n TECHNOLOGY June 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com 18 FANUC AND THE 3D machine vision specialist Inbolt have announced a “manufacturing breakthrough” that allows robots to tackle one of the most complex challenges in industrial automation: performing tasks on parts as they move along a production line at speed. It will allow manufacturers to automate precision tasks such as inserting screws, applying glue and tightening bolts on parts as they move along lines, without costly investments in infrastructure or having to compromise cycle times. Until now, automating moving lines was considered almost impossible, requiring massive infrastructure upgrades, expensive fixtures and constant maintenance. The new development allows Fanuc robots, including its CRX models, to work with real-time 3D vision and adaptive trajectory correction, even if parts vary in shape or size, or if the environment is imperfect. The system is claimed to operate up to 100 times faster than conventional techniques, and is designed to work in a variety of production scenarios, such as systems integrators wanting quick and easy installations, or manufacturers concerned about line throughputs. The developers say that the technology will lower the barriers to high-performance automation by eliminating the need for specialised lighting or custom jigs, making it easier to deploy robots in complex, real-world environments. A single robot can now handle more than 100 part models with real-time accuracy, even on continuously moving lines. General Motors is the first manufacturer to adopt the technology which is aimed, in particular, at automotive companies. “This new collaboration between Inbolt and Fanuc gives car manufacturers a new level of automation – precision tasks, performed by robots, on lines that never stop,” says Inbolt CEO, Rudy Cohen. “No more expensive indexing. No more undue complexity and maintenance challenges. Just robots operating in a continuous motion environment and a huge leap forward for automakers’ general assembly shops.” The technology combines Fanuc’s streaming motion capabilities, which enable realtime trajectory inputs via Ethernet, with Inbolt’s lightweight, robot-mounted vision system and ultra-fast AI model. It offers: n Real-time 3D guidance Inbolt’s proprietary localisation AI refreshes at a high rate, identifying object orientations continuously and adapting robot paths on-the-fly, allowing tasks such as highspeed screwdriving and part insertion to be performed without indexing n Flexible deployment The system does not take up much space and does not need fencing. The technology supports tasks such as bolt rundown, screw insertion and filter installation, that are challenging for traditional robotics. It handles real-world constraints such as crowded stations, variable parts, limited floor space, and moving lines with variable parts positions. “Our primary goal is to reduce the complexity of automation,” says Inbolt’s chief operating officer, Albane Dersy. “With Inbolt’s guidance system and Fanuc’s native motion control, robots can now think and act on-the-fly.” The new system is deployed using the Inbolt Studio software that allows users to import CAD files, train the AI model, validate tracking in real time, and launch a program on a line. The technology is available now for Fanuc’s CRX robots and for others that use Stream Motion. Leading manufacturers that already use Inbolt’s vision technologies include Stellantis, Ford, Whirlpool, ThyssenKrupp Automotive and Toyota. www.inbolt.com www.fanucamerica.com ELMO MOTION CONTROL, the Israeli controls developer owned by Bosch Rexroth, has announced a next-generation multi-axis motion controller that, it says, redefines motion control, achieving an “industry-leading” 100μs EtherCat cycle time for 16 axes. The Titanium Maestro controller is suitable for applications with up to 256 axes. It offers real-time EtherCat communications and has been designed to meet the demands of machine-builders requiring high performance, speed, accuracy and robustness. A quad-core 1.9GHz CPU, with dedicated cores for real-time tasks, powers the fanless, passively cooled controller. With graphical capabilities, C++ and Python programming, and realtime programming support, the controller “stands in a league of its own”, according to Elmo. “Software in the loop” support further streamlines development and accelerates validation of complex automation systems. www.elmomc.com/product/titanium-maestro Next-gen motion controller delivers 100μs EtherCat cycle times for 16 axes ‘Breakthrough’ allows robots to work on items moving on production lines Inbolt and Fanuc claim that their technology can automate “previously impossible” tasks, working on items as they move along production lines.
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