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In Focus - Archive March 2010
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Car-O-bot 3
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03-01-2010 -
Experts predict an increase in the pursuit of service robotics. This is no surprise: Modern robot applications offer an enormous potential to the economy and society. Pilot applications already show how robots might become more and more the intelligent helpers of humans. In addition to universities and other research institutes, industrial enterprises should focus on development in this sector, and make it a reality. Therefore the European Union has decided to subsidize the transfer of knowledge between research institutes and industry financially support this pursuit as well.
The development of new products always comes with a high risk because the developers are entering new territories. Therefore projects of this kind are presumed to be high cost, and their success is often uncertain. This is the reason why relatively few industrial enterprises dared to implement new products.
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"AMaRob" shall allow severely handicapped persons in future to enjoy more freedom.
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Bureaucratic efforts are to be minimized
Those who want to apply for financial subsidies for new developments, have to run through a time-consuming and complex process. Inexperienced applicants hardly ever obtain the necessary funds. With the EU-funded project ECHORD (European Clearing House for Open Robotics Development), the access to financial subsidies for service robotic projects should be easier, and at the same time, the exchange between the research institutes and industry should be intensified.
The EU project ECHORD was developed within the seventh framework program of the EU for research promotion. It approaches research groups and industrial enterprises in the field of robotics and has a project volume of 24 million euro. Of this 19 million euro is passed on to third parties. The project is coordinated by the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
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The arm of the "Scitos" from Metralabs consists of SCHUNK PR modules.
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About 50 projects are to be funded
There are three rounds, where every European manufacturer and research group may file an application for experiments. Thereby the entry process for the applicants is kept relatively low. With approximately 50 individual projects with a runtime between twelve and 18 months, future solutions should be implemented. The institutes and research institutions receive the possibility to carry out their developments and researches on the latest industry focused hardware.
The experiments can take place on one or three consecutive scenarios:
- cooperation between human and machine
- hyper flexible manufacturing cells
- cognitive manufacturing plants
The following research focuses on the results of:
- human-robot interfaces and safety
- robot hands and complexe manipulation
- mobile manipulators and cooperation
- networked robots
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Within the framework of "ImRoNet" internet-based multimedia-based/ multimodal user interfaces for tele-operation of robots are researched.
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Companies have enormous freedom in design
Within these focuses, there is a lot of freedom: the development of basic technologies, concrete applications, and feasibility studies are sponsored as well. Possible experiments are multimodal human-robot interfaces, high speed force control of robots, object recognition for gripping applications or a synchronized control of larger robot groups.
Interested companies can participate at three open contests, whereby the first one has just ended and will be evaluated. The next contest will be expected in the second quarter of 2010. The projects should have a volume of maximum 300.000 euro and should be carried out with one to three partners. Up to one third of the subsidies amount can be spent for hardware from the so-called ECHORD fund.
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Sensitive and talented: The SDH from SCHUNK is setting benchmarks, if flexible gripping is concerned.
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The mobile manipulator "MM-500" from Neobotix combined with the Dextrous Lightweight Arm LWA 4.10 from SCHUNK, is a multi-purpose robot system.
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Mechatronical components for the ECHORD research
As an expert in automation, SCHUNK participated in setting up the EU-project. With its long research experience in the main focuses of the research project, SCHUNK supports the project groups with know-how, but also with the latest hardware. Subsidized project groups also receive innovative automation components from SCHUNK at very affordable prices.
Thus the SCHUNK Dextrous Hand SDH with three fingers, seven programmable degrees of freedom and precise tactile sensor systems are ideal pre-conditions for projects of the research focus on "Robot hands and complex manipulation". Moreover, numerous gripping, rotary and linear modules can be freely and flexibly combined with the individual lightweight arms.
Proven as a partner for development projects
As one of the central innovation driver in service robotics, SCHUNK already helped numerous projects in the past. In the field of "mobile manipulators", SCHUNK built up systems with partner companies, which offer the optimum precondition for applications in household and industry. The mobile platform Scitos from Metralabs or the mobile manipulator MM-500 from Neobotix are just two examples for this.
Even in the research focus "human-robot interfaces and safety", SCHUNK already enriched several research projects with its innovative components. Thus the project ImRoNet aims at researching internet-based, multimedia-based or multimodal user interfaces to tele-operation with robots. Thereby new methods and components were designed and experimentally validated, by which the robots can be served institutionally in a typical operational environment. The service robot Care-O-bot 3 was designed as a home help, for fetching or bringing household objects, such as car keys, to set the table and to open doors and drawers and to interact with other humans. It unifies numerous innovations from mechatronics, controllers, sensor systems and kinematics. During the project AMaRob innovative methods were researched with SCHUNK components for controlling manipulators of rehabilitation robots. Based on the received experiences, severely handicapped persons should be able to act independently in the future.
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EU-funded program ECHORD
The EU program for intensifying the European-wide cooperation of science and industry, as well as for subsidizing the European (service) robotics.
