At IMTS, the collaborative robotics pioneer will unveil a new AI-powered machine tending solution that eliminates the need for fixtures and speeds up batch changeovers. Additionally, the company will showcase advanced cobot applications for welding, finishing, part feeding and laser marking.
Novi, Michigan, August 28, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In a recent survey of 1,200 manufacturers across North America and Europe by Universal Robots (UR) about their technology usage and future investment plans, more than 50% of respondents said they are currently using AI and machine learning in their production processes.
“AI is not just hype,” says Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics, parent company of Universal Robots. “We are very interested in physical AI. By adding high-performance computing hardware to our control systems and investing in targeted software upgrades, UR is positioning itself as the robotics platform of choice for developing and deploying AI applications.”
At IMTS, September 9-14 in Chicago, booth #N 236131, UR will showcase a machine tending application with new AI-based perception capabilities running on NVIDIA Jetson and Isaac acceleration libraries integrated into UR's new PolyScope X platform. This combination enables dynamic path planning, allowing the robot to follow the most efficient, collision-free path when entering and exiting a machine, without requiring detailed configuration from the user. UR plans to make this cutting-edge technology available for a wide range of applications, including machine tending and other material handling tasks.
“We look forward to showcasing IMTS attendees the powerful deep learning solutions that will have a profound impact on manufacturing, particularly the high-mix, low-volume production that is becoming increasingly common in machine tending,” adds Kumar. AI will also be a focus of UR's popular events, Cobot Walks, guided tours throughout IMTS exploring the latest cobot innovations in machine tending, metalworking, support tools, UR+ peripherals and education.
Uptime matters
A key production parameter is cobot uptime. To ensure seamless operations and increased efficiency, UR has launched enhanced UR Care service plans, offering preventative field service, onsite break-fix, dedicated remote support and secure cloud-connected based cobot service and performance monitoring via UR Connect, unveiled for the first time at IMTS.
“We want to be your steadfast ally, helping you optimize performance, maintain peak hardware health and uptime, and extend the life of your cobot,” said Anurag Thakur, UR's vice president of service and aftermarket, while also highlighting UR Care's new field service program, which ensures both fast on-site repairs with industry-leading response times and preventive maintenance visits by skilled automation experts.
Unlike other service and repair services that often require multiple platforms, channels and logins, UR now provides all service, support and training through its fleet management portal, myUR.
Thriving Ecosystem Showcases New Cobot Applications
At IMTS 2024, more than 60 UR collaborative robot arms will be in action across the McCormick Place show floor, a testament to the rapidly expanding UR ecosystem, with OEM, UR+ and certified systems integrator partners showcasing a wide range of applications leveraging UR collaborative robots.
The UR+ ecosystem recently reached a milestone with the launch of 500 UR+ products, some of which will be featured at IMTS, including Groundlight AI for AI-based visual inspection and anomaly detection, Zimmer's tool change interface for Schmalz grippers, End-of-Arm Safeguard from SICK, pneumagiQ, a universal pneumatic gripper interface from Impaqt Robotics, and remote diagnostics and monitoring solutions from Olis Robotics.
The UR booth will feature UR+ products along with:
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Brinkman Automation's “The Finisher” is the world's first automated modular deburring, polishing and cleaning cell featuring a UR5e collaborative robot. This turnkey cell provides high-precision finishing with a modular design, allowing for quick and easy changeover between multiple parts. An integrated cleaning system eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning operations.
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Hirebotics' Cobot Welder is integrated with Miller's Auto DeltaWeld, an advanced welder for cobot welding applications. Hirebotics will also be showcasing its programming platform, Beacon, with “Fine Tune” to easily adjust the robot's torch angle, and a new feature, “Enhanced Stitch Weld,” that allows for re-sequencing of stitch patterns.
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Hurco's VM15Di 3-axis CNC machine is tended by the UR20 cobot, UR's longest reach cobot. The cobot machine tending system is seamlessly integrated into the Hurco CNC with a collaborative automatic door, gripper and pneumatic vice. Attendees will experience how easy it is to set up a job in under five minutes using Hurco's Automation Job Manager software.
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Laser Marking Technologies' Cobalt® Dominator is operated by a UR3e collaborative robot with an OnRobot VGC10 gripper to laser mark custom UR-branded luggage tags with each attendee's name. It's extremely easy to set up and use, making it a repeatable and efficient unattended operation.
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Lights Out Manufacturing's Aries 10 Part Feeder application, powered by a UR30 collaborative robot, allows for lightning-fast part changes, making it ideal for shops that require a wide range of parts.
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Park'N'Arc range extender for welding applications featuring Vectis Automation's UR20 collaborative robot. Vectis will also be showcasing several collaborative robot welding features with modern user experience and ease of use, including QuickTeach and AI path optimization.
Empowering tomorrow's workforce
IMTS attendees can also find UR at the Student Summit booth #121515, where the booth will feature four interactive demonstrations, including a block-stacking challenge for students, a UR education kit for the classroom, and an exciting partner product featuring a UR collaborative robot on a safe integrated mechatronics cart.
Download the press kit: here
About Universal Robots
Universal Robots is a leading provider of collaborative robots (cobots) used across a wide range of industries and education sectors. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Odense, Denmark, and with US headquarters in Novi, Michigan, Universal Robots envisions a world where people work with robots, not like robots. Its mission is simple: to make automation accessible to everyone, everywhere. Since introducing the world's first commercially viable cobot in 2008, Universal Robots has developed a product portfolio reflecting a range of reach and payload and has sold more than 75,000 cobots worldwide. An extensive ecosystem has grown around the company's cobot technology, generating innovation, choice for customers, and a wide range of components, kits and solutions for any application.
For more information, visit www.universal-robots.com.
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