Productive Robotics Inc.’s Augmented Intelligent Co-Worker Picks up Slack

(Santa Barbara, CA) Productive Robotics Inc., is helping fabricators bridge both the skills gap and the labor shortage with its 7-axis, augmented intelligent OB7 cobot. Engineered with seven joints like a human arm, the OB7 requires no programming, yet has greater freedom of movement than conventional cobots.

“Our approach was to eliminate programming language,” says Zac Bogart, president of Productive Robotics. “An operator simply has to show the OB7 what to do by walking it through the steps of a process. The cobot’s “teach-by-demonstration” design allows it to learn a job in a matter of minutes. The OB7 can work with new or legacy equipment from a CNC machine to a press brake or take on a task like material handling.”

Each of the OB7’s joints can rotate 360 degrees in both directions. The cobot can sense collisions at every joint, a function that triggers a safe stop. The OB7 can also be stopped with an operator’s hand and restarted with a tap on one of  its joints. When running at collaborative speeds, guarding is not required. For high speed operations, a laser safety scanner is available. The OB7 is ISO 10218-1 safety compliant.

To automate the OB7, fabricators can add a parallel electric gripper/end effector, patented robot rolling stand and work table. The cobot is also compatible with other grippers, cameras and accessories. Data collection is supported by Productive Robotics’ cloud analytics system making it easy for small to medium-sized job shops to implement real-time reporting. Installation of the OB7 can take anywhere from an hour to a day.

Productive Robotics Inc. designs and manufactures industrial collaborative robots and accessories for a wide range of markets. Made in the USA, Productive Robotics’ augmented intelligent machines—the OB7, OB7 stretch model, MAX 8 and MAX 12—are the only US-made 7-axis cobots on the market. A proprietary, “no programming” user interface allows fabricators and job shops to teach the cobot by simply showing it each step of a task or job. The plug-and-play machines are engineered to work with new or legacy equipment and have the flexibility to perform both simple and complex activities. Productive Robotics’ cloud analytics system streamlines connectivity requirements for nimble data collection and reporting. Installation for the kitted QB7 cobots can be performed in a day or less whether an application calls for repetitive part work, tending a CNC machine or manning a lights out operation.

www.productiverobotics.com