When I meet people who are not in the industry and tell them I'm editor of a magazine called Automation World, their first reaction is always, "so you write about robots". Actually, I seldom do. I often wonder why. But then, most robots in manufacturing still do what the robots did back when I went to school to learn how to program them (back in 1986). There are SCARA, 6-axis, gantry robots and occasionally a robot vehicle for warehouse applications. There is a newer robot that ABB called a flex-picker that had a different geometry. But as far as applications, they are still welding, palletizing, de-palletizing, assembly (although much slower than dedicated "pick and place" 2-axis robots) and machine loading/unloading. The market is so truncated that the one magazine in the space dedicated to robotics folded for lack of advertising revenue. There have been advances in speed, programmability and communications, but unless some enterprising reader of this blog sets me straight, I have yet to see any new applications or jump in market.
The newest thing in the space involves some or most of the robotics vendors exploring the packaging industry as a potential new market. I've found a few applications where engineers can discuss benefits they've gained, for example on this Webcast.
But, I keep wondering if it isn't time for a breakthrough in the technology. Futurist Glen Hiemstra (I'm reading his latest book "Turning the Future into Revenue"--more later) cited a new type of robot with interesting and disturbing implications. Check it out and let me know what you think. Are there new applications for someone willing to develop an entirely different type of robot?
When I meet people who are not in the industry and tell them I'm editor of a magazine called Automation World, their first reaction is always, "so you write about robots". Actually, I seldom do. I often wonder why. But then, most robots in manufacturing still do what the robots did back when I went to school to learn how to program them (back in 1986). There are SCARA, 6-axis, gantry robots and occasionally a robot vehicle for warehouse applications. There is a newer robot that ABB called a flex-picker that had a different geometry. But as far as applications, they are still welding, palletizing, de-palletizing, assembly (although much slower than dedicated "pick and place" 2-axis robots) and machine loading/unloading. The market is so truncated that the one magazine in the space dedicated to robotics folded for lack of advertising revenue. There have been advances in speed, programmability and communications, but unless some enterprising reader of this blog sets me straight, I have yet to see any new applications or jump in market.
The newest thing in the space involves some or most of the robotics vendors exploring the packaging industry as a potential new market. I've found a few applications where engineers can discuss benefits they've gained, for example on this Webcast.
But, I keep wondering if it isn't time for a breakthrough in the technology. Futurist Glen Hiemstra (I'm reading his latest book "Turning the Future into Revenue"--more later) cited a new type of robot with interesting and disturbing implications. Check it out and let me know what you think. Are there new applications for someone willing to develop an entirely different type of robot?
11:43:11 AM 
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