Posted to News on 28th Dec 2017, 11:06
New Android app for programming robots intuitively
With the aim of creating a more intuitive, easier and faster way to control industrial robots, Comau is releasing PickAPP, an Android app for programming pick-and-place operations in a completely new way.
Until now, robot programmers were skilled technicians who typically used a teach pendant device (robot remote control) to interact with the robot. Comau is reversing this scenario with this easy-to-use new app that is said to improve the customer experience significantly.
PickAPP is an Android application for an 8-10-inch tablet, configured with graphical operations that improve the overall user experience. Thanks to this application, anyone familiar with smartphones will be able to move a robot and create a pick-and-place process simply by preparing a list of waypoints, without having to learn a robotic programming language. The user moves the robot manually by pulling and pushing robot joints, or using the interface in a similar way that is used for toy cars or drones. Additional configurations, like the type of movement and the actions related to a gripper, can be easily added.
The application has been developed by multiple users with a different approach than the one usually used for standard industrial processes. A sample group of testers, ranging from expert technicians to young people who play games on a tablet, were able to perform the programming required for a pick-and-place process in just a few minutes without prior training.
PickAPP is available for Comau low-payload robots such as the Rebel-S (SCARA), Racer3 and Racer5 (3-5kg payload, six-axis anthropomorphic), and will soon be implemented for the entire Comau robot family.
Follow the link for further information and to download PickAPP.
