World's largest robots and vision show increases attendance by 55 percent

Citation

(2006), "World's largest robots and vision show increases attendance by 55 percent", Industrial Robot, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2006.04933bab.005

World's largest robots and vision show increases attendance by 55 percent

World's largest robots and vision show increases attendance by 55 percent

Keywords: Robotics, Image sensors, Conferences

The 2005 International Robots and Vision Show (IRVS) and Conference, held September 26-29 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois, USA, drew over 8,347 participants. Thanks to a very successful first time ever co- location with the Assembly Technology Expo, there were 55 percent more participants than the previous IRVS in 2003. The biennial IRVS was sponsored by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), North America's only trade group organized specifically to serve the robotics industry, along with the Automated Imaging Association.

Conference program explores solutions

The Conference had some 300 participants who attended 11 sessions and six tutorials during the four-day conference.

Dedicated to the show's theme of “Strengthening Industry”, practical conference sessions, taught by leading experts from around the world, focused on hot-button issues important to companies considering the use of robots and machine vision. These included, cost justification, successful applications, and systems integration. Topics were: getting started with robotics, robotics risk assessment, robotic and machine vision system integration strategies, the business case for robotics, case studies of successful robot applications, vision guided robots, emerging robot applications, robots for grinding, deburring and finishing applications, and robots and vision for packaging and palletizing applications.

Highlights of the Conference included a keynote address entitled, “Robonaut and Future Assembly of the International Space Station,” which was presented by Michael Lutomski, the NASA Risk and Mission Assurance Manager for the International Space Station. The Robonaut humanoid robot was designed by the Robot Systems Technology Branch at NASA's Johnson Space Center in a collaborative effort with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Robonaut project seeks to develop and demonstrate a robotic system that can function as an astronaut equivalent on spacewalks.

A special presentation by Dr Yasuhiro Ota of Toyota Motor Corporation on their Partner Robot Development Program, which focuses on developing humanoid robots for elder care, manufacturing, and human mobility, was featured at the Spirit of Innovation Luncheon. Also included was the announcement of the recipients of a new award, the RIA Robotics Research Equipment Award, which provides selected universities with donated robots and accessories for two years in order to conduct research projects on topics of interest to the RIA membership.

One hundred and forty exhibitors showcased their latest robotics and machine vision products

Plate 5 Show attendees line up to be served by Motoman's RoboBare, a dual-arm robot with 11 axes of motion used in the service sector for the automation of bartending

Highlights on the exhibit floor included RoboBar, a robotic bartender from Motoman Inc. (Dayton, OH) (Plate 5); the Emerging Robotics Pavilion, a new addition to this year's show that featured robots for elder care, security, and robotics exercise therapy; several companies showing 3D vision capabilities for robot guidance and related tasks; and the latest robotics and machine vision accessory products such as end effectors, optical components, and software (Plates 6 and 7) (see feature story for more detailed coverage of the exhibition).

Plate 6 Len & Jerry's modular components display GeoLok components, a wide open tooling concept for end effectors

Plate 7 Shafi Inc. and Staubli Robotics exhibit a 3D bin picking cell