We’re incredibly excited to announce that Photoneo’s Bin Picking Studio and Locator Studio are now officially part of Kawasaki Robot’s K-AddOn program. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our mission to make advanced automation accessible to everyone. What can we look forward to? We’re ahead of the streamlined process of connecting our advanced 3D vision systems with Kawasaki robots, making automation solutions more accessible and versatile. 

What is Kawasaki Robotics’ K-AddOn?

K-AddOn is a platform developed by Kawasaki Robotics that facilitates the integration of their robots with third-party products and accessories. It serves as a bridge between Kawasaki’s robotic systems and compatible external components. This ecosystem offers a number of benefits, including:  

• Simplified Integration: K-AddOn makes it easier for system integrators and end-users to incorporate various components like grippers, vision systems, sensors, and more into their robotic applications.  
• Expanded Functionality: By integrating third-party products, Kawasaki robots can perform a wider range of tasks and applications, enhancing their versatility.  
• Enhanced Ecosystem: K-AddOn fosters a thriving ecosystem of compatible products, providing customers with more choices and options.

Photoneo’s Inclusion in K-AddOn 

Imagine a world where integrating sophisticated vision technology with powerful robots is as simple as plugging in a device. That’s precisely what this partnership aims at. No more complex configurations or time-consuming setups. 

With K-AddOn, incorporating Photoneo’s vision systems into your Kawasaki robot workflows is truly effortless. This seamless integration allows you to focus on what matters most – optimizing your automation processes and boosting productivity.

As a result, our Bin Picking Studio and Locator Studio bring cutting-edge 3D vision capabilities to Kawasaki robots, enabling them to tackle even the most challenging tasks with ease and precision. From bin picking and de-racking to intricate object handling, our vision systems empower Kawasaki robots to perform a wider range of applications than ever before.

Key Features of K-AddOn

• Compatibility: K-AddOn ensures that third-party products are compatible with Kawasaki robots, both in terms of physical interfaces and software integration.  
• Documentation and Support: Kawasaki provides comprehensive documentation and support for K-AddOn, helping users to effectively integrate and utilize compatible products.
• Quality Assurance: Kawasaki evaluates and tests third-party products to ensure they meet specific quality standards and performance requirements.  

Kawasaki and Photoneo: Simplifying Autonomous Bin Picking

Kawasaki robots, equipped with Photoneo’s advanced 3D vision, provide a streamlined solution for autonomous bin picking across various applications. This powerful combination enables precise localization and picking of randomly placed parts from deep bins, accurately placing them into machines for further processing.

Intuitive Setup and Operation

Designed for ease of use, this solution minimizes programming requirements, making it suitable for users with varying levels of bin-picking experience. Photoneo’s 3D sensors and Bin Picking Studio software enable real-time vision processing, collision-free motion planning, and autonomous robot control, all within an intuitive interface. The system’s teach-by-demonstration feature allows for quick deployment and minimal operator intervention, maximizing machine uptime.

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

By automating the entire process, from bin picking to precise machine placement, this solution offers several key advantages

• Space Optimization: Reduced need for complex part feeding systems.
• Versatility: Eliminates the need for specialized tooling.
• Productivity Gains: Increased throughput and efficiency.

Precisely Guide Your Kawasaki Robot with Photoneo Locator Studio

Available as a Kawasaki K-AddOn, Photoneo Locator Studio simplifies robotic guidance for applications with non-overlapping parts. Powered by accurate and high-resolution PhoXi 3D scanners, Locator Studio is offered in various sizes to accommodate different needs. Whether you’re working with small objects or large pallets, Locator Studio ensures your Kawasaki robot accurately identifies and handles items.

This solution is ideal for a wide range of tasks, from pick & place and assembly to painting and welding. Locator Studio excels in applications where precise object location is crucial, but complex path planning in cluttered environments is not required.

Here’s how it works:

• Accurate Object Recognition: The system uses CAD models to precisely identify and locate objects, ensuring consistent and reliable handling.
• Simplified Setup:  Installation is straightforward, and robot camera calibration is included for quick integration.
• Seamless Integration:  Leverage the power of Photoneo’s advanced 3D vision technology within your Kawasaki robot system.

Ideal Use Cases

• De-Racking: Efficiently handles structured and semi-oriented parts from shallow bins or racks.
• Non-Collision Environments: Optimized for areas where objects are easily accessible without collision risks.
• Structured & Semi-Oriented Object Handling: Versatile for picking both oriented and semi-oriented parts across various tasks.

A Growing Ecosystem of Automation Solutions

By joining the K-AddOn ecosystem, Photoneo becomes part of a thriving network of compatible products and solutions. This means greater choice and flexibility for our users, who can now seamlessly integrate our vision systems with a wide range of Kawasaki robots and peripherals. This collaborative approach fosters innovation and drives the development of even more advanced automation solutions in the future.

We’re confident that this partnership will empower businesses across various industries to optimize their operations, enhance efficiency, and unlock new levels of automation. Stay tuned for more exciting developments as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with 3D vision and robotics.