FORT COLLINS, CO—Robert Harvey disputes the claim that robots are job killers. In fact, the sales manager at custom automation supplier CBW Automation says it’s the opposite—robots keep U.S. companies competitive.
KVH Industries Inc. knows that people love to be entertained in their vehicles. This is why they developed the TracVision satellite communications system about 10 years ago. TracVision can provide hundreds of channels of live satellite television and music to cars, motor coaches, RVs or boats. The most recent version of the system is the A7. Assembling the antenna for the A7 posed an adhesive-related challenge for KVH.
Vision systems used to guide robots pose different challenges for manufacturers than vision systems used for part inspection. The biggest challenge is guiding robots in 2-1/2D applications, where guidance is used so the camera maintains a proper perspective of a part that is level but included in a stack.
When preparing parts for assembly, automakers can
always use an extra hand or two. One automaker has found those hands at the end
of a dual-arm robot. For the past four years, the automaker has used the dual-arm robot to shorten
the cycle time to treat the front and back surfaces of a suspension component.
The development and capabilities of dual-arm
robots are topics of worldwide interest. Very few such robots are currently
performing assembly. But university researchers in Europe and Asia
hope to change that in the very near future.
Ironically, Wisconsin’s first solar panel manufacturer is located in the shadow of a coal-fired power plant. The Helios Solar Works facility is a shining example of how 21st century renewable energy technology may soon surpass 19th century processes.
Traditionally, robots rely on lots of cabling and connectors. However, continuous the auto industry is developing wireless sensors that are quick, reliable, secure and able to resist interference from existing systems.
RSS
