Case Study: Mobile Cobot from Universal Robots and MIR

People who are interested in robotics for the first time often think of the "really big" solution of a mobile robot on which a cobot is mounted. This is also called a "hybrid cobot". Apart from the fact that such an entry into robotics directly costs a lot of money, the possibilities for full automation are often limited. Somewhere in the operation, a human has to lend a hand, or it would simply be too expensive to automate everything. In these cases, the cobot quickly becomes stationary and the mobile robot is eliminated. One of the exceptions is the connection from the end of production to the warehouse. This video from the USA is representative of such an application. (Comparable solutions also exist in Germany).

Complete solution enables automation thanks to accessories

A Universal Robots cobot mounted on an AMR from Mobile Industrial Robots is shown handling small parts. The mobile robot has enough battery to drive autonomously during a whole shift and at the same time to supply the cobot. The small parts are stored in appropriate boxes. It recognizes the boxes by the codes stuck on them. Since the cobot recognizes the distance of the boxes, it can lift them up using its box tool. Since the cobot is also to remove the small parts later, a tool changer is provided in the center of the table. At this station, the gripper can be exchanged quickly and as often as required. Further trips from production to the warehouse would also be feasible without any problems.

None of this is witchcraft. All it takes is an employee with imagination or an expert to take a look at the existing processes. This solution should have cost less than €100,000 with a useful life of around 20,000 to more like 30,000 hours.

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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/robotics project Opdra. He advises SMEs on robotics - up to 50% funding for consulting is possible. Constantly looking for interesting solutions, he has seen hundreds of applications. For this reason, his customers also include large companies that have know-how but do not know the entire market. You can find more about him here.