Two robot makers have extended their capabilities with the introduction of new cobots.
The Elfin-5 and HCR line — available through Han's Robot and HYRobotics, respectively — represent their manufacturers' first forays into building collaborative robots. Designed for safety, they represent a lower-expense option for plant operators considering automation, company representatives said.
"There is a growing demand for cobots, especially for small to mid-size companies that could not afford the cost of traditional automation," said Neil Tardella, CEO of Energid Technologies, which created the motion control software that's used in Han's Robot's Elfin cobots.
Tardella and Stella Henson, the marketing coordinator for HYRobotics, cited a number of other benefits, as well.
"Cobots can take on repetitive, strenuous jobs that may have long-term effects on a human body, and the employee is free to complete other tasks," Henson said. "They are easy to automate without a heavy initial investment, and can also save money on training for high-turnover positions." She listed a number of possible jobs appropriate for cobots, including gate cutting, packaging and assembly.
Both HYRobotics and Energid emphasized the software driving their products. Ease of use and safety are especially important considerations, Tardella said.
Actin, the software that powers Elfins, features a user-friendly programming interface and allows cobots to respond to conditions in real time. Energid describes it as adaptive. With it, Elfin cobots can adjust their motions, helping them to move efficiently and ensuring accident-free performance.
"The Actin software lowers development cost and speeds time to market," Tardella said.
According to Energid, the Elfin 5, which has a payload of about 11 pounds, is just the first Han's Robot model to make it to American shores. It is available by contacting Han's Robot directly. At home in Asia, the company and its parent company, Han's Laser, offer an array of automation options, including automated vehicles and multi-axis robots, such as the Cute series.
The Elfin 5 is equipped with a simple, task-based user interface and boasts numerous features that make it able to work alongside humans. The Actin software includes collision avoidance, interactive control and the ability to extend, customize and rebrand any of the components for advanced product differentiation.
"By leveraging Actin to build the real-time robot controller, our engineers were able to focus on the Elfin hardware and bring our new robot to market quickly and cost-effectively," said Han's Robot CEO Guangneng Wang, according to a press release.
For HYRobotics, software development was a central challenge. According to Henson, the cobots have to be able to perform multi-step actions while being simple to use.
Like the Elfins, the HCRs are designed for intuitive operation. To protect operators, they are set up with a virtual safety boundary that can be configured to the workspace, according to HYRobotics.
The line will include three cobots, though the HCR-5 is the first to make it to the U.S.
The cobots use icon-based pendants, featuring a direct-teaching function that's easy to use. For an inexperienced user, programming takes just half a day, according to the company.
Operators can even move the cobot with their hands, programming movements by guiding it into the desired position.
To test their programming, operators can watch a simulation of the cobot's movements on screen before allowing the HCR to perform actions. "We also believe that with the sensitive motion, direct-teaching function and adjustable speed limitations, our cobot has better control capabilities for customers, whatever their application is," Henson said.
Weighing in at 44 pounds, the six-axis HCR-5 has a payload of about 11 pounds and reach of nearly 3 feet. They have a repeatability to within 0.1mm.
Karen Hanna, copy editor
For more information
Energid Technologies Corp.,Cambridge, Mass., 617-401-7090, www.energid.com
Han's Laser,Shenzhen, China, 0755-26983668, www.hansmotor.com, [email protected]
HYRobotics Corp.,St. Louis, 314-574-5777, www.hyrobotics.com
Karen Hanna | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna covers injection molding, molds and tooling, processors, workforce and other topics, and writes features including In Other Words and Problem Solved for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She has more than 15 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.
