8 minute read
spEcial articlE
spEcial articlE BY scHunk
SCHUNK pushes digitalization of grippers and clamping devices forward
Advertisement
“Digitalization reaches every area of industrial production – from development, design and simulation, procurement and production to quality assurance, assembly and logistics,” explained Timo Gessmann, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at SCHUNK. The networking does not end at the spindle, the linear axis or the robot arm. “Rather, it is the integration of end-of-arm tools and clamping devices that is the decisive factor for the ability to control, monitor, and optimize processes right up to the workpiece. The more consistently and efficiently this is achieved, the greater the effect on the overall process,” said Gessmann.
Automation platforms combine control, IoT gateway, and sensor technology
Firstly, SCHUNK sees great potential in the technology of the digital twin, including the corresponding simulation environments and tool management systems. Secondly, it is assumed that automation platforms with individual app functionalities will be very popular due to their simplicity. “Platforms such as ctrlX AUTOMATION from
Grippers are available in the app store
Instead of laboriously programming complex gripping processes each time, in the future users will be able to use miniature programs (apps) in a similar way as with smartphones, which will be offered together with intelligent grippers or clamping devices. “This will result in considerable added values. The dimensions cannot yet be foreseen from today’s perspective.” SCHUNK is providing an outlook to the developments to come with the intelligent parallel gripper SCHUNK EGL and the intelligent toolholder SCHUNK iTENDO. Integrated sensor technology and intelligence help it facilitate a flexibilization of production processes as well as a process monitoring and optimization directly on the workpiece. If deviations occur during the running process, NIO parts can already be identified Bosch Rexroth, which we at SCHUNK use ourselves for the automation of gripping and clamping processes, enable users to visualize and program complex automation processes within a very short time and to connect them with higher-level systems and cloud solutions. They offer completely new possibilities for process control and monitoring as well as the added value of extending the components with individual services and functions
in the form of apps.” and ejected at the component level or the machining parameters can be autonomously optimized on the basis of locally determined data in real time. By networking with the system control or with cloud solutions, it is possible to carry out trend evaluations and integrate them directly into the quality control of the production flow. While the focus with conventional gripping system components and clamping devices was primarily on process stability and cost-effectiveness or individual operations, intelligent software functions and services enable the entire process chain to be optimized and made more flexible. “It is our aim is to offer added value through both physical and digital functions by digitizing grippers and clamping devices and to achieve maximum transparency and efficiency in automation processes,” said Gessmann.
ai ManagEMEMt & iMplEMEntation BY ad roBot
Have you seen a weird robot dog roaming the streets of Bangkok lately? If not, keep your eyes peeled for “Black Jack!”
The robot “dog” known as, “Black Jack” has definitely been making himself familiar with the local community here in Bangkok. Over the past few months, he has made numerous appearances in exhibitions such as ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week and METALEX, as well as technological conferences in Khon Kaen and Chiangmai. While “Black Jack” may seem like a pet toy to some, it is a product of the latest technology in the robotics industry. In addition to performing jumps and back flips, Unitree’s “A1” is regarded to be the “fastest and most stable small and medium sized quadruped robot on the market”. The Chinese robotics company has gained a lot of attention for their robot, not only for its impressive specs, but also for its competitive price tag of under $10,000. Equipped with AI-powered, dual depth sensing cameras, “A1” has the capacity to record live footage in HD resolution. It also comes with a mode that could track, follow a person and recognise human gestures.
However, the Thai dealer for Unitree products, AGV Robotech, had a slightly different plan for the quadruped robot. Last year, founder of the local start up company, Chusak Hongyok, introduced “a new concept of advertising to the Thai market. The idea behind “Ad-Robot”, is to use the “WOW factor” of a robot dog to the customer’s commercial advantage. A walking advertisement, unlike other conventional methods of marketing, is appealing not only to children, but to teens, adults and even the elderly. If people are already posting and sharing photos and videos of the “dancing robot dog” on their Instagram, TikTok, LINE, Youtube or Facebook for their friends and families, why not have your logo on it and have it shown to thousands of people?
