Schunk Announces Service Robotics Forum

Schunk has organised its third Expert Day for service robotics on 24-25 February 2010. Experts will host lectures in English to share their knowledge with delegates and provide in-depth information on present research projects, trends and opportunities for the utilisation of service robotics.

The lectures will pay particular attention to current topics of service robotics such as safety, standardisation and European initiatives. Current research projects in the field of gripping, mobile manipulation and modular robotics will also be presented.

NI Drag-And-Drop Powers Lego Robotics Kit

National Instruments has announced a new version of its drag-and-drop software that powers the Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 robotics kits. With this system, children can design their own robots using features such as colour recognition, Bluetooth support and additional robot models.

The software, which will be included with all Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 kits, is based on NI Labview graphical programming software. With this software, students' drag and drop icons that are representative of the various tasks they want their robots to perform. NXT 2.0 software creates the possibility for new types of robotic customisation so that no two robots are alike.

Software features include support for a colour recognition sensor, which helps robots perform colour-matching tasks and sense light levels, and programmatic Bluetooth support. New sound and image editors can load images and sounds into the robot's memory for display on the LCD screen or to play back the sound of choice. Children can also share project files with friends using the Pack-N-Go project packager. The Lego Mindstorms education version includes a data logging tool.

Seminar To Address Robotics In Rail Sector

ABB Robotics is to hold a rail manufacturing technology seminar in Milton Keynes on 4 June 2009. The seminar will present the latest robotic products, systems and services to transform rail material handling, welding and inspection applications. It will demonstrate the rapid payback available on robotic investments while addressing the common misconceptions that may be preventing many manufacturers from realising the benefits of robots.

Workshops and demonstrations will cover a range of rail industry applications and provide an opportunity to learn the basics of robot control with 'hands-on' training. Attendees will also gain an insight into ABB's 3D-robotics simulation suite for offline programming and control and the recently launched Remote Service Technology.

ABB's Remote Service Technology uses GPRS communications to enable both the customer and ABB to monitor a robot's health and record key performance data while offline or working in a production environment.

Robotics Collaboration Helps Save Lives

Adept Technology and Prosurgics have reached an agreement to collaborate on the design and development of the next generation of Prosurgics' surgical robotic systems for image-guided neurological and soft tissue surgery. The surgical robotics market in the USA alone is forecast to be worth approximately US $2.5 billion by 2011 (BCC Research) with an expected average annual growth rate of 43% in the period 2006-2011.

Examples of the emerging surgical robotics market include cardiac and prostate surgery. Surgical robots are now performing more than 50% of prostatectomies in the US.

Clinical outcome data for this kind of surgery has shown superior patient outcomes while at the same time delivering a compelling economic benefit.

'The surgical robotics market requires very high precision products with no room for error', said Rob Bucher, Adept's Chief Executive Officer.

'Our goal in working with Prosurgics is to create technology platforms that can be used in a range of surgical systems, thereby lowering these systems' total cost of ownership and expanding the reach of our technology throughout the surgical market'.

'Prosurgics' technology and commercial strategy is complementary to our own and will strengthen Adept's position in this important high-growth market allowing us to more quickly address the market'.

Paul Moraviec, Prosurgics' Chief Executive said 'Adept's position in advanced robotics will enable us to jointly develop competitive and innovative surgical robotic solutions, optimising time to market and reducing cost'.

'Our vision is to provide affordable products that enable surgeons to deliver improved outcomes to their patients and that will optimise economics for healthcare providers'.