Virtual cobots at your fingertips

With the new Schaeffler augmented reality smartphone app, RoboticAR, you can project virtual lightweight robots (LWR) and collaborative robots into your world in no time at all, says the company.

“This is not only extremely convenient to help you better visualise cobot use; it’s also great fun and will inspire new automation ideas quickly. RoboticAR also provides a lot of information about our high-performance robotic components and systems. And you’ll be needing those in the real world for new, more powerful cobots and expanding the working range of devices already in use.

Driving progress

Robotic solutions are Scheffler's answer to the dynamic development in lightweight robotics, with greater productivity, flexibility, availability and process reliability. "These are the most important goals of the manufacturing industry. The relatively new discipline of lightweight robotics is increasingly driving progress. To this end, it uses components and system solutions that are undergoing further development."

This is where Schaeffler comes in. "Providing innovative solutions for spherical plain bearings, gearboxes and drive motors, we enable the design of more compact robots that offer the same performance – or conversely, even more powerful devices with the same design envelope. With our current portfolio, we have already set a range of new standards,” it points out.

Exemplary Schaeffler innovations the company cites – for manufacturers, operators, retrofitters and other users – include:

• XZU angular contact needle roller bearings: a new rolling bearing series that offers outstanding tilting rigidity
• RTWH series DuraWave precision strain wave gear: particularly compact and durable
• UPRS series PCB motor: true torque giants with printed circuit board coils
• MDKUVE range extenders: individual working range extension in robot-assisted production
• RoboticAR – playful trial and error for automation fans.

Uniting the virtual and real

Schaeffler’s AR smartphone app overlays the virtual version of an LWR onto the real world captured by your smartphone camera. “You can easily zoom in or out and move the LWR using standard gesture control. RoboticAR runs on iOS and Android, installs quickly, is easy to use and provides you with important information about our robotic portfolio at any time.”

Before you spend a lot of time thinking about robotic solutions, try them out virtually, advises Schaeffler. “This has already speeded up many processes and is also great fun with the Schaeffler RoboticAR app.”