Automation
ASSEMBLY Launches Newsletter Dedicated to Automation
New bi-monthly newsletter—Automation News¬—is dedicated to latest developments in assembly automation.
Nearly 70 percent of U.S. workers think that robots help manufacturers deal with the lack of factory workers, and two-thirds believe that robots will enable manufacturers to keep production at home.
In 1961, General Motors became the first company to deploy an industrial robot for manufacturing. Weighing in at 4,000 pounds, the Unimate robot featured a hydraulically actuated telescopic arm that could move with five degrees of freedom. Resembling the gun turret of a tank, the robot was used to unload diecast metal parts from a furnace at GM’s factory in Ewing, NJ.
Automation has certainly changed in 65 years! Robots are now available in a wide range of configurations and sizes, from high-speed delta robots to six-axis collaborative robots.
At one end of the scale, there is Fanuc’s massive M-2000iA/2300 six-axis robot, which has a reach of more than 12 feet, a payload capacity of more than 5,000 pounds, and a positional repeatability of 0.18 millimeter.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the GXC SCARA from Epson. Gyroplus vibration reduction technology optimizes throughput by enabling high acceleration, smooth motion and fast settling time. SafeSense technology enables human-robot interaction without requiring a safety fence. Options include vision guidance, force guidance, conveyer tracking, and fieldbus connectivity. This tabletop robotic can perform a standard pick-and-place move in just 0.28 second.
Where will automation go next? Who knows? Jaguar Land Rover is using drones to inspect production machinery at its assembly plant in Wolverhampton, UK. Caterpillar is collaborating with Nvidia to apply AI to tractor manufacturing. Hyundai says it will deploy humanoid robots at its factories worldwide beginning in 2028. And, researchers in Spain have invented a dual-robot system for assembling wire harnesses.
One thing is for certain: ASSEMBLY will keep you informed of the latest developments. To that end, we are launching a bi-monthly newsletter—Automation News—dedicated to the systems, trends, and technologies shaping the future of automation. The newsletter will go out in January, March, May, July, September and November.
Sign up today to get the latest automation news emailed directly to your inbox.Looking for quick answers on assembly and manufacturing topics? Try Ask ASM, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ASM
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