a browser. It also “supports” OPC-UA and RoboDK will be implementing other industrial protocols.

Future plans

The company plans to incorporate TwinBox into the larger RoboDK ecosystem. This includes existing solutions like the main RoboDK Desktop application as well as web-based development tools like RoboDK for Web.

This integration will enable users to take full advantage of all the features that have made RoboDK such a popular robot programming software among automation engineers.

The potential applications for TwinBox are virtually endless. The company hopes that users will take full advantage of the product to easily build efficient robotic solutions that can be easily deployed in production environments.

What questions do you have about RoboDK TwinBox? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

The post Introducing TwinBox: RoboDK’s Compact Solution for Production Robot Integration appeared first on RoboDK blog.

The most modern AI-powered virtual assistants leverage deep learning techniques and extremely large data sets in an algorithm known as a Large Language Model (LLM). Despite some current limitations, LLMs are revolutionizing the way that we all interact with computers, with the most prominent recent examples being OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama 2.

Let’s dive a little deeper into the world of Large Language Models and explore how they function, the challenges they currently face, and the future possibilities they present. As a bonus, we’ll discuss how we created the RoboDK Virtual Assistant and what we envision on the horizon.

Challenges and Future Possibilities of Large Language Models (LLMs)

Large Language Models are cutting-edge AI models that possess the remarkable ability to understand and generate human-like text. At their core, large language models function as finely tuned mathematical functions, trained to predict the next word or piece of text given the preceding context. Each word or token in the input text is converted into a numerical representation, and these representations are assigned weights and biases. Through techniques like backpropagation, neural networks adjust these parameters based on the discrepancies between their predictions and the actual next words in the training data. The process of training involves iteratively fine-tuning these weights and biases to minimize the overall prediction error, resulting in an unimaginably complex function that can generate coherent and contextually accurate responses. Advances in computing technology have enabled us to increase the size of these models. In the case of GPT-4, the function consists of approximately 1.76 trillion parameters.

Sebastien Bubeck, Sr. Principal Research Manager at Microsoft Research, says:

Beware of the trillion-dimensional space, it’s something which is very very hard for us as human beings to grasp, there is a lot that you can do with a trillion parameters.

LLMs have revolutionized various sectors such as natural language processing, content generation, and even virtual assistants. In the case of RoboDK’s Virtual Assistants, LLMs play a vital role in enabling advanced conversational abilities, allowing them to understand more complex queries and respond with coherent and contextually relevant information. This breakthrough technology has unleashed the potential of large language models in the robotics industry, paving the way for more efficient and natural human-robot interactions.

Despite their advancements, large language models (LLMs) face certain limitations and challenges. Biases in training data can propagate into the models, leading to biased and unfair responses. LLMs may also struggle with detecting and understanding contextual cues, resulting in responses that lack nuance or rely on spurious patterns in the data. Moreover, there is a growing concern regarding false responses and misinformation generated by AI models, which can have significant implications for users who rely on AI-generated content. It is crucial to exercise caution and implement measures that ensure proper fact-checking and human review of the outputs from LLMs. Understanding and addressing these challenges is essential to harnessing the capabilities of large language models while mitigating potential risks.

RoboDK’s Virtual Assistant

Now that we have explored the world of Large Language Models (LLMs), let’s shift our focus to the RoboDK Virtual Assistant. This Virtual Assistant is the first step towards a comprehensive generalized assistant for RoboDK. At its core is OpenAI’s GPT3.5-turbo-0613 model. The model is provided with additional context about RoboDK in the form of an indexed database containing the RoboDK website, documentation, forum threads, blog posts, and more. The indexing process is done with LlamaIndex, a specialized data framework designed for this purpose. Thanks to this integration, the Virtual Assistant can swiftly provide valuable technical support to over 75% of user queries on the RoboDK forum, reducing the time spent searching through the website and documentation via manual methods. Users can expect to have an answer to their question in 5 seconds or less.

As remarkable as the RoboDK Virtual Assistant is, it still has limitations when compared to a human assistant. Despite its usefulness, there is no variation in how the model will respond to the same question (the so-called model temperature is 0, this means we don’t allow randomness to the answers). Its performance in math-related queries is subpar, and it lacks conversational memory or web-search capabilities. Additionally, in some cases, users may need to rephrase their queries to receive an adequate response. Understandably, these limitations can lead to frustration in certain situations. To overcome this, RoboDK is already exploring alternatives like langchain.

Langchain aims to overcome many of the challenges faced by LLM-powered applications. By leveraging agentic and data-aware models, langchain breaks free from most of the previously mentioned limitations. Imagine an AI assistant that not only understands your questions but can also break them down into tasks, utilize tools like calculators, scour the web for relevant information, and engage in troubleshooting conversations with you.

Moving forward, the integration of this virtual assistant directly into RoboDK holds great promise. By providing context awareness and a deep understanding of the software, settings, and current station in use, the assistant can become an even more invaluable asset. Moreover, there has been a rise in models specifically fine-tuned to facilitate code writing. Consequently, the assistant can employ these models, enabling users to automate programming tasks by simply describing desired behaviors in natural language. This level of accessibility to robotics and automation is set to make a significant impact.

As we wrap up our exploration of large language models and the RoboDK Virtual Assistant, there is no doubt that the potential of AI in robotics is expanding at a remarkable pace. The RoboDK Virtual Assistant provides users with a valuable tool to save time and assist with complex tasks, showcasing the power of AI-driven technology. However, it is important to remain mindful of the ethical implications and limitations of large language models. Let’s continue to stay informed about the latest advancements in AI, robotics, and RoboDK, and engage in open conversations to ensure a responsible and beneficial integration of these technologies into the manufacturing industry.

What questions do you have about RoboDK’s Virtual Assistant? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

The post Unleashing the Potential of Large Language Models in Robotics: RoboDK’s Virtual Assistant appeared first on RoboDK blog.

The software landscape for manufacturing is ever-changing. New tools arrive all the time, either to fill gaps in the market or to make better use of the new technology.

Onshape is one such tool. Unlike traditional computer-aided design (CAD) packages, it is entirely browser-based. By using a cloud solution it brings another level of flexibility to manufacturing design.

RoboDK’s team also realized the need for reliable browser-based software. That’s why they released RoboDK for Web back in 2022.

With this new plug-in for Onshape, you can now create product designs and robot programming simulations entirely within your computer’s web browser!

What Is Onshape?

Founded in 2012, Onshape offers cloud-native CAD software. This provides its users with a centralized repository of all design data, making it easy to access, manage, and share design projects from anywhere.

With over two million users, Onshape is very popular. It recently claimed the top spot as the world’s fastest-growing CAD system. It is growing around seven times faster than the average in the market.

Onshape aims to cater to both the specific needs of core engineering teams and non-CAD users. With its wealth of collaboration and agile manufacturing features, it helps foster teamwork from the conception of new products to production.

If you hadn’t heard of Onshape before reading this article, you will almost certainly start hearing about it more. With the growing popularity of collaborative document writing systems, it seems likely that real-time collaborative CAD design will soon become commonplace.

