Osaka-based Thinker Co., Ltd. announces the development of a robot system prototype that enables the automation of kitting tasks, in collaboration with Kawada Robotics Co., Ltd.

Thinker, the manufacturer of Proximity Sensors, is working to innovate manufacturing sites with “robot hands that think with their fingertips”.

Mainly, kitting is “making something ready for immediate use”. At manufacturing sites, this refers to the arranging and preparing of parts and materials necessary for assembling a specific product. Primarily, automation of kitting using robots has been considered at manufacturing sites. However, there was no robot hand that could flexibly handle different types of parts. Also, the system would need to be large to accommodate this. Yet, this was a major hurdle for realization.

Particularly, in this joint development, they were able to apply the power of proximity sensors to a wide variety of parts. Primarily, by combining Thinker’s flexible robot hand “Think Hand F” and Kawada Robotics’ “NEXTAGE”, which can be installed and operated in the space of one worker, the companies aim to solve the problems of conventional kitting automation (already ” “Think Hand F” is now compatible with “NEXTAGE” third-party partner options). Thinker will continue to work with Kawada Robotics on field demonstrations and automate kitting.

Moreover, the jointly developed prototype will be on display at CEATEC 2024. It will happen at Makuhari Messe from October 15, 2024. In addition to a demonstration of the robot system at the booth, Mototeru Nakano, Thinker’s director and CTO, will be on the pitch stage.

This is an online translation of a Japanese press release with slight editing made by Dempa.

-11 October 2024-