Automatica, leading exhibition for smart automation and robotics, Munich, Germany

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automatica 2018 - Professional development

Published on Jun 7, 2018

Industrial Internet of Things, digitization, artificial intelligence. The world of work is undergoing profound changes. In the factory of the future, people will have more responsibility than ever before. The new motto is "Man with the Machine Collaboration".

It's not enough to hire new staff to do the job. Companies also have to ensure their employees are qualified. automatica's Trend Index 2018 shows that the majority of respondents are in favour of this new human-robot collaboration. Employees see it as a chance to gain further qualifications and advance their careers.

The Munich-based start-up “University4Industry” sees this as a key to success: its online university is offering digital learning for industry.

Jan Veira, COO University4Industry


In my view, the 'qualification for digitization’ issue is one that affects all companies. And it will have an impact on all employees in those companies too, because everyone is going to be affected.
We believe that online education can be a very important component when it comes to solving this question of employee qualification. Accordingly, since 2015 we’ve been building up an online learning platform, on which we’ve been presenting relevant knowledge about digitization, topics such as "Industrial Internet of Tings", "Machine Learning", "Artificial Intelligence", and also topics like "Blockchain" or "How to be agile in a team”. And that way, we’ve provided learning content that will make the learning process efficient and effective for employees.
The benefits for employees who study with us at University4Industry are that, ultimately, they understand what opportunities are offered by digitization and by certain other technologies, such as machine learning. And also what they can learn for their specific areas of responsibility, and for their jobs. And they learn how to do it from experts. They get a theoretical foundation. I think that's very, very important. And it’s equally important that there are practical examples as well. And one example that appeals to me very much as far as the field of machine learning is concerned is: how does a machine actually learn? And what do I have to do to enable a machine to learn from data?
We have a dataset of Titanic passengers. If these data are properly adjusted, processed slightly and then put into a computer, you can teach the computer using just three lines of code to correctly predict whether the passengers will survive or not survive.

Not everyone has to learn to program. But you do have to be able to recognize opportunities. You have to be in a position to assess things for instance, by consulting the right technologies. But not everyone is going to have to implement machine learning themselves.

 

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automatica 2018 - Artifical Intelligence in production

Published on Jun 11, 2018

Artificial intelligence is a prerequisite for the networked factory of tomorrow. Robots should learn for themselves and adapt quickly and flexibly to changing requirements. The Berlin start-up "micropsi industries" has developed the software "MIRAI", which enables robots to independently adapt to new situations in order to work hand in hand with humans.

 

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automatica 2018 - Artificial intelligence Supports Humans

Published on Jun 11, 2018

automatica 2018 - Artificial intelligence Supports Humans

Smart robots not only provide support with complex production processes in industry – they’re steadily taking over the service sector. Whether in logistics, medicine or customer service: Man and machine are increasingly working hand in hand. And slowly but shortly Artificial Intelligence is taking centre stage.
Original sound DLR:
"Whenever there’s human interaction involved, you always have to integrate a certain amount of intelligence. Whether you're another human being, or a robot. That’s why AI is very important in robotics – and especially for human-robot interaction."
The German Aerospace Center is researching the use of Artificial Intelligence in the health sector. The plan is for virtual reality to help patients overcome even phantom pain.
Original sound DLR
"Many patients – around 50% I think – can’t get used to wearing a prosthesis. And what we do is successfully train them to wear their prosthesis in virtual reality. It’s sort of a support on the way to using your own prosthesis.”
As the prosthesis moves, muscle tension on the surface of the skin is measured and these data are made visible to the patient in virtual reality, to facilitate the training.
"What’s very important are sensors, to measure what the patient wants to do. The data from these sensors are processed with machine learning and then converted into movements of the prosthesis in virtual reality. The patient moves, but he doesn’t really because he has no arm left - but he sees his arm move in virtual reality."
The Technical University of Munich is also working on human interaction with its humanoid robot "Roboy": today, using voice and image recognition, Roboy can already speak with people, advise them, and always learn something new.
"Do you enjoy having a conversation with me?
"Yes, sure."
"Phew, I was a bit nervous there. But it turns out that I have no reason to worry."