Why Choose Onshape?

As a cloud-based CAD system, Onshape offers a variety of benefits for engineers and designers.

Here are some benefits using Onshape:

Cloud-based Solution

One major benefit of the system is that it eliminates the need for expensive hardware.

As the software is not installed locally, you only need a computer with the capability to run a compatible web browser. You don’t need extensive storage space to hold large project files because everything is stored in the cloud.

Collaboration and Sharing

Onshape is sometimes referred to informally as the “Google Docs of CAD” due to its powerful collaboration features.

You can easily share your CAD designs with both licensed and non-licensed users of Onshape. Non-licensed users can simply view the designs. Licensed users with shared file permissions can simultaneously edit designs in real-time.

Stability and Software Updates

Onshape also stands out thanks to its stability, regular updates, and free learning resources.

Regular updates are released every few weeks and the company provides a live link to check the application’s status and diagnose network issues.

If you do have any issues with the software, Onshape provides extensive training resources and it is supported by an active user community.

Introducing… the New RoboDK Onshape Plugin

What if you could combine the power of cloud-based CAD with a similarly powerful browser-based robot programming?

This is where the RoboDK plug-in for Onshape comes in!

In the plugin, you simply export your CAD file from Onshape and it will show up in the RoboDK window.

Unlike some of RoboDK’s other plug-ins, which are designed for the desktop version, this one works with RoboDK’s online tool: RoboDK for Web.

RoboDK’s CEO Albert explains:

“As with all our plugins, the Onshape plugin is free. We have integrated it with the free-to-use RoboDK for Web. Once you install the App, a window in RoboDK for Web will show that it has been embedded. We are also adding project templates to our library to make it very easy to get started with robot simulation and programming directly from Onshape.”

RoboDK for Web is designed for creating quick proofs of concept and sharing robot simulations. If you want access to more features, you can then download your project directly to RoboDK for Desktop to keep working on it further.

Is This Plugin Right for You?

If you are already using Onshape and you’re looking to get into robot programming, this new plug-in is a must-have!

If you are new to RoboDK, now is a brilliant opportunity to explore it. With RoboDK’s extensive training library and supportive user community, it’s easy to get started with robot programming even if you have never done it before.

If you haven’t tried Onshape yet – maybe you’re a RoboDK user looking for a new CAD software – you can test it to see if it is the right solution for you.

One factor to consider is how important it is that your CAD software is collaborative. Onshape’s real-time collaboration features can certainly be helpful if you are working with remote teams.

How to Get Started Using the New Onshape Plugin

Wondering how you can try out the new Onshape plug-in for yourself?

The best way to assess if it meets your needs is just to try it for yourself! Make a robotic simulation with your Onshape CAD design and see how easy it is to transfer your design into the software for robotic simulation.

You can install the RoboDK plugin from Onshape’s App Store. You may need to create an account with Onshape first. Then, you can try Onshape and RoboDK for free. You can find more information in the RoboDK documentation.

What questions do you have about the new Onshape plugin? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Moving Robot CAD to the Cloud: The New Onshape Plugin for RoboDK for Web appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Industrial robots are increasingly used for high-accuracy manufacturing tasks, such as assembly, soldering, and machining. However, new users are sometimes disappointed by the apparent low accuracy of their robots. They invest in expensive robot calibration systems to try to improve the accuracy.

Albert Nubiola, CEO of RoboDK, explains this is not always required:

“Many users don’t realize how important it is to calibrate the tool properly. They believe they need to calibrate the whole robot. However, properly calibrating the tool center point (TCP) can provide a significant improvement in accuracy.”

Repeatable, not accurate: the problem with industrial robots

Industrial robots have high repeatability, but low accuracy. This means they can move to the exact same position every time (repeatability), but their position doesn’t accurately match the world coordinate system (accuracy).

There are two main types of calibration procedures for improving a robot’s accuracy. Robot calibration requires precision laser systems to calibrate the robotic mechanism itself. Tool center point (TCP) calibration is a simpler procedure to ensure the programming system has an accurate model of the robot’s tool.

Samuel Bertrand, Software Developer at RoboDK, explains:

“TwinTool is a quick and affordable solution to automatically calibrate the robot’s TCP compared to other solutions such as laser trackers. Laser calibration is expensive, and many robot applications do not need such high accuracy.”

TwinTool achieves tool calibration with an off-the-shelf sensor

The typical way of calibrating a robot tool center point (TCP) is by a 4-point method, which consist of taking a series of at least for 4 joint readings when moving the tool to the same point with different orientations. This process is time consuming and less accurate as the user needs to move the robot in different position manually.

TwinTool calibration functionality is distributed as a RoboDK App, a plugin that extends the capabilities of RoboDK’s highly popular robot programming software.

RoboDK TwinTool requires an off-the-shelf linear gauge sensor (or LVDT) to directly communicate with any robot and to calculate the robot tool center point (TCP) without human intervention. TwinTool automatically records an unlimited number of points, and the linear gage sensor offers great accuracy for tool definition.

The app is compatible with a wide range of sensors from major brands including Mitutoyo, KEYENCE and Sylvac, allowing it to be versatile with any hardware. Other sensor brands can also be integrated on request.

RoboDK TwinTool supports more than 600 robot arms from 50 different robot manufacturers and is suited for many industrial environments.

This follows RoboDK’s well-established philosophy of remaining brand-agnostic for hardware.

Ease of use and safety at the heart of the process

Equally important, RoboDK places great emphasis on the ease of use and safety of its products. TwinTool runs directly from RoboDK, making the bridge between the robot controller and the sensor. No programming skills are required. Users only need RoboDK simulation software, a robot, its tool (spherical or conical), and a sensor. Singularities and collisions are avoided, and trajectories automatically calculated.

“We have created a user-friendly wizard to ensure that the calibration is done correctly and safely,” says Samuel Bertrand. “This is simple enough that it can be used by operators that don’t have robotics knowledge.”

To calibrate a robot tool, the user simply follows this 3-step procedure in RoboDK’s software:

1. Select their robot model from RoboDK’s extensive robot library.
2. Connect RoboDK to the robot and to the sensor.
3. Move the robot on the sensor and start the calibration.

Albert Nubiola says:

“The procedure is fully automated and does not require any manual intervention. It automatically avoids collisions and does not require users to write a single line of code.”

Accurate to 0.250 mm

With TwinTool, users can quickly and automatically improve the accuracy of their tool by up to 0.250 mm with some robot setups. This provides an accuracy improvement by 2 to 10 times, depending on the robot and the tool.

“Without this calibration,” says Albert Nubiola, “robot errors can be in the range of 2-5 mm. With this tool calibration, you can usually reduce robot errors up to 0.250-1 mm depending on your application.”

This accuracy improvement is more than enough for most robot applications, even those that require precision. This can save users a lot of money on unnecessary robot calibration services.

Future plans

Users can now request to add TwinTool to their copy of the RoboDK software as an optional RoboDK App. Bertrand explains they will continue to improve TwinTool’s functionality.

