automatica 2018: Collaborative applications in focus

When automatica opens its doors in Munich on June 19, 2018, once again a lot of spotlight will be cast on the trend topics of collaborative robotics and CMRO. According to Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO of the Danish gripper manufacturer OnRobot and investor in the Hungarian sensor-specialist OptoForce as well as in the US startup Perception Robotics, it is no longer just about collaborative robots. Rather, the former CEO of Universal Robots now sees a holistic approach to collaborative applications coming into focus.

"At the last automatica in 2016, I was still present as CEO of Universal Robots," says Enrico Krog Iversen. "Even then, collaborative robotics was no longer a niche topic and hardly noticeable – human-robot collaboration was already at the center of many trade show appearances." Since then, however, the market has exploded again: in addition to numerous startups, almost every established robot manufacturer now has several collaborative lightweight robot models in their portfolio. For Krog Iversen, the conclusion is clear: "We are currently seeing how collaborative lightweight robots are becoming so widespread that they are gradually developing into a common necessity item for manufacturing companies. The focus is shifting from the robot arm itself to how it is actually used – that is, to the application. Because collaborative applications ultimately create value for users. The robot arm is nothing more and nothing less than the necessary platform for this."

Maximizing the potential of collaborative robots

It is therefore no surprise that Enrico Krog Iversen, after leaving Universal Robots, increasingly dedicated himself to supporting three companies that aim to harness the potential of lightweight robots with innovative end-of-arm tools and create value for their users through collaborative applications. All three companies will also be exhibiting at automatica 2018:

- OnRobot (Hall B4, Stand 508) is based in Odense, Denmark, and manufactures two-finger grippers for collaborative use, distinguished mainly by their safety features as well as their flexible and intuitive handling. Visitors to the company's automatica booth can familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the collaborative gripper RG2 – and be served sweets by it.
- OptoForce (Hall B4, Stand 407) is a Hungarian company specializing in tactile sensing for industrial robotics. Using various applications in electronics assembly, surface finishing, and metal deburring, OptoForce demonstrates how force-torque sensors and the accompanying software enable the automation of complex and delicate tasks. The sensors will be shown in action together with OnRobot grippers at the booth.
- Perception Robotics (Hall B4, Stand 519) is a young startup from Los Angeles, USA, specializing in nature-inspired handling systems. At automatica 2018, the company will introduce its first products:
  - The innovative Gecko Grippers technology is specifically designed for pick-and-place processes of flat objects. Unlike vacuum grippers, the Gecko Gripper can also handle perforated objects like circuit boards. Perception Robotics has been nominated for this year's Invention & Entrepreneurship Award by the International Federation of Robotics and the Robotics & Automation Society.
  - The tactile gripper automatically adjusts its gripping force to the requirements of the workpiece itself. This versatile gripper can work effortlessly with both soft and hard objects.