In the future, Roboy could give humans support with their own movements.
O-Ton TUM
"The knowledge being created with Roboy is interesting for everyone, because it allows us to build better prosthetics or better exoskeletons. That means that in 10 or 15 years, nobody will need to buy a wheelchair any more – we’ll have robots that can dress us, and help us to walk. And here, we’re making valuable contributions to that.
Artificial Intelligence could revolutionize human-robot collaboration in service robotics. At automatica in Munich - the leading trade fair for automation and robotics - exhibitors are presenting innovative solutions on robotic support to humans in the future.
"One aspect that makes this technology highly relevant for industry is the use of these muscle tendons to make the entire robot lighter – the poles are shifted to the inside. That way, we can build lightweight, safe robots that can interact with humans. So for human-robot collaboration in general, and for industry, this is an important first step in the right direction."
"In our projects we keep on noticing that robots don’t replace humans, they work with them. Humans are good at certain things – we can understand things very well in abstract terms, and perceive them very well. Robots are strong and very precise. And when the two collaborate, you have the best of both worlds."

 

[Administrator]

automatica 2018 – The working world of the future

Published on Jun 19, 2018

The working world of the future is being presented at Messe München: automatica – The leading trade fair for intelligent automation and robotics – is digital and innovative.

Falk Senger, Managing Director automatica: We can also announce a new exhibitor record this year with around 900 exhibitors, and for the first time the trade fair will fill six exhibition halls. Automatica is thus impressively confirming its position as an important market place for robotics and automated production.

The focus is on digital transformation in manufacturing, human-robot-collaboration and work 4.0. The immense progress of artificial intelligence is omnipresent.

Falk Senger, Managing Director automatica: The robot-colleague has arrived in practice and works hand in hand with people, and automatica exhibitors demonstrate this with concrete applications.
Sales of the German robotics industry rose by 13 percent in 2017. This very positive development has a direct impact on the world of work.

Patrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director of VDMA Robotics + Automation: We see that automation, which is progressing very strongly, creates more jobs, not less. At the same time, we see that the jobs are getting better. With the new automation that combines people and machines better, so that everyone can play to their strengths, people are working more like humans and less like machines. And I believe that work in the future will be better than it is today.

Politics has also recognized the potential of digital transformation. Investments should be made accordingly.

Franz Josef Pschierer, Bavarian State Minister of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology: Robotics will not only happen in large scale industry but will increasingly move into medium-sized business and that is important because these medium-sized companies are suppliers to large companies. And those who do not join in will ultimately lose market share, so the Free State of Bavaria will do everything it can to enable medium-sized business to open up to these issues.

The participants of the entire industry will meet at automatica for these future topics. Already today the technological progress of tomorrow will be show-cased here!

 

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Automatica 2018 - Yaskawa-Motoman

Published on Jul 6, 2018

 

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Mecademic @ Automatica 2018

Published on Jul 8, 2018

 

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AIRSKIN 01 @ AUTOMATICA 2018, Munich

Published on Jul 9, 2018

At automatica 2018, Munich, Blue Danube Robotics demonstrated AIRSKIN® on a variety of industrial robots and grippers.

Check out AIRSKIN® on a UNIVERSAL ROBOTS UR10 in combination with a STÖGER CSX12, a STÄUBLI TX2-90L and a KUKA KR10 in combination with a ROBOTIQ 2AG85. Moreover, we had AIRSKIN® on display on a UNIVERSAL ROBOTS UR5, SCHMALZ COBOT PUMP 2x2, ONROBOT RG2 and ETA-OPT SH-ZPN.

AIRSKIN® is a soft and pressure sensitive safety skin for industrial robotics that covers the whole robot as well as the tool. It allows you to rethink robot safety in new and unconventional ways beyond limiting power and reach or restricting access. With AIRSKIN®, robot manufacturers can offer their well-established robots on the cobot market.

 

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Epson at automatica 2018

Published on Jul 11, 2018

If you didn't get a chance to come to this year's automatica, see our overview video of this fantastic event!

 

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MABI Robotic - Automatica 2018

Published on Jul 17, 2018

 

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KEBA @ Automatica 2018

Published on Jul 26, 2018

Next Generation Robotics and a great atmosphere: This was exactly what visitors experienced at the KEBA exhibition booth in Munich! Our robotics team presented a turnkey robot control, a flexible control platform for individual solutions, HRI solutions and safe wireless machine operation.

 

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DENSO Robotics Europe at Automatica 2018

Published on Jul 31, 2018

DENSO Robotics presented COBOTTA for Human-Robot Collaboration in various real-life applications, such as the 3-Color Pen Factory and in combination with a MINI-EYEFEEDER parts conveyor.

The next highlights were the automated 3D quality inspection solution KITOV-ONE, the IoT Data Server and the IoT Data Studio, the HSR and HS-A1 robots controlled by one RC8A controller, a VM-Series robot in a non-contacting coating thickness measurement application and more…

 

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automatica 2020 – Mobile robotics

Feb 17, 2020

Customized production, smaller lot sizes, increasing part diversity - rigid production systems are increasingly reaching their limits. The requirement now: automation solutions that are both flexible and smart.