“Currently, the tool is oriented towards maintenance modes,” he says. “However, we are working towards a mode that will run the calibration procedure automatically during production.”

RoboDK also plans to extend its App interface by creating a RoboDK App Marketplace. They will invite companies to develop and publish their own apps for the software.

Do you have any feature requests? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

The post Automated Tool Calibration for Industrial Robots appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Since the start of 2022, we’ve introduced a bunch of new RoboDK updates to the software that you might not have seen yet.

Some RoboDK updates have been huge. The announcement of our brand new RoboDK for Web is big enough that it had its own launch campaign.

But, we’ve also made plenty of smaller updates to RoboDK that will make your life just a little bit easier.

Here are 5 of the top new updates we’ve made recently, plus 9 smaller bonus updates…

1. Improvements to the Fusion 360 and Inventor Plugins

First up, we’ve been making some improvements to the plugins for Fusion 360 and Inventor. These changes bring the plugins up to date with the latest versions of these popular CAD/CAM packages from Autodesk.

Our plugins allow you to seamlessly integrate your product design workflow into your robot programming. They mean that you don’t even have to leave your favorite CAD/CAM environment to program the robot.

These updates include:

• Fixed importing of 3D models from Fusion 360 when using STEP and IGES files.
• Better install of the RoboDK plugin for Inventor 2022

You can read about the Fusion 360 plugin here and about the Inventor plugin here.

2. Brand New Shiny Online Robot Library

The RoboDK Robot Library is the hub of all the hundreds of robots that our software supports. It also includes an impressive selection of robot tools and accessories.

In the Robot Library, you can:

• Sort the robots by manufacturer, type, and property.
• Compare the key properties of every supported robot.
• Download the ROBOT file to open in RoboDK.

Until recently, the library was functional but it didn’t look as good as it could have. We have now updated the Robot Library and added some extra features to help you get even more from this tool.

New features we’ve added include:

• A cleaner, easier to use interface with more responsive selectors.
• The ability to open the robots directly in RoboDK with the new Open button.
• A separate information page for each robot including common applications with the new View button.
• Direct access to the robot in RoboDK for Web with the new 3D View button.

Check out the new Robot Library online here.

3. Python API Restructured

Although RoboDK’s graphical interface is popular, a lot of customers use RoboDK via the API. This allows you to easily integrate robot programming into your own programs and code.

We have just restructured the whole Python API for the first time in years.

RoboDK Version 5.4.1 is mostly a restructuring of all our Python modules to prepare for future updates to the software (yes, there are many more exciting updates to RoboDK in the pipeline!).

Changes include:

• The robolink module is now robodk.robolink
• The robodk module is now split into robodk.robomath, robodk.robodialogs, and robodk.robofileio

The new changes are all backward compatible. This means you can keep your current Python scripts as-is for both past and future versions of RoboDK.

However, the changes will not be forward compatible. When you start to use the new semantics, your scripts will no longer work with previous versions of RoboDK.

We have also updated the Python documentation to reflect these new changes.

4. Improved Apps and App Loader

We have packed a lot of functionality into RoboDK. There are many features that you might not ever use personally, but that are vital for someone else’s robot setup. This is what makes RoboDK so flexible.

One way that you can add even more functionality to RoboDK is through the use of Apps and Plug-ins. The Plug-in Interface allows you to extend and customize RoboDK with your own code.

The App Loader makes this step even easier. With it, you can quickly load code into RoboDK as if it was a plug-in. This gives you the ability to add custom buttons and actions directly to the RoboDK interface.

We have recently improved the App Loader and some of the existing Apps.

5. Stäubli and Omron Post-Processor Improvements

Post-processors are at the heart of RoboDK. They convert your robot program into instructions that your robot model can understand and run.

We are constantly updating the post-processors to reflect changes made by robot manufacturers to their products.

Most recently, we have updated post-processors from:

• Stäubli
• Omron

We have also improved the default post-processor sample that comes with RoboDK. This will be helpful if you are creating your own post-processor from scratch for a custom robot type.

9 Other Small Upgrades We’ve Made Recently

There are plenty of other small upgrades and improvements that we have made to RoboDK since the start of 2022.

We’ve also made small improvements to these 9 aspects of RoboDK:

1. “Build/Modify Mechanism or Robot” wizard.
2. “Model Mechanism” menu.
3. Path and weld settings.
4. 3D navigation when using the 3D view toolbar.
5. Robot calibration parameter selection.
6. Behavior of Alt+Shift functionality.
7. Removal of the default auto-extraction for curves.
8. Allowed for negative values to start and end curves in Curve Follow projects.
9. Added an option to model parameter “d5” when building a 6-axis robot arm.

A Quick Note on Educational License Changes…

Finally, we have a small announcement if you are using an educational license. If you are on such a license, we will have already contacted you about this, but in case you missed it.

Since January 1st, 2022, educational licenses are now subscription-based. They have a fixed, automatic 30-day trial to bring them in line with other licenses.

If you have any questions about this, please get in touch.

What new features would you like to see in RoboDK? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

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What are some good uses for the new online version?

There’s no denying that web-based tools are on the rise. Many software providers have dispensed with their desktop versions completely and moved all their operations into the cloud… but we are not one of them.

Our CEO, Albert Nubiola, is keen to reassure users that RoboDK for Web is not a replacement for our existing desktop software. Rather, it is a complimentary tool.

He says:

“RoboDK for Web helps to start creating your proof of concept by offering a minimum set of functionalities provided at no cost. RoboDK users are looking for tools to save time and that are easy to use. Of course, the Desktop version remains there and we don’t have any plans to remove it.

“Many companies want to increase their level of automation with robots but they don’t know where to start. Our mission is to facilitate the transition towards automation and we are proud to be part of this change.”

What is RoboDK for Web?

RoboDK for Web is a simplified version of our existing desktop software. It contains all of the basic functionality that you require to create, load, and run robot simulations.

This online version of RoboDK is completely cross-platform and is accessible using almost any major web browser, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. You don’t need to install anything on your computer and it does not require a license key.

One extremely useful feature of the online version is that you can upload simulations to it directly from your existing copy of RoboDK for Desktop. These can then be accessed by anybody with a web browser just by going to a special web link.

RoboDK is already supported by a huge range of different devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and various embedded computers. RoboDK for Web is just a new member of our extensive ecosystem.

7 Clever Uses of RoboDK for Web to Simplify Your Life

Here are some excellent ways to use RoboDK for Web that can make it easier for you to achieve your robot programming goals.

Its simple online robot programming interface can help you to:

1. Program Your Robot On the Go

One great thing about RoboDK for Web is that it is completely portable. All you need is a web browser and an internet connection. You can load up your robot simulation from any computer and program robots from anywhere.

This makes it possible to program your robots on the go. You no longer need to worry about carrying a laptop with RoboDK for Desktop installed.

2. Deliver Seamless Sales Presentations

If you are an integrator, part of your job is presenting your robotic solution proposals to clients. The problem with this is that you need to bring along your own computer with a version of RoboDK for Desktop during your sales presentations.