Thanks to the power of social media, advertising one’s brand with #BlackJack has proven to be one of the quickest, and most effective ways to reach people. A recent survey at Bangkok’s popular department store has shown that there was an average of one photo taken every minute! Assuming that one person has one hundred friends on their social media, it would not take long for the photo to reach tens of thousands of people. It comes at no surprise, then, that many companies, including restaurants, gyms and other brands have joined in on the new “Ad-Robot” trend and found booming success. After all, people are more inclined to take a flyer or a product sample from a robot dog than a person. Information about robot rental packages could be found on their website: www.agvrobotech.com Aside from “Black Jack’s” commercial potential, AGV Robotech recognises the future of AI and robotics in Thailand, especially in the agriculture, electronics, medical, food and automative industries. They have recently teamed up with a University Professor in robotics to explore the industrial applications of the A1 robot. Despite the increasing demand for automation in Thai factories, there is still a shortageof people with the necessary education and training in this field. In an effort to make this more accessible to the general public, the company has launched “S Academy”, offering courses in programming, ROS, coding, AI and IoT. As a start up company, AGV Robotech wants to be a small driving force in the new robotics revolution in Thailand.
Four Key Four Key Technologies Set Technologies Set to Fuel the to Fuel the Programmable Programmable Semiconductors Semiconductors Market, According Market, According to Frost &Sullivan to Frost &Sullivan
Aerospace, automotive, gaming, and retail driving the growth of GPUs, FPGAs, MPUs, and AI accelerators
Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Growth Opportunities for Programmable Semiconductor Technologies, finds programmable semiconductors area major revenue contributor in the semiconductors space. The study analyzes the four key technologies under programmable semiconductors-graphical processing units (GPUs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessing units (MPUs), and artificial intelligence accelerators (AI accelerators)-and the factors influencing their development and adoption, applications across various industries and future growth opportunities.
“MPUs are the most prominent programmable semiconductors. They have been used in central processing units (CPUs) in laptops and computers and have seen a sudden surge during the pandemic. As a key growth enabler in the industry, global MPU sales will reach $74.1 billion by 2024,” said Sushrutha Sadashiva, TechVision Senior Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “However, AI accelerators are the emerging segment garnering global attention, owing to their ability to integrate with internet-of-things, smart devices, industry 4.0, and Big Data. The AI accelerator chip market is expected to be the fastest-growing, reaching $33.51 billion in 2024 from $10.14 billion in 2020, thanks to the rapid proliferation of high graphic content and complex applications in edge devices.”
Arjun Mehta, TechVision Senior Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan, added: “With rising demand from PCs and the gaming industry, the global GPU market more than doubled from 2015 to 2019 and is forecast to hit $31.6 billion in 2024. In addition, while FPGA solutions will continue to be the smallest revenue contributor, the consumer electronics and automotive sectors are poised to trigger higher demand for FPGAs following the second half of 2021, with economic recovery in Asian and European markets.”
To tap into the potential of programmable semiconductors, market participants need to focus on the following sectors:
• Aerospace, Defense, and Space (ADS): With the rapid adoption of cloud-based service providers, FPGAs and ASICs (application specific integrated circuit) have witnessed a surge in demand. The ADS industry is expected to contribute to 10% of the global FPGA revenue. Key applications include military radio, surveillance systems, government data centers, high-resolution imagery missions, and remote sensing payload.
• Automotive: As OEMs are increasingly adopting embedded solutions to enhance product offerings, MPUs are gaining momentum by adding processing capabilities to advanced driving systems.
• Communication and Computation Industry: PGAs and ASICs are poised to play a vital role in addressing the complex, high-speed, high-performance networks required to power the next generation of 5G. Technology developers should emphasize building their technology capabilities and developing new product lines offering programmable semiconductor solutions for this industry.
• Gaming and Entertainment: Emerging trends in the gaming and entertainment industry, such as virtual reality (VR) and cloud-based gaming, are poised to boost developers must aggressively focus on forming partnerships with gaming console developers and VR solution providers to create products for this sector.
• Retail: Cashier-less retail will provide a niche opportunity for GPUs as tech-savvy customers and millennials are increasingly willing to leverage technology to avoid long payment queues.
Growth Opportunities for Programmable Semiconductor Technologies is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan’s Technical Insights research and analyses available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.
For more information visit :
https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/four-key-technologies-set-to-fuel-the-programmable-semiconductors-market-according-to-frost-amp-sullivan-894789730.html
