Datasensing has been developing new sensing, inspection, measurement, and safety solutions for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robotics.
The focus is applications in manufacturing and material handling, working with the most innovative companies in these high-growth sectors.
We look in this article at the main applications and products offered by Datasensing.
Automated guided vehicles (AGV)
Automated guided vehicles have been around since the 1950s for material handling in industrial settings.
In addition to the continuous refinement of power supply and control systems, what has most marked their evolution over the years has been the automatic guidance system, which has also determined the difference between different types of AGVs.
In fact, they range from the first inductive systems with wire guides or magnets embedded in the floor, through laser guidance systems with natural or artificial references on the walls, to the most recent GPS or SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping).
Laser guided vehicles (LGV)
The most modern type of automated guided vehicles are laser-guided vehicles are also referred to as LGVs.
Datasensing offers several products for mounting on LGVs, from AM inductive proximity sensors for detecting metal parts (batteries, outriggers, forks), to S3N miniature photoelectric sensors with background suppression for detection of materials, UK ultrasonic sensors for detecting and measuring distances, and ENC optical encoders for speed control.
Finally, an indispensable element on LGVs is the safety laser scanner, which protects against collisions with materials or people. In addition to that, it can also guide navigation in SLAM mode.
SLS safety laser scanners in master and slave mode can be mounted with up to 4 units on all sides of the AGV to monitor the entire surrounding area, or even with only 2 units on opposite corners due to the 275° scanning angle.
Automated Guided Forklift (AGF and LGF)
The most used type of AGV are the automated guided forklifts are also referred to as AGFs, or LGF when Laser guided.
These are in fact automated forklifts used to move pallets within a warehouse or production line.
In addition to the sensor technology already described for AGVs and LGVs, these forklifts are equipped with a top-mounted lidar guidance scanner.
The device senses the surrounding area and thus allows them to map the environment, control movement and avoid collisions.
For these applications Datasensing offers the LGS-N50 lidar with range up to 50 m and LGS-N25 up to 25 m, both with 360° detection.
Automated guided carts (AGC)
Automated guided carts are vehicles with smaller dimensions, especially for their height.
Between the many applications, some involve the vehicle itself going directly under a special container to load and transport it.
Sensors are also reduced in size, and typically a more compact guidance device with an anti-collision function, such as the LGS-A10lidar, is preferred.
Industrial robots
The term "Robots," coined in 1920 by Czech novelist Karel Čapek to define heavy-duty servants, was taken up by Isaac Asimov in his science fiction novels beginning in the 1940s.
This would already be enough to say what a robot is and does, but a first official definition came in 1979 from the Robot Institute of America: "A robot is a reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through varying programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks.
"A more recent definition of industrial robots comes from ISO 8373:2021 at 3.1: "robot: programmed actuated mechanism with a degree of autonomy to perform locomotion, manipulation or positioning.
A robot includes the control system.
Examples of mechanical structure of robots are manipulator, mobile platform and wearable robot"
(www.iso.org/obp/ui/fr/#iso:std:iso:8373:ed-3:v1:en)
Today, the variety of robots and their applications in both civil and industrial fields is very diverse.
We can categorize industrial robots according to their evolution: fixed robots → mobile robots → humanoid mobile robots.
Fixed robot
Robots of this type have been used in industry since the 1960s.
They are also referred to as "articulated robots" or "articulated robotic arms".
The definition depends on its function and morphology.
Today, the most common manipulator robot typically has up to 5 or 6 rotary joints, allowing it as many degrees of freedom in its movements.
However, it is a fixed-position robot, so it is the material that transits and positions itself in front of the robot for different types of processing (e.g., assembly, welding, filling, inspection, etc.) or manipulation (e.g., canning, palletization, movement limited to the robot's range of motion).
Stationary manipulator robots need various sensors for control.
Datasensing has multiple solutions.
For example, AD inductive proximity sensors detect metal parts at short distances.
S3N miniature photoelectric sensor detects materials for manipulation.
UK ultrasonic sensors detect and measure distances.
The P2x smart camera can even be mounted on the robot's "hand," allowing it to see the object to be manipulated and control movements.
Finally, since the robot is mounted in a fixed position and moves its arm within a certain range, it is necessary to protect people from entering the robot's work area.
For this purpose, Datasensing offers SH4 safety light curtains to create perimeter access controls, or SLS safety laser scanners that can protect entire areas both vertically and horizontally.
Collaborative robot (Cobot)
A cobot is a robot designed to work with limited speed and forces allowing it to work closely with human operators. The advantage resides in the fact that clear separation of work zones isn't necessary.
In the search for collaborative solutions between operators and even noncollaborative robots, Datalogic, through Datasensing, was the coordinator of the consortium formed to participate in the European Horizon 2020 framework program on "Effective Industrial Human-Robot Collaboration" with the ROSSINI project
( https://www.rossini-project.com )
The ROSSINI project resulted in the creation of a platform used for designing and implementing human-robot collaboration (HRC) applications in manufacturing.
By combining innovative sensing and identification, actuation, and control technologies integrated in an open development environment, the ROSSINI platform enabled experimental HRC applications in which robots and operators collaborate, increasing the quality of work, production flexibility, efficiency, and, as a result, productivity.
In building prototypes dedicated to this project, Datasensing has applied principles and techniques compatible with safety regulations to vision systems.
Autonomous mobile robots (AMR)
Autonomous mobile robots are basically robotic manipulators mounted on self-driving vehicles.
Unlike AGVs they can move autonomously and freely in work areas, with the ability to adapt to new routes or tasks.
Thus, these robots can transport materials from one place to another, perform moving work, or even interact with people to receive or provide materials or information.
Datasensing provides SLS safety laser scanners and LGS lidars, which are needed to safely maintain and guide the movement of AMRs.
These are an addition to the already specified sensors for manipulator robots.
One example is the application developed by Info Solution.
https://www.infosolution.it/en/guida-autonoma-2/autonomous-mobile-robots
An interesting evolution of AMRs is space robotics.
An example are vehicles such as the Mars Rover, which can move on the surface of other planets to make measurements and collect samples.
In this regard, Datasensing is the technology sponsor and sensor supplier for the Project RED, of the Department of Engineering Sciences and Methods - UNIMORE of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
The project aims to create a prototype rover for extraterrestrial exploration.
This prototype will be used to compete in the European Rover Challenge.
Humanoid robot
From mobile robots to thinking about giving them a human appearance, the step was short, and as early as the 1990s the first applications emerged.
The evolution of anthropomorphic robots has followed various paths, on the one hand to make them look more and more human especially in civilian applications (assistants in retail outlets, health care facilities, etc.), and on the other hand to better exploit biomechanical capabilities in heavy or repetitive work as an aid or replacement for humans.
For example, the Italian company Oversonic Robotics is already on the market with Robee, which is an industrial cobot and can assist humans in the most demanding and repetitive tasks in a range of production and logistics industries.
This will help to reduce the strain on workers and increase efficiency.
(https://oversonicrobotics.com)
Datasensing is collaborating with Oversonic and providing the SLS safety laser scanner that guides Robee's movement safely, as well as already having other sensors and devices in development for machine vision in step with the ever-faster evolution of robotics.