With RoboDK for Web, you don’t need to worry about all the extra hassle this causes. You can load up your simulation online before you leave your office and view it directly from the client’s computer.

3. Share Simulations with Clients

As the world has moved more and more virtual over the last few years, it’s very common for client communications to be online. This can make it difficult to share robotic simulations as it requires that the client also has a version of RoboDK for Desktop installed.

Open this sample project in RoboDK for Web. You can also open any project from the RoboDK library of examples using RoboDK for web.

RoboDK for Web removes this need. You just send your client a link to the simulation and they can view and manipulate it themselves on their web browser.

4. Test Out RoboDK for Yourself

If you haven’t used RoboDK before, you might be uncertain about whether it is the right solution for your robot programming needs. The best way to assess the software is to download a fully-featured free trial of RoboDK for Desktop, but this isn’t possible for everyone.

If you are restricted from installing new software on your computer or can’t use the desktop version for another reason, RoboDK for Web offers a quick and easy way to assess the software for your robot programming needs.

5. Evaluate Robots Models for Your Task

Many RoboDK users use the software to perform reachability analysis and compare different robot models. This helps you to assess which robot model will be most suitable for your specific application.

Our extensive Robot Library contains over 600 robot models from over 50 manufacturers. These are all available in RoboDK for Web.

6. Teach Robotics to Students

For a long time, we have offered a lower-cost version of RoboDK for Desktop for use by academic institutions. This version still remains available and is still the best way to learn robot programming in an educational setting.

RoboDK for Web offers an entry-level option for teaching robotics. For simple demonstrations that don’t require full robot programming capabilities, you can share a robot simulation with students quickly and easily.

7. Create Quick Proofs of Concepts

Sometimes, you just need to create a quick robot simulation to validate an idea for a robot application. In such situations, you might not want to load up the full programming environment.

RoboDK for Web allows you to create proofs of concepts wherever you are.

How to Start Using RoboDK for Web Right Now

Do you want to try out the new RoboDK for Web for yourself?

You can access the online tool right now by clicking on the link below. From there, you can access the basic functionality of RoboDK. You can run a simulation, load a new project or robot, and create basic programs.

Click here to go to RoboDK for Web

What uses can you think of for RoboDK for Web? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

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Creating convincing sales demos of robotic solutions is not always easy. Robot integrators often use simulations to make it easier for clients to understand their solutions, but such simulations are not easily portable.

RoboDK is a Canadian provider of robotics software dedicated to making the task of programming as simple as possible.

Until now, if an integrator wanted to use RoboDK for product demos they needed the full-featured version of the software. This meant physically bringing their laptop to the client’s site and teaching the client how to navigate the software’s extensive list of features. There was no simplified, digital version of the simulation for the client to test out without learning the software.

With the new web version, users can access RoboDK directly from their browser.

The need to simplify robotic simulations and programming

New users of industrial robots are often confronted by a steep learning curve. Despite robotic platforms becoming more accessible in recent years, programming remains one of the most challenging aspects of any robot deployment.

Even though RoboDK’s offline programming software is already simpler than many of the alternatives, the company recognizes that the learning curve is steep for some new users.

Flore Cachera, Head of Marketing at RoboDK, explains:

Getting started with new software can sometimes be daunting. The web version of RoboDK is very basic so that every user can get familiar with the environment. Our goal is to make the software more accessible and provide a global vision of what RoboDK can offer in just a few clicks.

Flore Cachera

A convenient tool for evaluation, demos, and proof of concepts

RoboDK for Web has some compelling use cases. For example, some users need to submit an IT request to install the desktop version of RoboDK for evaluation. Now, they can test RoboDK’s core functionalities quickly and easily with no installation needed.

Another exciting use case is sales demos. Integrators can submit their simulations online using RoboDK for Desktop. Their clients simply type a custom web address into any browser and the simulation is already pre-loaded in the web version.

Albert Nubiola, CEO of RoboDK says:

RoboDK users are looking for tools to save time and that are easy to use. Of course, the Desktop version remains there and we don’t have any plans of removing it.

Albert Nubiola

Nubiola describes another compelling use case — creating quick, simple proof of concept simulations in your browser.

He explains:

Many companies want to increase their level of automation with robots but they don’t know where to start. Our mission is to facilitate the transition towards automation and we are proud to be part of this change.

RoboDK for Web helps to start creating your proof of concept by offering a minimum set of functionalities provided at no cost.

Albert Nubiola

The web version of RoboDK is cross-platform and can be accessed from anywhere that has an internet connection. It is supported by all major web browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It also supports a range of 3D model and machining files, such as STEP, IGES, G-Code, APT, and many more.

How to use the web version of RoboDK right now

The new web version of RoboDK is now live for anyone to use. It can be accessed via a web browser by going to the following link: robodk.com/web

The link brings the user to a pre-loaded robot simulation, from which they can access the basic functionality of the software. They can run the simulation, load a new simulation or robot, create basic robot programs, and access RoboDK’s extensive Robot Library.

Cachera says:

As in the desktop version, users have unlimited access to our full Robot Library. That includes over 600 robot arms from over 50 different robot manufacturers. They can also download any end-effector, cell, tracker, and any object that is available in RoboDK’s library.

To the best of our knowledge, RoboDK offers the largest robot library on the market as it is not brand specific.

Flore Cachera

Future plans

The team at RoboDK plans to continue to grow the functionality of the web version, while still keeping it simple for new users. They are also targeting the web version at specific use cases that users have been asking for.

Cachera gives an example:

Some of our customers start by doing reachability studies with RoboDK to choose their robot and check the feasibility of their project. In just a few clicks in RoboDK for Web you can start building your robotic cell and continue your project later on RoboDK for Desktop.

Overall, the web version is ideal for quick and easy robotic station applications for demonstration or learning purposes.

Flore Cachera

What uses can you think of for RoboDK for Web? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

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Palletizing is an increasingly common application for robotic automation. For human workers, lifting containers onto pallets is dull and increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries due to its repetitive nature.

Robots have long provided an alternative to manual palletizing. However, programming the task has traditionally been tedious.

Flore Cachera, Head of Marketing at RoboDK, says “A lot of customers have asked for this feature. All the hard work of palletizing programming is now done by RoboDK. The user only needs to set the position of the pallet.”

The new RoboDK plugin can be used immediately with the hundreds of robot models already supported by the software.

Why programming robot palletizing is a dull job

Robots are often employed to relieve workers from dull and repetitive jobs. However, the conventional options for robot programming make deploying palletizing applications almost dull as palletizing itself.

For example, a pallet holding 800 boxes would require a robot program with at least 1600 points in it. Creating this program would be repetitive and time-consuming. Users would need to manually teach each box position to the robot or hard code a script to do it for them.

Albert Nubiola, CEO of RoboDK, explains that the robotics market has traditionally been unbalanced for palletizing applications. He says “Some robot controllers offer built-in user interfaces to quickly setup palletizing and depalletizing projects. Unfortunately, this is not available for all robots or controllers. RoboDK’s palletizing plugin allows you to use any robot for palletizing.”

