At ProMatDX this year, SICK is presenting six demonstrations and two educational sessions that highlight how intelligent sensors can improve supply chain operations for robotics, safety, and smart logistics.
Sensor Solutions for Robotics
Intelligent sensor solutions from SICK enhance mobile and stationary robotic applications. In our ProMatDX showcase, demos and education sessions about sensor solutions for robotics are available all week. From 3D vision robot guidance systems for more efficient bin picking to safety and LiDAR solutions for AMRs, SICK prioritizes improving the supply chain with solutions for mobile robot safety, LiDAR localization, and robot vision systems.
Vehicle tracking and localization software within a manufacturing setting is essential in order to collaborate safely with robotic vehicles. One challenge associated with the tracking of these autonomous vehicles is a loss of tracking guidance that leads to the potential for unplanned vehicle stops and fleet jams.
Using the LiDAR-LOC software from SICK, automated guided vehicles, carts, and robots can continue to remain on track even if the magnetic or optical-guide tape happens to be missing. The system uses the 2D measurement data of the surroundings acquired by SICK safety laser scanners, which are often already present onboard the vehicle as electro-sensitive protective devices.
The 2D LiDAR localization system helps avoid vehicle standstills or fleet jams during operation as a result of defective magnetic or optical track guidance tapes. This translates to higher availability and leads to increased throughputs and productivity in the distribution center.
Bringing Order to Chaos with Robot Guidance Systems
Manual part picking is an expensive, labor-intensive process. As a result, repetitive manual handling is increasingly being replaced by robots. The challenge with robots, however, is that they are blind and many are not flexible enough to accommodate ever-changing automated production processes. With robot vision guidance systems from SICK, flexible material handling is made possible for industrial production. These customizable vision systems provide the competitive advantage many manufacturers are looking for in part localization applications.
“With the creation of many new technologies for the industrial automation industry, this is a very exciting time,” said Nick Longworth, SICK Senior Robotics Engineer. “Simple and repetitive tasks of lifting heavy parts from deep bins, conveyors, and racks has always been a primary source of long-term back injuries, accidents, and inefficiencies.”
SICK’s PLB is a vision system that can be used for high precision localization of parts that are randomly oriented in bins and boxes. The vision system consists of a 3D camera, part localization software, and tools for easy integration.
Logistics Safety Sensor Solutions
Within the logistics market, safety is vital to maintain a productive and efficient supply chain. SICK’s comprehensive safety sensor portfolio covers every area of the material handling industry, from robotics to mobile platforms to industrial trucks. A demo is available during ProMatDX highlighting this topic in detail, including new technology making small mobile robots safer.
As mobile robots continue to trend smaller, stringent safety requirements for safe operation remains. But where do you put the safety sensors as the installation space becomes increasingly tight?
The nanoScan3 is the world’s smallest profile safety laser scanner on the market. Its space-saving design works perfectly in mobile robotics applications, but also in stationary applications where space is limited. It delivers high-precision measurement data and is extremely resistant to light, dust, or dirt. It also has the highest level of flexibility with up to 128 freely configurable fields and monitoring cases.
Smart Logistics Solutions
With connected solutions and cloud ready services, distribution centers and fulfillment operations can now be more competitive than ever before. To accomplish this, connected sensing solutions are required.
Today, intelligent sensors are not only collecting data, but are also preparing and processing it further to provide value-added information. Sensors no longer just “sense,” but now, with the beginnings of digitalization, they are also beginning to “think.” The success of networked value creation chains is heavily dependent on the successful integration of sensors in the overall architecture of an application.
SICK recognizes that the time has come to add a new dimension to the world of sensors. With Smart Data Solutions, manufacturers receive support on the journey to implementing smart logistics processes. This includes installed base services, asset manager, condition monitoring, and predictive services. With these services, data analysis can be run to make intelligent decisions based on the data to optimize processes. This helps to increase throughput, availability, and productivity. More information about this topic is available at our demo sessions in our ProMatDX showcase page!
SICK at ProMatDX
From April 12-16 at ProMatDX, SICK will be presenting demos on various sensor solutions to improve material handling processes. From up-and-coming auto ID solutions to logistics safety to smart logistics processes, see how SICK can help manufacturers prioritize increased productivity and improve the supply chain.
