Epson’s autonomous dual-arm robots demonstrated during the last International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo how robots will automate the manufacturing floor over the next three to five years.
The autonomous dual-arm robots are able to “see” because of the pair of cameras mounted on their heads and arms, and can recognize the shape and orientation of an object. This enables them to perform tasks that require careful precision, such as slipping the bent wires of a capacitor into holes.
Epson also demonstrated how a robot can be given 3D object recognition at a comparatively less expense using a combination of robot cameras and an Epson projector.
The robots are also able to assemble components using ordinary tools used by humans, and even if the components are arranged in random orientations. They can even accurately detect and pick up screws of a specified size from a pool of randomly sized screws.
The end-effector on the end of a robot arm accurately grasps and inserts objects of different shapes and sizes, and automatically adjusts the amount of force it applies to the object. It is also able to pick up soft and delicate objects without damaging them.
Epson plans to use the technologies integrated into its autonomous dual-arm robots to provide existing SCARA and six-axis robots with functions that enable them to perform tasks with greater autonomy.
Epson claims that they plan to have these robots in commercial production by the end of March 2016.