At the Automate trade show in Chicago last week, the exhibit hall was buzzing with talk about collaborative robots. The next-generation machines allow robots to operate side-by-side with humans on assembly lines.
Let me tell you about Lynx, a little robot I met a few weeks ago. Before I saw it in action, I believed strongly that no robot could be just another worker out on the plant floor. Now I know better.
INGOLSTADT, Germany—For the first time, Audi has deployed a robot at its assembly plant here that works “hand-in-hand” with people without a safety barrier.
NORWICH, UK—The advent of collaborative robots on the assembly line is raising fresh safety questions for manufacturers. Here are some measures that engineers can take to avoid robot-related accidents.
BOSTON—Rethink Robotics has released new positioning software for its Baxter collaborative robot that will enable the robot to manage and adapt to changing, real-world environments.