Yamaha unveils new cobot at Automatica 2023
Yamaha Robotics FA Section exhibited its new prototype cobot at Automatica 2023 and showed a solution to automate test and assembly of large electric-vehicle (EV) battery packs for greater productivity. Also, Yamaha’s LCMR200 programmable transport modules demonstrated space-saving circulation units with dedicated track and trace that protects quality control and uptime.
Debuting at the show, the 7-axis cobot enhances dexterity and can move and place items inside a small working area. Also featuring Yamaha’s human sense technology with force sensing functionality, the cobot demonstrated inherently safe operation while picking, aligning, and accurately packing chocolates from a well known brand. Human sense lets the cobot perform complex processes, and detect and fix errors such as misalignment, without machine vision.
The EV-battery demonstration, developed with system integrator JP Industrieanlagen, showed heavy lifting with precise positioning using Yamaha’s YK1200X SCARA robot. Visitors saw how the SCARA’s strength and kinematics lift and rapidly move the 35kg prismatic battery modules, positioning with sub-mm accuracy in a fixture for automated electrical testing and subsequently installing each module in the battery back ready for final assembly.
“Our demonstration, created jointly with JP Industrieanlagen, shows how the automotive industry can produce large batteries quickly and efficiently to enable affordable, clean mobility,” said Jumpei Ninomiya, sales manager for Yamaha’s FA business in Europe.
Two further demonstrations showed how Yamaha’s LCMR200 transport modules, with special vertical and horizontal circulation units, save factory floorspace and enhance production management. The horizontal unit can turn the slider direction 180 degrees in as little as 200mm, enabling an extremely compact production line. The vertical unit allows the production line to move on two levels, so consuming minimal floor area.
The modules are powered by fast and accurate linear motors, with absolute encoding, to program and control all movement parameters including speed, acceleration, and stop positions. Yamaha’s RCX340 robot control unit manages up to 64 sliders, continuously tracking each identity and position to manage production in real-time and capture traceability data.
“We were pleased to welcome a large number of visitors to our booth at Automatica this year, to describe our important new robots and explain the advantages they can bring to all sorts of manufacturing and logistics businesses,” added Ninomiya.
Yamaha will showcase the 7-axis cobot, battery end-of-line handling solution, and LCMR200 again at Motek, Stuttgart, October 10-13.
Visit the Yamaha website for more information
