KMR iiwa collaborative robot delivers components and materials autonomously on SIPLACE SMT line.
KUKA Robotics has recently made public a new video showcasing two variants of their LBR iiwa (intelligent industrial work assistant) collaborative robots.
Meet the KMR iiwa and the KUKA flexFELLOW.
In the video above, the table-mounted KMR iiwa autonomously wheels around on a mobile platform performing deliveries of component reels from a SIPLACE Tower to engineers working on a SIPLACE SMT line.
A SIPLACE LineMonitor, able to combine status information from all SIPLACE placement machines, dictates to the SIPLACE Material Tower and KMR iiwa when materials have been requested. The cobot retrieves the needed materials from the tower by touch – feeling itself around the tower and measuring the space in real time to ensure accuracy.

Couriering the materials over to an engineer, the delivery is safely handed off with gesture controls.
The KMR iiwa is able to move about autonomously, thanks to integrated laser scanners and control software. These pair with industrial WLAN technology to enable programmers to outline collision-free path planning.
Mecanum wheels allow the KMR iiwa to move in all directions.
The aim of the presentation was to demonstrate new automation options for Smart Factories.
“The showcase consisting of the two applications was a highlight at our in-house Technology Show in November 2015,” said Bernhard Fritz, head of the SMT Center of Competence at ASM Assembly Systems.
The flexFELLOW on the other hand, is not independently mobile and must be wheeled around.
Rather than simply pick and place component wheels and materials from a tower to a bin however, the flexFELLOW has applications including component measurement, screw fastening and insertion of sealing sleeves among others.
To learn more about collaborative robots and how you can automate with them, continue reading with us here.
For more information on KUKA Robotics, visit their website.
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