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| Run-time: |
Approximately three years |
| Begin: |
January 2010 |
| Volume: |
24 million euro, from 19 million euro subsidies |
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| Run-time of the individual projects: |
12 to 15 months |
| Volume per project: |
max. 300.000 euro |
| Number of projects: |
approximately 50 |
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| 1st. Tender: |
October 5, 2009 until December 1, 2009 |
| 2nd. Tender: |
still open |
| 3rd. Tender: |
still open |
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| Informationen: |
www.echord.info |
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2010-12
Clamping large turned parts safely
Launched from the energy technology, machining of large parts on lathes has become more important in the past few years. This causes a lot of pressure which has to be absorbed by the clamping device. This factor makes it all the more surprising that many users still use traditional clamping solutions, which are costly to set-up, clean and maintain. Modern clamping devices do more than assuring safe clamping, they increase precision of the workpiece, reduce set-up times, and minimize maintenance efforts. This also applies for chucks and jaw boxes.
 more...
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2010-10
Grippers with additional benefits
The figures speak for themselves: SCHUNK, the leading expert for clamping technology and gripping systems has sold thousands of sensors for handling applications. While the status of the actuator has been monitored in the past, modern sensors transform the grippers into intelligent helpers, which can measure, inspect, sort and accelerate the whole process simultaneously. The question on their efficiency potential is answered with an overview of the current sensor systems for handling applications.
more...
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2010-09
Gripping Technology for Industrial Robots
Industrial robots work quickly, reliably and never stop. The achieved output and quality significantly depends on the individual periphery, particlularly of the gripping sytems. In the hunt of the optimum gripper, engineers and users have to consider a large variety of influencing factors. In addition to efficiency and process-reliability, sustainability of the gripping systems playes an increasing role.
more...
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2010-08
Efficient toolholders for automated tool grinding
For tool grinding the toolholder plays an essential role because microns will decide the quality of the manufactured tool edges. In view of small batch sizes and various tools, a multi-purpose toolholder is needed. The holder would have to be precise for exact cutting edge geometries and surfaces, slim to avoid interference between the grinding wheel, powerful for very short clamping depths, and have a high material removal rate as well. Flexibility is also required for covering many different shaft diameters. All of these requirements are persuading companies to use automated grinding machines in order to reduce their current costs.
more...
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2010-07
Pick & Place Solutions in Comparison
In order to assemble components fast and precisely, operators can choose between many different Pick & Place solutions. The performance features of the systems vary from each other. To find the best solution, the advantages and disadvantages of each system should be compared.
more...
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2010-06
Energy efficient gripping
In the best of case scenario, energy-efficient automation modules should reduce energy consumption of the handling system and increase cycle times and output. It helps conserve the environment and saves money if you focus both measures.
more...
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2010-05
Factor of Success Engineering -
With virtual simulations to the optimum clamping solution
How does a component deform during the clamping process and machining? Which clamping solution assures that the workpiece has the exact dimensions? How can an existing clamping device be ideally used? Virtual simulations are giving valuable answers to these and simular questions. By means of the Finite Elements Method (FEM) deformations and component payloads can be calculated, which allows a comparison of the individual clamping options and how to optimize them. In turn, process and investment reliability are increased, development times shorten, the selection of the suitable clamping device is easier and costs are lowered.
more...
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2010-04
Magnetic Clamping Technology - efficient at a variety of tasks
Magnetism is one of the most fascinating and influential force of our universe. Engineers and technicians use this same force in order to clamp workpieces, or to reliably lift components. Magnetic clamping technology is well-established in various areas, such as grinding, milling, turning, mobile lifting units in production, and for huge crane constructions. Most engineers now know that magnetic clamping solutions reduce set-up times by about 80 percent, that workpieces are clamped without any deformation, and even coils can be reliably transported.
more...
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2010-03
EU-funded project pushes on the service robots
Experts predict an increase in the pursuit of service robotics. This is no surprise: Modern robot applications offer an enormous potential to the economy and society. Pilot applications already show how robots might become more and more the intelligent helpers of humans. In addition to universities and other research institutes, industrial enterprises should focus on development in this sector, and make it a reality. Therefore the European Union has decided to subsidize the transfer of knowledge between research institutes and industry financially support this pursuit as well.
more...
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2010-02
Flexible packing and palletizing
Adaptive handling systems provide dynamics and profitability if comprehensive ranges and frequent changes in assortment are given.
Every week a new product generation replaces the previous one. These products, which provide new impulses in trade, are a real challenge for the packing process. Faster, process reliable, and flexible automated solutions are in constant demand. They help to keep the handling costs under control, even at an increasing product variety.
more...
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2010-01
How operators "play it safe" during turning operation
If a workpiece loosens from the chuck on a lathe, it can be dangerous to those working in the manufacturing hall. Because of this, the Employer’s Liability Insurance Associations, Standards and Safety Commitees, do everything in their power, to avoid accidents.
more...
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In Focus - 2013
In Focus - Archive 2012
In Focus - Archive 2011
In Focus - Archive 2010
In Focus - Archive 2009
In Focus - Archive 2008
In Focus - Archive 2007
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