The AGV can move around the assembly
line following a path traced by a radio-
frequency identification (RFID)-based tape.
It is also equipped with safety scanners
that allow the device to stop if an obstacle
is found en route or an operator steps too
close to the vehicle. Robot and vehicle
communicate via a Mitsubishi Electric PLC
which enables them to determine when
the AGV has reached the station and the
task can be set in motion.
This application is also made possible
because the latest proximity-based
safety scanner solutions mean a standard
industrial robot arm can be deployed
without a physical cage or even a light
curtain based guarding system. Safety
is again dealt with on the PLC. Machine
builders can now choose to build a robot
solution around either a Mitsubishi Electric
MELSEC iQ-F, iQ-L, iQ-R or other Q series
PLC, or the company’s dedicated MELFA
robot controllers.
Having now combined a Mirage AGV and
a Mitsubishi Electric MELFA robotic arm
as a stand-alone system it’s clear that
being able to deploy a robot at multiple
workstations can now provide those
further economic advantages.
Not only can the robot move along a
production line from product assembly
to pick-and-place packaging tasks based
on demand, it can also switch lines and
function to wherever it is needed. The
mobile robot arm can even take some of its
work with it, completing sorting tasks for
example on the AGV bed before or after it
has moved.
These innovations demonstrated by the
Mirage and Riverside Medical applications
show where robots are heading right now
in the production environment, what
happens next will most likely include
variations based on cooperative and fully
collaborative robot solutions. The new
safety solutions have already allowed
Mitsubishi Electric to launch a cooperative
robot for example that can be deployed
with purely PLC control.
How far will robots enter the production
environment? The answer is clearly, as
far as it is economically possible for them
to go, which judging by the evidence is
virtually everywhere.
About Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a
recognized world leader in the
manufacture, marketing and sales of
electrical and electronic equipment
used in information processing and
communications, space development
and satellite communications,
consumer electronics, industrial
technology, energy, transportation
and building equipment. Embracing
the spirit of its corporate statement,
Changes for the Better, and its
environmental statement, Eco
Changes, Mitsubishi Electric endeavors
to be a global, leading green company,
enriching society with technology.
The company recorded consolidated
group sales of 4,444.4 billion yen (in
accordance with IFRS; US$ 41.9 billion*)
in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.
Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Industrial
Automation – UK Branch is located in
Hatfield, United Kingdom. It is a part
of the European Factory Automation
Business Group based in Ratingen,
Germany which in turn is part of
Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation, Japan.
The role of Industrial Automation – UK
Branch is to manage sales, service and
support across its network of local
branches and distributors throughout
the United Kingdom.
gb3a.mitsubishielectric.com
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