As well as speeding up the programming step, another benefit of the new plugin is that users can program the task offline. This eliminates the production downtime caused by shop floor robot programming.

How the new palletizing plugin works

The palletizing plugin is now available for users of RoboDK. It can be accessed by downloading the latest update.

Jeremy Brouillard, Product Manager at RoboDK explains how it works:

“Our goal was to create one of our most user-friendly features to date.

To achieve it, we relied on a basic but efficient 2D graphic. You first create your pallet patterns by dragging your boxes on the screen. You then stack your unique box patterns to form your pallet layers.

The only thing left to do is simulate and generate the program.”

To use the plugin, users simply open a menu and enter their pallet settings step by step. They can then easily drag and drop each box to where it should be on each layer of the pallet. A 3D visualization shows a simulation in real-time and the user can go back and adapt the settings, so the setup perfectly suits all their requirements.

Brouillard adds “Anyone using a robot to simulate or program palletizing applications should take a look at this feature. This one is a real time saver.”

Future plans

Palletizing is just one of several high-impact applications that RoboDK is working to support, though they don’t want to reveal too much yet.

Cachera explains that these additions are driven by user feedback. She says “We don’t create robot simulation software for ourselves, we create it for our users. We will continue to listen to them and offer new features that really fit their needs. Most importantly, we will keep the “RoboDK touch”: remaining flexible, easy-to-use, and supporting the largest range of robot arms.”

What robotic application are you interested in? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.

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Industrial Robot Brief

October saw the welcome return of more automation trade shows after a long hiatus, adding to the sense of a return to normal for the sector. The appetite is clearly there, with some shows seeing a 50% increase in attendees compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Industry’s appetite for robots is on the rise too. Q2 robot orders in North America increased by a staggering 67% compared to the same period last year, according to figures from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) released in October. More than half (5,530) of orders came from non-automotive customers with industries from metals and life sciences to electronics and consumer goods adopting automation in increasing numbers.

Meanwhile, in other industrial automation news: autotech startup RoboTire, which has developed an ingenious tire changing robot, closed a USD7.5 million Series A funding round; logistics, supply chain and warehouse robot specialists Dexterity raised USD140 million in new funding; Japanese electronics company Omron Corp. announced plans to take a 10% stake in cobot maker Techman Robot; Aim Robotics and Kassow Robots announced a partnership; and Miso Robotics unveiled a robotic chicken wing frying solution.

A system designed to further enhance the safety of human-robot collaboration has been unveiled by researchers at Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. Dubbed ‘CoHaptics,’ the wearable system can track human users’ movements using hand-tracking technology and provide tactile feedback to warn them about potential collisions with robots.

Also in October, Montreal-based Mecademic, which specializes in the design and manufacture of small, ‘plug-and-work’ industrial robots for micro-automation applications (see video below for more) announced a partnership with Electromate that will see Mecademic’s miniature arms being made available through Electromate outlets.

Amazon Boosts Investment In Robotics Research

A busy October for Amazon Robotics began with news that MIT and Amazon are to establish a ‘Science Hub,’ focused on “areas of mutual interest.” Artificial intelligence and robotics will be the center’s focus in the first year, according to the company: “Amazon will provide gift and sponsored research funding over the next five years to support research and academic fellowships on campus.”

Amazon also announced the opening of a new robotics innovation center in Westborough, Mass. The USD40 million, 350,000 square feet facility, which includes robotics research and development labs, will enable Amazon Robotics to grow its engineering, manufacturing, support and test teams.

New Modular & Swarm Robots

Imagine a future where tiny, smart robotic devices can quickly self-assemble into robots capable of handling real-world industrial applications and payloads. That day is a long way off, but advances in swarm and modular robotic systems (accompanied by advances in material science and miniaturization of motors, sensors and computing components) provide a tantalizing glimpse of what aspects of this future might look like.

In October, researchers from the Swiss Biorobotics Laboratory (BioRob) unveiled ‘Roombots’ –modular shape-changing, 3D reconfigurable robots. Each Roombot is a simple device consisting of an outer shell, a battery, three motors for movement, and a wireless connection. Collectively, they can self-assemble into items of furniture.

Also in October, researchers at Norte Dame unveiled a reconfigurable swarm of identical, low-cost quadruped robots that can combine their efforts to overcome obstacles in the environment. These robots are more complex than Roombots, with four legs, a flexible tail to improve stability, a light sensor, a magnetic connector that enables the robots to dock to each other, and a battery. Collectively, they can form chains to create a centipede like shape.

The researchers noted that while individual robots performed better at simple tasks, groups of robots were better at more complex tasks such as obstacle traversal and object transport in rough terrain, where flexibility and the ability to work collectively came to the fore.

OnRobot Launches Free E-Learning Platform

Interested in learning how to deploy cobots and lightweight industrial robot arms in real-world applications such as CNC machine tending, palletizing, and sanding? Check out Learn OnRobot, a free online training platform designed to guide people of all skill levels through the steps involved in effectively deploying collaborative applications. The new resource, which launched in the last week of October, is accessible via browser on computer, smartphone, and PC, and is available in 9 languages.

RoboDK’s October Reading

Five more stories from October that captured our attention.

• Can blockchain secure communications for robot fleets? (The Robot Report)
• Researchers 4D print tube-like soft robot capable of rolling and climbing on its own (3D Printing Industry)
• All this industrial robot does is tap its feet (BoingBoing)
• Agility Robotics – Perceptive locomotion for legged robots (YouTube IROS 2021)
• These weird virtual creatures evolve their bodies to solve problems (MIT Technology Review)

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Work from home directives, lockdowns, and pandemic-related travel restrictions are driving an unprecedented surge of interest in the use of digital simulation software for all sorts of scenarios.

One such scenario is DARPA’s Subterranean Challenge (SubT), which held a ‘Virtual Competition’ in September. Launched to enable teams to participate in the SubT without having to travel in person, the virtual event sees teams deploy robot simulations in simulated underground environments. DARPA explains: “Teams in the Virtual Competition developed software and algorithms using virtual models of systems, environments, and terrain to compete in simulation-based events, and explore simulated environments.”

The final Virtual Competition event was held at the end of September in the Mega Cavern complex in Kentucky, U.S.A. with Team Dynamo picking up first place and a prize of USD750,000.

Launched in 2018, the DARPA SubT is held to spur improvements in robot performance when it comes to mapping, navigating, searching, and exploiting complex underground environments from human-made tunnel systems to natural cave networks.

A separate Systems Competition, involving physical robots taking on navigation and mapping challenges, was won by Team CEREBRUS (‘CollaborativE walking & flying RoBots for autonomous ExploRation in Underground Settings’) who picked up a cool USD2 million in prize money.

CNET provided a livestream of the final day’s events, September 24, as robots competed in both the Virtual and Systems competitions.

Demographics & Robot Adoption

One of the biggest challenges facing manufacturing, logistics and warehouse companies worldwide is a shortage of available labor. As the Financial Times put it: “Workers have long feared robots would take their jobs, but the tables have turned as logistics and delivery companies automate their businesses to tackle labour shortages.”

