The TaskMate robotic arm. (Source: READY Robotics)
Why buy a robotic system for manufacturing operations when one with plug-and-play tooling and a simple programming interface can be rented? A robots-as-a-service solution is now being offered by READY Robotics (Baltimore, MD).
The flexible READY Robotics TaskMate platform can be retooled in minutes with grippers from companies such as Schunk, Piab, Schmalz and Robotiq. It can interface with machine tools and peripherals using a multitude of interfaces, including 24-volt I/O, PLC, and TCIP/IP. The TaskMate can store tasks for later and be deployed in minutes where the need is greatest using its mobile base and READY's proprietary localization system.
The system, available for a monthly fee, eliminates much of the highly-customized integration work associated with industrial robotics. Installation is reduced from four to eight weeks to the four to eight hour range.
The TaskMate now carries an IP54 rating, significantly increasing the number of applications in which the system can be safely and reliably deployed. It also supports the entire line of collaborative robot arms from Universal Robots.
The company recently partnered with ASTec Metalworks, a manufacturer of complex precision-machined components for the aerospace, defense and automotive industries. ASTec picked the TaskMate due to the speed and low integration cost of deploying the system onto their factory floor.