Dana Clauer: This age of increasing customization, or of derivatives or variants, is giving rise to ever-increasing diversity. The rigid material flow systems that we knew only a short while ago are now having to be converted into flexible ones. And mobile robots are perfect for that.”

For instance, automatic guided vehicles, or AGVs for short, are an indispensable part of the production halls at Audi. They supply employees on the assembly line with built-in components or follow targeted routes to flexible assembly stations, like at the e-motor production plant in Györ, Hungary.

From the firm of Stäubli, It’s a revolution in mobile robotics. The “Helmo” is already being used in a factory in Allschwill, Switzerland.

Benjamin Heri: “An AGV system is basically only suitable for logistics tasks. If you bring Helmo in as well, you can use him as a logistics system and also as a helper during assembly. With Helmo, there are countless possibilities and potential fields of application”.

And that’s all thanks to the combination of a mobile platform and a robot arm. In the production of electrical connectors, the mobile robot autonomously carries out pick-and-place applications at different workplaces. It can drive and navigate through the factory completely autonomously. Helmo can either complete tasks fully automatically or collaborate with humans. Numerous safety features make this mobile robot a full member of the team.

Benjamin Heri: “Helmo is a very safe system, it’s autonomous. For example, if someone walks in front of Helmo, the system says: “I have a problem and have to stop now.” Then it gets stopped immediately”.

Helmo is assigned tasks either from the SAP system or directly from his human colleagues. Once trained, the mobile robot system can take over almost any manual activity on assembly lines even today. And his full potential is far from exhausted.

Benjamin Heri: “Helmo will be made a bit faster. We want to achieve that using a double gripper. Next, we want to interlink several machines with Helmo. Plus: he will still get logistics jobs where he transports workpieces from A to B, taking the strain off the workers.”

The very latest trends and innovations for mobile robotics and the future of the autonomous factory are all being presented at automatica in Munich.

 

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automatica 2020 – Autonomous driving

Feb 17, 2020

A car drives autonomously and decides independently to change lane and to overtake. No more need for driver intervention. Science Fiction has become a reality.

The French company Valeo has long since recognized this trend: self-driving cars are going to revolutionise the automotive industry profoundly. In South Gerrmany, Valeo is testing fully automated vehicles on authorised sections of motorway. Artificial intelligence plays a key role here.

Harald Barth: “AI is in a position to a process a significantly higher volume of data – and also, very importantly, to not only measure situations but also understand them so as to be able to create the proactive element that is so essential in automated driving.”

To gain this understanding, the AI needs real data, generated on measurement vehicles with the aid of various sensors. This is because road traffic is too complex to be successfully captured by a formal set of rules. To guarantee road safety, an autonomously propelled vehicle has to be able to recognize and also classify different objects. The keys to success here: Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Harald Barth: “Deep Neuro Net, that is, neural networks, work with a great deal of training data. In other words, a person perceives their environment and learns to understand it, and we’re giving these systems that same kind of understanding.”

In Saarbrücken the DFKI, the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, is also working on the future of mobility. The scientists here are taking a different approach:

Christian Müller: “Actually our unique selling points are that we look after the vulnerable road users. Our work has less to do with motorway traffic and more with inner-city traffic. That’s where we’re modelling human behaviour by using AI.”

With a so-called “motion capture suit”, the researchers collect data on the walking behaviour of pedestrians. The data are then fed into the system on board the autonomous vehicle. The advantage here is that the car’s artificial intelligence should, by means of countless case scenarios, learn how to respond proactively to pedestrian behaviour.

Christian Müller: “While industry limits itself to merely detecting pedestrians, we’re actually predicting their behaviour. That gives us a head start of 5 to 7 seconds, during which we can predict people’s future behaviour or their future movements.”

But it’s going to be some years before vehicles can drive themselves fully automatically. There are still many challenges to be overcome – technological as well as legal.

Harald Barth: ”What I predict is that in ten to twenty years’ time, most of new cars will be equipped with systems where you can at least partially give them driving tasks.”

Christian Müller: “If we’re talking about inner-city traffic, then we’ll certainly need to discuss structural measures – because the proximity of vulnerable road users prevents driving there with any high degree of automation.”

Artificial intelligence will also revolutionise many other sectors. Find out how it can make your production more autonomous – at automatica in Munich!

 

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Automatica 2022 recap

Jul 7, 2022