KUKA Robotics set to present MR innovations at Automate 2024
KUKA Robotics, a company firmly devoted to Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing, will showcase at Automate 2024, which takes place from May 6–9 at McCormick Place in Chicago, an inventive way to train the next generation of workers and its partnership with three universities on state-of-the-art Mixed Reality (MR) demonstrations.
The KUKA Edu_ArcWelding cart, a fully transportable beginning kit that offers quick, precise robotic welding programming, operation, and small-part manufacturing, will be on display at booth 5679. It is readily adaptable to corporate learning centres, colleges, and universities. The cart has a fume extractor, a KR AGILUS-2 six-axis small robot, a KUKA SmartPAD teach pendant, and a KR C5 controller. It is combined with a Lincoln Electric MAGNUM Robotic Torch and a R450 Power Wave power hub from Lincoln Electric, which runs on 240 V or 480 V electricity. For general training purposes, the cart may also be operated on 120V electricity without a welder. The project-based lesson books and 12-module digital training course that are included simplify the learning process.
Due to a shortage of competent personnel and the retirement of seasoned operators, manufacturers are nevertheless facing staffing challenges. Employers may provide on-the-job training to employees that keeps them up-to-date on the latest procedures and tools by using the KUKA Edu ArcWelding mobile teaching cart. Students may also get training on cutting-edge tools that they will encounter in the workplace.
At Automate 2024, KUKA robotic automation and technology will also be used in a number of university MR demos. Using a head-mounted display like the Microsoft HoloLens, digital material is integrated into the physical environment as a hologram in mixed reality (MR), a hybrid of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The hologram may then be interacted with by users, much like a real thing. Unprecedented levels of enhanced design and manufacturing efficiency will be possible thanks to MR technology.
The University of Michigan will be employing a KR 22 CYBERTECH-2 robot at booths 5680 and 5681 in conjunction with a Microsoft HoloLens and KUKA. MixedReality Assistant to design and plan brick walls that will subsequently be manufactured using a real-time streaming workflow for “just-in-time” production. Real-time virtual and physical-world connections are made possible by the KUKA. MixedReality software, which verifies fault geometry, tool, and robot trajectories. A strong, low-payload robot, the KR 22 CYBERTECH-2 is designed to handle tasks like arc welding, machining, palletizing, and assembling. It can travel at really fast speeds without losing precision.
Oakland University’s ready2_educate training cell is equipped with a KR AGILUS robot and KUKA. MixedReality software will be used to showcase robotic programming for augmented and mixed reality at booth 5678. A self-contained training cell called ready2_educate from KUKA simplifies training for colleges, universities, and corporate learning centres. KR AGILUS is a tiny, six-axis robot that possesses extraordinary speed and agility.
A KUKA LBR iisy 3 R760 cobot will be used by Lake Superior State University at booth 5677 to showcase manual guiding learning. Because of its user-friendly operational capabilities, the LBR iisy 3 R760 is a lightweight, 6-axis cobot that requires very little programming experience to commission. Manual instruction is available for configuring and programming the LBR iisy series. smartPAD’s pro smart-teach product makes it just as simple to do any further programming activities as it would be to use a smartphone.
KUKA automation systems come with the company’s professional service and support, which can be conveniently accessed via the my.KUKA.com website. This assistance includes training, full system engineering and simulation, readily available spare parts, robot refurbishing, and more.
