Trends in Robotics: AI and Ease of Use

‘Specialists know their processes however need assistance with utilizing robots’

Within the first half of this 12 months, there was a spread of commerce reveals, highlighting the speedy tempo of innovation within the robotics market. Rocking Robots sat down with Samuel Bertrand, Common Supervisor of RoboDK to debate developments in robotics and the impact these have on the roadmap of RoboDK.

“A part of my job is specializing in figuring out the most recent developments and necessities to make sure our options are on the forefront of developments” says Samuel Bertrand, Software program Improvement Lead at RoboDK. Extremely precious enter may be discovered at commerce reveals, such because the current version of Automate in Chicago. “We’ve the possibility to satisfy companions and observing business developments.”

“This allowed time to discover present business happenings and meet companions showcasing RoboDK options. For instance, Comau, the place RoboDK will probably be absolutely built-in into their Roboshop Subsequent Gen launch. Mecademic additionally demonstrated their CAD-to-path capabilities utilizing RoboDK for programming their robots.”

Shift

General, Bertrand has observed a shift available in the market over the previous few years. “There’s a rising deal with application-based merchandise geared toward newcomers to robotics, notably these with fewer than three robots. These customers are sometimes machine specialists who know their processes nicely however are much less conversant in robotics. There are numerous new instruments designed to make it simpler for these newcomers to undertake and combine robotics into their operations.

And, after all, AI is on the agenda in every single place: “Over the previous few a long time, we have now seen sluggish adoption at scale within the automation business. Nevertheless, with the brand new technology of engineers, we will see huge manufacturers beginning to incorporate trendy instruments into their options. For example, Yaskawa lately introduced the addition of the NVIDIA Jetson to their subsequent technology controller. ABB additionally launched an OmniCore platform with scalability and future proofing in thoughts as nicely.”

Highlighting the strategic initiatives at RoboDK, he notes: “To assist AI developments, we launched TwinBox. This platform operates on embedded gadgets just like the Nvidia Jetson, tapping into AI capabilities inside manufacturing environments. TwinBox gives entry to the RoboDK API, facilitating complete integration between robotic arms, notion methods, AI and machine studying frameworks, and SCADA connectivity. This allows dynamic and complicated integrations that improve the performance and flexibility of robotic methods throughout numerous industrial sectors.”

No Commodity

“AI is revolutionizing robotics, however we’re within the early phases for industrial robotics. As a result of we deal with robotic growth, for us that is nice information. Our purpose is to be a platform in that revolution the place you’ll be able to check instances, simulate gadgets, prepare fashions, and check these fashions on actual {hardware}, due to our offline programming capabilities. We need to be a platform that drives AI and robotics, enabling machinists, course of specialists, and newcomers to robotics with easy and easy-to-use software program. We are able to already really feel the rise demand for our API capabilities to drive this demand.”

Though language fashions redefined the expectation of AI, in the intervening time, AI in robotics will not be but a commodity for the end-user. “It has been round for a very long time, however it’s nonetheless one thing that you simply usually go to an integrator to get an entire answer. Within the client market, merchandise like ChatGPT and Copilot at the moment are normal; even non-experts use them. In robotics, there may be plenty of analysis and growth, and within the coming years, we’d see extra of a robotic immediate engineer function, the place you’ll be able to specify duties and robots will configure themselves accordingly. We’re not but on the level the place a newcomer in robotics can use AI with out realizing it as a result of it’s merely a instrument of their toolkit.”

Challenges

He positions RoboDK throughout the simulation and offline programming market as a really accessible answer. This additionally attracts a selected group of recent customers. “These customers are normally newcomers to robotics. They typically come to us with plenty of course of data. They know their utility very nicely and know how you can do it by hand. Their principal challenges are automating the method resulting from labor constraints or growing cycle time and output, or they need to complement their present processes by lowering repetitive duties and reassigning personnel to extra essential duties.”

“These clients usually search application-based options. They may be conversant in CAD/CAM software as a result of they’re machinists or CNC specialists, however they don’t know how you can work with robots. That’s the reason we have now plugins for CAD/CAM software program like Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Mastercam, BobCAD-CAM, and FeatureCAM, amongst others, permitting for fast setups and direct integration with RoboDK. One in every of our strengths is to offer as many entry factors as attainable so newcomers can discover one thing acquainted and incorporate RoboDK into their workflow. We deal with offering instruments for specialists to construct their processes somewhat than claiming to be the specialists ourselves.”

Accuracy

“Within the quick time period, we’re targeted on steady enchancment of our present choices. The market’s rising demand for correct, repeatable robotic methods is a significant driver. Many newcomers to robotics face challenges in defining their work body precisely. They rapidly understand that whereas robots are extremely repeatable, they typically wrestle with precision. Conventional robotic calibration strategies may be advanced and irritating. We work on options to handle this by leveraging the robotic’s personal accuracy to outline the workpiece exactly. This simplifies the method and will increase effectivity.”

Additionally, the flexibility to get better rapidly from crashes or adjustments while not having advanced recalibration is essential. “Probing expertise permits for fast restoration sequences, lowering downtime and eliminating the necessity for engineers to reteach all of the factors. This functionality generally is a important promoting level for producers seeking to decrease manufacturing interruptions and preserve excessive manufacturing throughput.”

He concludes: “In the long run, our purpose is to totally combine CAD/CAM/OLP functionalities into RoboDK. This can permit customers to carry out advanced manipulations and have extractions throughout the software program, making it a complete instrument for robotics and automation. We purpose to make RoboDK not solely a robust instrument for simulation and offline programming but in addition a flexible platform for growing superior robotic purposes.”

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