Collaborative robot positioning system allows task switching without retraining

Rethink Robotics' Robot Positioning System is designed to allow the Baxter collaborative robot to manage and adapt real-world environments and switch between tasks without retraining.

By Rethink Robotics November 3, 2014

Rethink Robotics’ Robot Positioning System is designed to allow the Baxter collaborative robot to manage and adapt to ever-changing, real-world environments. The Robot Positioning System, which is part of Rethink Robotics’ Intera 3.1 software, helps users to more quickly and easily re-deploy the robot after common plant-floor variations occur, such as tables being bumped, fixtures being moved, and more.

This disruptive technology enables Baxter to switch between tasks without retraining by using environmental markers, called Landmarks, in conjunction with its existing, embedded vision system. The robot is now able to recognize the original locations of the markers, and, when those locations change slightly, can mark the new locations and adjust its movements accordingly. This makes it easier for manufacturers to deploy Baxter across multiple applications.

Users can now define Baxter’s environment with up to 20 Landmarks, saving time, manpower and resources when it comes to switching the applications Baxter is working on. The Robot Positioning System enables Baxter to adapt quickly to workstation changes of up to +/-50mm horizontally and within +/-10 degrees of rotation, by marking the new Landmark locations and accounting for any accidental movement or shifts in the workspace. The result is an automation solution that can readily adapt to common variations in its environment. 

Rethink Robotics

Smart Collaborative Robots | Rethink Robotics 

– Edited by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering robotics products.