While much of the focus has been on difficulties around attracting young people into manufacturing and warehouse work, aging populations are also a key consideration when it comes to driving robotics adoption. A study from MIT published September in The Review of Economic Studies has found that aging is one of the most important factors leading to the adoption of robotics and other automation technologies. 

Science Daily:

The study finds that when it comes to the adoption of robots, aging alone accounts for 35 percent of the variation among countries. Within the U.S., the research shows the same pattern: Metro areas where the population is getting older at a faster rate are the places where industry invests more in robots.

Spot The Security Robot

Boston Dynamics’ dog-like ‘Spot’ and ‘SpotMini’ robots have starred in so many entertaining YouTube videos that it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are real world use cases for the world’s best-known quadrupedal robot. But over recent years the job of identifying, testing, and proving industrial use cases has been a major focus for the Spot team.

In September, Hyundai Motor Group announced a collaboration with Boston Dynamics on what it’s calling ‘The Factory Service Robot.’ Essentially, it’s a Spot mini with added thermal camera and 3D LiDAR sensors that is used to perform safety-related inspection tasks in Hyundai’s South Korean Kia plant. These tasks include monitoring the temperature of machinery, supporting security patrols, providing a mobile visual link for remote operators, and open/closed door detection and door control features. According to reports, if the trial is successful, Hyundai plans to expand Spot’s operational area and consider additional deployments in other locations.

Sharing Gaze With A Robot Befuddles Humans

Researchers at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia’s S4HRI lab have published the results of an experiment designed to determine whether a humanoid robot’s gaze influences the way people reason in a social decision-making context.

The European Research Council-funded team found that holding a mutual gaze with a humanoid robot affects human neural activity, specifically that it delays decision-making processes. As the researchers note, their findings have strong implications for scenarios where humanoid robots are co-workers, provide clinical support, or act as domestic assistants.

Meanwhile, a meta-analysis of dozens of studies into the effectiveness of humanoid robot design has found that anthropomorphic robot design does not always provide beneficial impacts. The two teams of German researchers found positive impacts to giving robots a human-like appearance in social and care settings. But these effects were reversed in industrial settings, especially when robots and humans collaborate on a task.

Innovation Origins:

“Humans perceive industrial robots as perfect automations. We know they are super precise, whereas we, as humans, are prone to make mistakes. When robots are designed in a more human-like manner, we expect them to fail, because humans fail. Such perfection may be perceived as quite overwhelming.” – Eileen Roesler, TU Berlin

Squirrels & Maple Trees Inspire Robot Design

As many frustrated dogs can tell you, squirrels are extremely agile climbers that can dart from branch to branch and up steep inclines, showing impressive decision-making skills along the way. Now, researchers at UC Berkeley have studied the movement of squirrels to see whether insights gained can be applied to robot design.

Dean Culver, program manager for Complex Dynamics and Systems at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command told Popular Mechanics in an email:

The battlefield, especially the battlefield of the future, is an unpredictable place. If we want robotic platforms to go wherever the Warfighter can and more, these platforms will require fast, creative decision making at a low energetic cost surrounding tasks that humans take for granted. Like deciding whether to vault or circumnavigate an obstacle.

Elsewhere in the weird world of bio-inspired robots, a team at Northwestern University in the U.S.A. unveiled a winged microchip that could be used to monitor pollution and airborne disease. The team took inspiration from the seeds of maple trees and Tristellateia plants which use ‘wings’ to glide on the breeze.

RoboDK’s September Reading

Here are five more stories from September that caught our eye.

• Amazon Just Revealed Its First Home Robot. Here’s What It’s Like To Use It (CNBC)
• Telefonica (TEF) Arm Unveils World’s 1st Robotic Cybersecurity Lab (NASDAQ)
• ROS 2 Simplifies Hardware Acceleration for Robots (Robotics Business Review)
• KIMM Develops A Flexible, Stretchable Battery Capable Of Moving Smoothly Like Snake Scales (EurekAlert!)
• Urgent Action Needed Over Artificial Intelligence Risks To Human Rights (United Nations)

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One such job is airplane washing. This vital task in aerospace manufacturing does not add direct value to the process, but it is important because it can prolong the life of the plane by reducing corrosion.

The task needs to be done but it would be much better if human workers did not have to do it!

Wilder Systems, an automation supplier based in Austin, Texas, USA, has developed a highly effective system for automating the task of airplane manufacturing. They did this by using RoboDK for programming. Their system provides aerospace with a way to reduce the time to perform this task by a whopping 95%!

The Problem with Manually Washing Aircraft

Washing is a critical task in airplane manufacturing as it helps to reduce corrosion, improving the life of the plane and its safety.

The conventional method of airplane washing involves the use of sponges, brooms, rags, and ladders. A team of 4 mechanics would usually take 4 hours to wash a plane manually, taking a total of 16 person-hours.

The entire task often takes up the whole day, making both the people and the plane unavailable for that time. During that time, they are unable to perform higher-value work.

Plane washing is also a dangerous and labor-intensive process. Working at height while standing on wet, slippery surfaces can lead to injury.

Introducing Wilder Systems

Wilder Systems specializes in cost-effective robotic solutions for aircraft manufacturers.

They describe their mission as being “to expand the range of feasible robotic applications by introducing robots into aerospace manufacturing and maintenance.”

The team uses a variety of robotic technologies to do this, including mobile robots, gantry robots, and collaborative robotics.

Enter the “Drive-Thru” Robotic Washing System

The team at Wilder Systems realized that the conventional approach to aircraft washing was inefficient. They knew that they could use robots to wash airplanes more efficiently and with less risk to humans.

The goal of the project was to reduce the amount of labor and increase the safety of washing an F-16 aircraft. To do this, they designed the first robotic “drive-thru” washing system for aircraft, utilizing several robotic components.

The system provides a safer, faster solution to washing which eliminates downtime.

Compared to the 16 person-hours of the manual washing process, this system utilizes robots instead of people and the entire washing cycle is completed in just 52 minutes. If a person needed to oversee the robot, this would be a time saving of 95%. However, as the robot can operate alone, the saving is closer to a 100% saving in person-hours.

The Team’s Robotic Setup

The robotic system uses a combination of various off-the-shelf hardware and software components that the team at Wilder Systems integrate into a self-contained washing cell:

The Robotic Hardware

The hardware of the application is based around core components of:

• FANUC 6-axis industrial robots — Robotic manipulators perform the washing functionality of the task, moving the cleaning head over the airplane along programmed paths.
• PLC communication — As with many robotic applications, a Programmable Logic Controller provides the coordination between the different hardware components of the system.
• Hydraulic pump systems and auxiliary equipment — The “business end” of the application is the washing system. This uses a hydraulic pump system to propel water through the robot’s cleaning end-effector onto the dirty airplane. The robots communicate through IO to switch between the foaming and rinsing sprayer.

