duAro
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Welding, painting, assembly, polishing, transportation and more. For more than 50 years, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. has been building robots to work in giant auto and semiconductor factories. But now they’re focusing on becoming a fully integrated robotics company. What kind of robot society is coming? What kind of robots will Kawasaki make for the future? We interviewed Noboru Takagi, the head of robot division at Kawasaki Precision Machinery & Robot Company, to find out. COVID-19 Rapidly Increases Demand for Robots Demand for robots has skyrocketed around the world since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. According to a report by the Robotics for Infectious Diseases organization, there are more […]
The year 2020 put a spotlight on concepts such as social distancing, no-contact processes and working remotely. Moving forward, robots will play a valuable new role in “the new normal,” especially in infectious disease control. A world where machines perform cleaning, disinfecting, security, guidance, and service tasks on humans’ behalf will soon become a reality. There is an urgent need to adopt robotic automation, especially in industries like the medical field where there is a shortage of personnel and a high risk of catching infectious diseases. To learn how robots can help the world progress in the wake of COVID-19 we talked to Hidehiko Shimamura, President of Kawasaki Heavy Industries […]
In 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) severely impacted the world while bringing many societal needs to light in its wake. In the era of the “new normal,” where virtual contact and social distancing are required, the number of workplaces where robots could play an active role is increasing. COVID-19 Pandemic Reforms the Way Robots Work Milton Gary, president of the International Federation of Robotics Associations (IFR), predicts robots will play a large role in the “new normal.” “Robotics manufacturers will respond to increasing demand for new applications and solutions under development,” Gary says. In the medical field, for example, the number of robots engaged in drug delivery, sterilization and disinfection […]
About 60 years ago, industrial robots were created to automate production processes. Since then, the world of “working robots” has evolved day by day. In recent years, collaborative (human coexistence) robots gained particular attention – not as an alternative to people, but to work together with people. Now, collaborative robots are changing the field of manufacturing. Collaborative Robots: A Rising Star in Manufacturing Car, smartphone, TV, washing machine and refrigerator, the list goes on. The existence of industrial robots is essential for the mass production of a wide variety of products with high quality. By attaching different types of end-of-arm tooling, industrial robots can be widely used in applications ranging […]
duAro2 makes its debut In June 2018, a new model of the dual-arm SCARA robot “duAro” series, the duAro2, was released. The duAro is a collaborative robot (cobot) first launched by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, in June 2015. Like humans, it has two arms and is capable of working alongside humans in the same environment. While the series’ inaugural duAro1 model specializes in horizontal motion, the duAro2 improves upon its capabilities, extending the range of its arms’ vertical stroke from 15cm to 55cm, and increasing the maximum payload of each arm from 2kg to 3kg. Shogo Hasegawa (GM of FA Solution Second Department of Robot Business Division in Precision […]
“Kawasaki-Unimate”, Japan’s first domestically manufactured industrial robot Industrial robots have strongly supported businesses in Japan. Although today it becomes common for many companies to implement robot systems, the road to widespread adoption was by no means a smooth one. As a matter of fact, the first industrial robot domestically manufactured in Japan was the Kawasaki-Unimate launched by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, in 1969. This article will introduce some of the stories behind the development of this home-grown Unimate. An industrial robot is a machine with multiple, freely-moveable, operable joints capable of performing tasks such as welding and handling heavy objects. Once movements are configured through teaching and programming, industrial […]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, is well known for its“Kawasaki”motorcycle brand. As the “Heavy Industries” in its name suggests, Kawasaki is a manufacturer of a wide range of machines from motorcycles to ships to aircraft. However, did you know that one of the core products in its lineup is robots? Kawasaki produces industrial robots that operate mainly in manufacturing sites, contributing FA. No, FA does not stand for Full Armor. It stands for Factory Automation. These robots, which Kawasaki was the first to domestically produce in Japan, are working hard in factories around the world today. Needless to say, these robots are part of the workforce in Kawasaki’s motorcycle factory as well. […]
He can do his job faultlessly with speed! The end of the fiscal year is always the busiest month of the year for our editorial office. The announcements of many new gadgets mean more stories to write, and backend office work just keeps piling up. When fatigue builds up and kicks in, concentration steadily goes down the drain; it creates a lot of unwanted trouble. Oh listen, the bemoaning show is starting again. What’s wrong, Yoshioka? “The program froze…and I forgot to save my draft…” I understand exactly how he feels. Everyone’s had that, right? Your computer magically ALWAYS crashes when you’re writing articles or reports. “We’re too busy… I’m […]
What is “duAro”, the collaborative robot developed by Kawasaki? Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, has developed a large number of industrial robots since the launching of its first domestically manufactured industrial robot, the Kawasaki Unimate 2000 in 1969. Such Kawasaki, a pioneer in industrial robots in Japan, released the dual-arm SCARA robot* “duAro”, in June 2015. duAro is the result of the pursuit of the ultimate user-/human-friendly robot.(*Robot arms moving horizontally.) Mr. Shogo Hasegawa from Kawasaki was involved in the project since its conception and took part in its development. He will tell us the secrets behind the birth of duAro. Through his account, you will see the extraordinary philosophy […]
The growing issue of workforce shortages Currently, Japan is on the verge of becoming an aging society with a low birthrate, unlike any other in the world. The total population of Japan peaked in 2008, amounting to 128.08 million people, but has since been on the decline at a rate of approximately 100,000 people per year. According to the “Population Projections for Japan: 2016 to 2065” conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research in Japan (IPSS), the population is projected to fall below 100 million by the year 2053. The results of these projections have led to concerns about the growing issue of workforce shortages. In […]