August 2021

n TECHNOLOGY July/August 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com 20 A SWISS COMPANY has developed a high-speed delta pick-and-place robot that behaves like a cobot (collaborative robot), allowing it to operate safely alongside humans without needing protective barriers or performance compromises. Wyzo – a subsidiary of the packaging specialist Demaurex, which was a pioneer of delta robots – claims that the development represents a new category of robot which it is calling a “sidebot”(a combination of sidekick and robot). When there are no people nearby, the robot operates at its full speed of up to 80 picks/minute – ten times faster than a typical cobot, according toWyzo. But when built-in sensors detect that a human is nearby, the robot slows down to a safe operating speed. If it makes contact, it stops automatically. Wyzo says the machine combines the performance of an industrial robot with the versatility and compact size of a cobot, adding that it is“the world’s easiest pick- and-place to integrate”. It does not require the protective screens normally needed for delta robots. The sidebot can handle payloads of up to 0.5kg (or up to 1kg with reduced performance). It can complete 2,000-5,000 cycles per hour, and occupies a floorspace of just 0.45m 2 – one sixth of the footprint of a traditional industrial robot, according toWyzo, which describes it as“the world’s most compact pick-and-place robot”. The sidebot has a 850mm-diameter and 380mm-high working volume, and can operate with worktop heights from 650- 1,000mm. Up to two built-in vision cameras can be used to detect products and/or containers. A universal tool holder makes the robot compatible with most standard grippers. Changeover speeds of less than nine seconds are said to be possible, making it ideal for manufacturers that need to switch between products. Pneumatic, electric and vacuum controls are built in. The robot is designed to fit anywhere on a production floor to suit a variety of production needs. It can fit through standard doors and into elevators, allowing it to be moved to where it is needed. Wyzo’s HMI is designed for intuitive use by operators with no training in automated systems. There is also a mobile terminal, equipped with an e-stop and a deadman control, claimed to be as easy to operate as a smartphone. It needs no scripts or programming to get running. “CreatingWyzo started with a dream to give every operator out there an assistant for day-to-day tasks on the production floor,”explains Wyzo’s CEO, Frank Souyris. “It is not a mere machine,”he adds. “Wyzo is a co-worker, who is easy to communicate with through a simple interface. Maybe the next generation will even have a conversation with its colleagues. “Regardless of its conversational skills, however, its ability to be effectively integrated into existing production lines to perform pick-and-place tasks flexibly and reliably will certainly put a smile on manufacturers’faces,”he continues.“It is a new benchmark for collaborative production that combines the best of human and machine abilities.” A key to theWyzo robot is its use of a gearless direct-drive actuator technology developed by the Canadian firm, Genesis Robotics & Motion Technologies. The gear- free LiveDrive actuators do not need lubrication, thus avoiding the risk of lubricant contamination in food, beverage and pharmaceutical applications (see page 26). Frank Souyris says that the sidebot robots would not exist without Genesis actuators:“We’ve been searching for a solution for over a decade and LiveDrive is the missing link for our products. This technology is a game-changer that makes a significant difference in our work and allows us to achieve a high level of performance and safety.” Demaurex has been developing and manufacturing delta robots for more than 30 years and has more than 4,000 robots installed worldwide. www.thewyzo.com Delta robots behave like cobots and need no safety barriers The Wyzo robot is designed to operate safely alongside human operators without the protective barriers normally needed around delta robots THE SEMICONDUTOR manufacturer Analog Devices (ADI) has developed a technology that stretches the distance over which industrial Ethernet can operate to as far as 1.7km. ADI says the development will allow previously unavailable data to be accessed across networks, such as asset health, raw material usage and process parameters. The technology – an addition to ADI’s Chronous portfolio – supports the 10Base- T1L physical layer Ethernet standard, allowing data streams from edge nodes in remote and hazardous locations. It will bring long-reach Ethernet connections from the edge to the cloud and enable real-time configuration, cut energy consumption, and increase asset utilisation. Data and power are both transmitted via single twisted-pair Ethernet cables – known as Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) – helping to reduce space, weight and cost. The cables are lighter and more malleable than traditional Ethernet cables, and allow existing cabling infrastructures to be re-used, cutting commissioning costs and complexity. The new technology will be available in two options: MAC PHY (ADIN1110) and PHY (ADIN1100). The first supports low- power systems, simplifying the retrofitting of Ethernet to field sensors or actuators. The second supports standard Ethernet interfaces and can be used in more complex designs, such as field switches or building controllers. www.analog.com/Chronous ‘Last-mile’ technology stretches industrial Ethernet range to 1.7km ADI’s industrial Ethernet technology can transfer data over 1.7km to achieve“last-mile”connections