The Software Setup

The basic software components of the system are:

• RoboDK — Robot programming is performed by RoboDK, which makes offline programming quick and easy for both new and experienced robot programmers. The 3D model was imported from Autodesk Fusion 360, which integrates directly with RoboDK through a plugin.
• PLC programming — The team chose to use PLC programming to combine the hardware components. Various RoboDK users have successfully incorporated PLC and offline programming.

Alejandro Rengel, the main programmer of the project, explains what RoboDK allowed him to achieve in this project:

“RoboDK was the essential tool that allowed us to develop the world’s first-ever robotic plane wash. Using CAD-To-Path strategies, we were able to generate robot paths that were adaptive and error-proof.
RoboDK helped me transform from an entry-level programmer into an advanced programmer through their easy-to-use GUI, abundance of training resources, and phenomenal customer service.”

Which RoboDK Features Were Used

Rengel and the team used several of RoboDK’s features to create this unique application. The two robots were programmed to follow paths generated from CAD data while maintaining synchronization between each other.

Jérémy Brouillard, RoboDK’s Lead Product Manager, explains:

“Many RoboDK features were used in this complex project. Wilder Systems used the “teach target on surface” feature to program the first half of the plane. They defined the right washing angles and simply clicked on the plate surface to define the robot trajectories.  To finish it up, they saved half the work by using RoboDK’s Python API to mirror the programs for the second half of the plane.”

RoboDK features that they used include:

• Simultaneous simulation of two robots.
• External axis to extend the robot’s range.
• “Teach on surface” to define the trajectory by simply clicking on the plane’s surface.
• RoboDK’s Python API to generate a mirror of the paths for the opposite side of the plane.
• FANUC post-processor to generate code to run on the robot controller.

What’s Next?

For Wilder Systems, washing is just the start.

The team plans to use this same robotic platform for other sophisticated and time-consuming aircraft maintenance tasks. This includes depainting and repainting, panel drilling, and non-destructive inspection. They will use the robotic washing application as a training opportunity for these future enhancements.

They also plan to further improve the agility of the system by mounting it into a mobile and autonomous platform. This allows them to perform operations throughout the flight line.

What manual tasks currently steal time from your operators? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post RoboDK Software helps cut Aircraft Washing Time by 95% appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Is your industry included?

Are your competitors using more robots?

Or is your industry lagging behind?

Robots have been used in some industries for decades. The automotive industry, for example, has been using industrial robots since they were first introduced in the early 1960s. This industry remains one of the major users of industrial robots.

But, some industries have only recently begun to embrace industrial robotics.

According to a recent report by the Robotic Industries Association, several industries have seen a surge in robotics use in the last year or so.

Which industries are seeing the most robotics growth right now?

Here is the list of the top 6 industries:

1. Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical

In the first place, the pharmaceutical industry has experienced some significant impacts over the past year. Indeed, with 2020 bringing a global pandemic, the industry had to rapidly alter its processes to respond to the emerging and changing health situations. Thus, automation has been one of the major ways that companies in this industry have been able to keep up with the required production and maintain social distancing guidelines.

As a result of these changes, the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry has seen the highest growth in robotics in the past year. There has been a 69% year-on-year growth in new robot orders.

Robotics are convenient in a variety of ways in this industry; from machine tending of testing machines, sorting of specimens, and manufacturing of new medical devices. Whether this growth continues in the industry will probably depend on how the global situation progresses.

2. Food and Consumer Goods

The food industry has been adopting automation steadily over the last several years. This is also true in the consumer goods industry. In fact, both industries increasingly require shorter turnaround times as consumers demand products faster. This is all thanks to the rise in online shopping. Robotics is one reliable way for companies to keep operations flexible.

This past year, the food and consumer goods industry experienced a 56% year-on-year growth in new robot orders.

Robots are applicable in many areas of operation in this industry from manufacturing to packaging and logistics. Common tasks in the food and consumer goods industry include palletizing, labeling, and pick and place. They are also useful in process tasks such as; robotic butchery, machining, and welding.

3. Plastics and Rubber

The plastics and rubber industry is a vital part of modern business. With the increasing demand for packaging and consumer goods, companies operating in this industry have to continuously make changes to keep up. Also, the mounting pressure from consumers and governments to reduce the environmental impact of plastics means that manufacturers in the industry need to keep innovating. If they fail to do so, they may risk their future.

Robotics is an increasingly popular way to add the required flexibility and agility, without spending huge amounts on altering existing automation and other processes.

This past year, the plastics and rubber industry experienced a 51% year-on-year growth in new robot orders.

Robots are used for a variety of different applications within the plastics industry. This includes loading and unloading of mold machines, inspection, assembly, and packing.

4. Automotive

The automotive sector has long been the trailblazer in robotic adoption. The first industrial robot, the Unimate, was deployed in a General Motors manufacturing plant back in 1959. The industry has continued to employ robots. They continued not just for their productivity benefits but for their accuracy and consistency. As cars have become more complex, precision machines, robots have helped automotive manufacturers to grow.

Despite the long history of robotics in the industry, there are still more opportunities for new robot applications. Robot adoption continues to rise as well. This year, the automotive industry experienced a 39% year-on-year growth in new robot orders.

Important robot applications for automotive manufacturers include spot and arc welding, assembly, painting, machining, and internal logistics.

5. Semiconductors, Electronics, and Photonics

In this world of rapidly changing computing and electronics, it is no surprise that the semiconductor and electronics industry is turning to robotics to keep up with demand. A connected industry is photonics, which deals with light-related technologies such as digital cameras and measurement equipment.

The use of robots in these industries is not yet as widespread as with the previously mentioned industries. However, robots are being used more and more to allow manufacturers to respond more quickly to changes in the market and their technology products.

This past year, the semiconductor, electronics, and photonics industry experienced an 11% year-on-year growth in new robot orders.

Useful robotics applications for the electronics industries include assembly of electronics, automated inspections, packing, and soldering.

6. Metals

Like many industries, the metals industry has experienced a significant blow due to the impacts of the 2020 global pandemic. With metal consumption already declining before the Covid-19 virus appeared, companies in the metals industry have had to work hard to find new ways to operate or risk disappearing completely.

Despite this difficulty — or perhaps even because of it — companies in the metals industry have begun to use more robots in their operations.

This past year, the metals industry experienced a 7% year-on-year growth in new robot orders. The rate is clearly smaller than the other industries on this list. Even so, the metals industry is one of the top growth industries for robotics.

Robot applications employed in the metals industry include surface finishing, material preparation, and machining.

If your industry is on this list, it’s worth taking note. Likely, your competitors are already employing robots and you would be wise to consider doing the same.

However, whatever industry you are in, robotics can help you to improve and evolve your operations to respond to changes in the market.

What industry do you operate in? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post Top 6 Robotics Industries That Are Growing in 2021 appeared first on RoboDK blog.

As robots move into the hands of less experienced users, there is a growing need for more intuitive programming interfaces that are accessible to everyone. In January 2021, Montreal-based robot software company RoboDK released a new type of flexible, affordable programming tool. TwinTrack is a combined solution that allows users to program any industrial robot with a laser tracker and its handheld probe.

