September 2020

n TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY n 21 www.drivesncontrols.com September 2020 SICK HAS ANNOUNCED A contour-based navigation technology for mobile platforms such as AGVs (automated guided vehicles), carts, forklifts and service robots, that allows them to move freely around a factory and warehouse without needing reflectors or other physical markers. The Lidar-Loc (localisation on contour) system guides the vehicles using pre- mapped contours, and is claimed to cut software development, installation, hardware and maintenance costs “dramatically”. The system avoids the need to move fixed infrastructure to clear paths for vehicles. It learns and recognises the physical contours of a factory or warehouse, thus avoiding the need to install and maintain reflectors, special paints, tracks, magnetic strips or coloured tapes. It can be retrofitted to already-installed scanners, and is available in a software-only version. Applications using one or more Lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors can be programmed quickly, and there is an option to integrate motion control and odometry. Neil Sandhu, Sick’s UK product manager for imaging, measurement and ranging, says that the 2D Lidar application follows the success of the company’s“localisation on contour” algorithm which has been available on its 360-degree Nav scanners since early 2019. “Many of our customers using Sick safety scanners on mobile platforms have been asking us if they can access the raw data for navigation purposes, so they can save cost, space and wiring complexity, especially for smaller and low-to-the-ground mobile platforms,” explains. “This is therefore an important step towards achieving greater Industry 4.0 production flexibility and Sick is the first manufacturer to offer an entire hardware and software solution as part of its indoor localisation portfolio.” The Lidar-Loc software runs on Sick’s Sensor Integration Machine, allowing all of its LMS, TiM and Nav 2D Lidar sensors – as well as its safety scanners, such as the microScan3 – to be used for navigation, eliminating the need to install additional localisation sensors. Whether used in a new machine, or in an existing architecture, the set-up is “almost plug-and-play”. As the vehicle is driven manually around its working environment, the on-board Lidar scanner learns prominent contour features, such as walls, static machines, racks and bays. This data is used to create a precise reference map which is stored on a SIM, ready for commissioning on- site. Set-up and operation are simplified by using a Web browser, and integrating the technology with robot operating systems. The Lidar-Loc has a scanning angle of up to 360 degrees, a working range of up to 250m with precise contour recognition, a positioning accuracy of ±30mm, and a localisation resolution of 1mm at 30Hz refresh rates, depending on the scanner used. www.sick.co.uk Contour-based navigation for mobile platforms needs no markers Kuka has announced a compact industrial robot aimed at production environments with limited space. The KR 4 Agilus arm has a 4kg load capacity and a reach of 600mm – resulting in a work envelope that is almost 40% larger than the previous generation. Kuka claims that the robot will lead the market in terms of its repeatability and cycle times, with a maximum deviation of 0.02mm per work step and a cycle time of less than 0.4 seconds. It can be installed in any position – on the floor, wall or ceiling, at any angle. To cater for one target market – electronics manufacturing – the robot is protected against electrostatic charging and discharging. “With the KR 4 Agilus, we are not just closing a gap in Kuka’s portfolio,” says the company’s portfolio manager, Markus Hollfelder-Asam. “We are supplying a new small robot in the 4kg class that is a real ‘big hitter’ – ideally suited for a broad spectrum of automation tasks, both in the electronics industry and in many other sectors.” The IP40-protected arms can be used in temperatures from 0–55°C. Their reliability has been tested by TÜV, and they are CE- marked and UL-certified. They are said to need minimal maintenance. The robots use Kuka’s latest control technology – the KR C5 micro with its KSS 8.7 system software, for controlling and solving applications efficiently. A choice of interfaces supports a wide range of peripheral devices. The new robots will be available from October. www.kuka.com/en-gb Compact robots have 40% larger work envelopes The contour-based navigation technology avoids the need for reflectors, tracks or other marking systems. Kuka’s new compact robot has been designed for robot-based automation in electronics manufacturing and for handling tasks in other industries.