First Low Cost Robotics Contest: Time-saving Robotic Solutions Win Judges' Favor

MLC-Engineering won the championship

With low-cost robots, it's no longer a dream to complete simple tasks by cost-effectively automation. The first low-cost robotics creative competition entries fully demonstrated the extraordinary potential of this technology. In 2017 Motek Exhibition, IGUS announced the champion is MLC-Engineering. This company, located in south of Germany, combines a modular robolink articulated arm with optical measurement technology to saves up to 76% of mission time.

Twelve entries in the contest

In the first low-cost robot contest, 12 entries showed a variety of innovative ideas, from 3D printing automatic production unit to mobile grab robots, really eye-opener. What they all have in common is the use of low-cost robots to realize the automation of simple tasks, in order to save time and money. The most impressive entry is from the champion MLC-Engineering, they perfectly combined robolink articulated arm with optical measurement technology. This high cost-effective 5-axis robot only 3579 euros, it can grab the processed components from production equipment and send to optical measuring equipment, and adjust the work pieces' positions in time on optical measuring equipment to check all related sizes. Robots input the tested data into the control systems, then the control systems reviewed "Superior / Inferior" according to it. Finally, Robolink robots deliver the work pieces to conveyor belt or thrown into the waste box according to the reports. Simple tasks' automation has a remarkable effect: it can make employees devote themselves into more complicate tasks, shorten the cycle and save up to 76% of mission time.

The award ceremony of Motek Exhibition

The originality of MLC-Engineering conquered the judging panel made up with research and development, professional media and intelligent manufacturing. Their spirit of boldly innovation, excellence and pursuit of the extreme win the praise. Michael Lamber from MLC-Engineering won the first prize: a coupon of Robolink articulated arm or similar robot components valuing 3000 euros. The second prize is a award valuing 500 euros.

Applications in different fields

Robotics is developing and will make great achievement in the future in different fields. Here are some items listed below:

1. Robots in workshop production

Some automatic equipments are brought in workshop especially for factories with 24 hours work times such as injection companies, such companies only need one labor forces to maintain the robots, it save the time and cost.

2. Sweeping robots in household

In household field, sweeping robots are very popular with housewives, they can liberate themselves from heavy housework, especially for housewives who need take care of babies and kids.

3. Robots in hospitals

Robots are also brought in the hospitals, they can take some work from doctors, they can deliver the operation tools and calculate the cost and analyze the medical consumable materials.

4. Robots for education

Some robots are really smart, they can accompany children and play games together. Their chip contains a lot of culture and knowledge, singing, poetry... They are an almighty friend.

Robots applications will be expanded soon, human will be released from heavy and dangerous work, let's look forward to it.