The need for easier robot programming tools

Over the last decade, there has been a move towards more intuitive programming interfaces in robotics. However, many industrial robots still need to be programmed using the proprietary languages or systems provided by their manufacturers.

Albert Nubiola, RoboDK’s CEO, explained “In an ideal world, programming a robot would be as easy as doing the tasks ourselves by hand. It is likely that your task is currently performed by a human. They are probably the best person to teach the robot, but what if they have no experience with robot programming?”

TwinTrack allows anybody to program their industrial robot by tracing the desired path with a handheld probe. It can be applied to many robot applications including welding, painting, deburring, dispensing and more.

How it works

TwinTrack requires a measurement system and a probe. The measurement system detects the precise position of the probe in real-time and sends it to RoboDK’s offline programming software.

The operator simply holds the probe in their hand and places its tip where they want the robot to move. Teaching a point or a path is then a simple case of pressing a button on the probe.

When calibrated, the system can detect the desired position down to an accuracy of 0.150 mm, the width of a human hair.

The question of compatibility in industrial robotics

Although this is not the first handheld robot programming tool on the market, the problem with most existing tools is the lack of compatibility between different robots. Solutions are usually tied to a particular robot brand or 3rd-party accessory.

As Nubiola explains “Compatibility is very important for us. We want people to be able to program their robot more easily whatever brand they are using.”

To this end, TwinTrack is compatible out-of-the-box with over 500 industrial robots from the 50 brands that RoboDK already supports. “And if your robot model isn’t already supported, we’ll add it for you,” says Nubiola.

This push for compatibility also extends to the measurement system that provides the solution’s tracking functionality. RoboDK has teamed up with world-leading manufacturers of measurement systems including Creaform, Leica/Hexagon, API, and Faro, and the list of supported systems continues to grow.

TwinTrack’s name reflects the idea that it allows users to experience the ease of working with a digital twin combined with the precision of a robot and a measurement system.

Future plans

There is currently a high demand for robotics in manufacturing and RoboDK has several new releases planned for 2021 to respond to this pressing need in the industry. RoboDK continues to grow internationally and is aiming to give the maximum number of industries the possibility to purchase an affordable high-end, industrial robot simulation software.

Do you want to know more about the RoboDK TwinTrack tool? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post RoboDK Unveils TwinTrack: A Tool For Simple Handheld Robot Programming appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Imagine the situation…

You have programmed your robot to do a machining task. It uses a routing tool to cut the shape of a metal part. The robot produces hundreds of parts per day, which are later assembled into the final product.

But one day, workers at the assembly cell start complaining. The parts produced by the robot are faulty. Some of them are too big, some are too small, and nobody can understand why.

Is the robot broken? Not necessarily.

Your robot could have fallen victim to a cyberattack.

Why Robot Cybersecurity Is Essential

We have all heard how important cybersecurity is, haven’t we? In business, we’re constantly told that we need to keep our computer systems secure, update our passwords, and ensure that sensitive data isn’t leaked.

Of course, cybersecurity is important in all areas of a manufacturing business. However, with robots, it’s especially important.

The Risks of a Robot Cyberattack

According to cybersecurity company Trend Micro, there are various actions that an attacker could take on your robot.

For example, a hacker can:

1. Sabotage production by making small, imperceptible changes to the robot’s programming. As in our example, this can lead to compromised products and can be very difficult to debug.
2. Damage itself or surrounding equipment by instructing the robot to move erratically and collide with objects.
3. Physically harm workers by instructing the robot to move when people are close to it and overriding safety limits.
4. Install ransomware to block access to the robot and demand money from the business.
5. Extract sensitive data from the robot controller or software, such as product designs and other industry secrets.

Usually, the latter two risks are the biggest concern when businesses are talking about cybersecurity.

However, the first three risks are especially dangerous when it comes to robot security. Robots have the potential to cause real physical harm if their programming is compromised.

The 5 Step Cybersecurity Assessment Tool for Manufacturers

How can you tell whether or not your manufacturing business is secure from cyberattacks?

Recently, the Manufacturing Extension Partnershp (MEP) introduced a Cybersecurity Assessment Tool for manufacturing businesses. This tool is based on the 5-part Cybersecurity Framework from the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). It has become a standard for cybersecurity across industries.

You can use the framework to assess how vulnerable your business is to cyberattacks and to prepare yourself better.

The 5 steps are outlined below, along with how they relate specifically to the cybersecurity of robotic systems.

1. Identify

The first step is to identify who has access to the robot system and who doesn’t. Can the robot be programmed by anyone or only those with a specific login? It is better to have individual accounts for each employee rather than a single account for everyone.

Identify which confidential data is stored on the robot’s controller and its programming software. Delete any programs or data which are no longer necessary and contain sensitive information.

Create policies for cybersecurity which follow the legal requirements.

2. Protect

Put mechanisms and safeguards in place to protect the robot from potential attacks. For example, limit the number of employees who can operate the robot only to those who need to use it.

Train employees to recognize the signs that a robot might have been compromised. You should also train them in attacks which can allow hackers to gain access to your computer network (e.g. phishing scams).

Install software and hardware firewalls, as well as other security measures. Examples include automatic timeouts, data encryption, and remote access restrictions.

3. Detect

Even when you implement all the measures in the first two steps, it is still likely that you will experience a cybersecurity attack at some point. When this happens, you need to make sure you can detect the attack as soon as possible.

Install anti-virus and anti-malware protection on all devices and keep them up to date. If you program your robot offline, ensure that the computer you use is well secured.

Check the log files of your robot controller often. Track cybersecurity events and try to correlate them with the robot’s log files. This is to ensure that you detect any changes a hacker makes to the robot programming.

4. Respond

When a cyberattack does happen, you need to have a plan already in place. This will allow you to respond quickly and effectively in the heat of the moment. If you wait until an attack happens, you and your team will risk making bad decisions; you are trying to solve problems when everyone is stressed.

Develop a plan for what you will do in the case of cyberattacks and other security incidents.

5. Recover

You need to be able to recover quickly when a cyberattack hits your manufacturing business. This means preparing for recovery long before it actually happens.

Make full backups of all the robot’s programs and schedule incremental backups so that these stay up-to-date. Continually make improvements to the robot’s programming and update to the latest version of your programming software.

If you already have cyber insurance, check that it covers incidents related to a robot cyberattack. If you are not insured, seriously consider getting insurance as the cost of a cyberattack can be huge.

How to Ensure Cybersecurity Incidents Don’t Cause Harm

For many of us, cybersecurity is a relatively new concept. We aren’t sure exactly what we need to do to keep ourselves protected. Robots add an extra layer of complexity given that they have the potential to cause real harm.

Following a framework such as these 5 steps from NIST is a good way to get your business up to speed. However, the most important thing is to keep cybersecurity at the top of your mind.

You wouldn’t leave a door unlocked when everyone had left the building for the day, would you? Cybersecurity requires a similar level of vigilance.

What measures do you have in place to avoid cybersecurity issues? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post Is Your Robot Vulnerable to Cyberattacks? A Tool for Manufacturers appeared first on RoboDK blog.