Industrial robotics holds one of the keys to establishing automation concepts that are fit for the future – and even more so if they are able to provide an environment in which humans and robots can work increasingly as colleagues in a range of different scenarios. In these applications, it is the sensors that give robots the ability to perceive their environment accurately – enabling collaboration on an equal footing. With Robot Vision, Safe Robotics, End-of-Arm Tooling, and Position Feedback, SICK provides the right solutions for every challenge presented by robotics.
The optical and image-based systems in the Robot Vision portfolio provide the robot’s eyes, allowing it to detect humans and materials. Visual robot guidance in 2D and 3D makes it possible to deliver highly flexible and productive automation solutions in production, mounting, joining, and handling processes – such as those found in automated glue bead application, weld seam inspection, and bin-picking applications.
Safe Robotics from SICK provides solutions that are designed to keep humans safe. They include all the measures that turn the sensitive area close to the robot into a safe workspace. Adaptive perception of the environment takes place with the aid of intelligent, rugged, and reliable sensors and safe systems. These enable unimpaired and safe human intervention into the robot’s working range – allowing people to work closely alongside robots and keeping them safe in the process.
With End-of-Arm Tooling, SICK offers sophisticated, intelligent sensors for grippers and robotics tools, designed to keep robots as sensitive as possible and enabling them to work with fingertip precision. The portfolio covers all gripper arm applications and the feed systems associated with them.
In Position Feedback solutions from SICK, the motor feedback systems integrated into the drives deliver data on speed and position as well as on the status of the drive. As a result, these smart motor sensors create the sensory foundation for all robot movements.
Robot Vision solutions from SICK are featured in our main demo at Future Robotics – with the portfolio containing a whole range of innovative solutions for 2D and 3D localisation of parts in automated, robot-assisted handling processes. Different options are available to suit each task: Streaming cameras, vision sensors, snapshot cameras, or smart cameras become the robot’s eyes based on the measuring ranges, fields of view and volumes of view, resolutions, or part movements involved in the task.
The system solutions are designed with easy integration and fast operational readiness in mind, at both installation and operation level. They come ready-configured with all their illumination solutions optimized for the application on board, they allow a vast range of parts to be taught in via the sensor or even from a CAD system, and they incorporate all the software tools that are required for measuring parts and communicating directly with the robot controller. During operation, the integrated system solutions for part localization – which can be used in load carriers, lattice boxes, and containers, as well as on conveyor belts – offer more outstanding features: their excellent precision, repeatability and reliability, short cycle times, and high levels of availability.
Whether you choose the PLR – for 3D localization of parts in carriers, PLB – for precise determination of component positions when reaching into containers, or PLOC2D system solution – for 2D robot guidance in static and dynamic applications, you’ll benefit from SICK vision technology that enables the robot to localise and identify defined pre-defined objects, as well as decide itself how to grip the respective part.
Come and see us on stand F23 where our product and application specialists will be happy to share their knowledge about SICK sensor solutions for robotics and how they can improve your processes.
