In a joint research project with the Romanian Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, KUKA is presenting an application with the sensitive lightweight robot LBR iiwa at the ERF in Bucharest, Romania. The human being navigates the robot manually through a 3D maze, guided by virtual walls. The robot remembers the path and is then able to follow it exactly.
The application shows how closely humans and robots can work together. Thanks to the sensitive properties of the LBR iiwa, the protective fence is no longer necessary and direct human-robot collaboration (HRC) becomes possible. In everyday production, people can be relieved of monotonous, repetitive and ergonomically strenuous tasks and devote themselves to more complex jobs. "The application clearly demonstrates how production will change in the future and how robotics can help people," explains Dr. Rainer Bischoff, Head of Corporate Research at KUKA. "With the help of HRC-capable robots, we can meet current social challenges such as demographic change.”
About the European Robotics Forum
More than 1,000 European robotics experts are expected to attend the tenth European Robotics Forum in Bucharest. Researchers, politicians and industry representatives will offer over 50 workshops on current topics in robotics and artificial intelligence. At the accompanying exhibition, companies, universities and institutes will have the opportunity to give an insight into current research and projects and to exchange ideas within the robotics network. The event is initiated every year by the European robot association euRobotics aisbl, in which KUKA plays a leading role.
More information about the event and the registration can be found here.