Rapid Robotics Partners With Yaskawa Motoman, Expands Solutions

Rapid Robotics is partnering with Yaskawa America Inc. Motoman Robotics Div. (Yaskawa Motoman), bringing industrial capabilities to Rapid Robotics’ Rapid Machine Operator (RMO). Because of the partnership, the company is integrated with the entire Yaskawa robotics portfolio and can deliver more speed, higher payload and increased performance to more North American manufacturers with diverse needs.

By combining advanced computer vision, artificial intelligence and instinctive learning with as-a-service characteristics, including cloud connectivity, monthly leasing and 24/7 support, Rapid Robotics aims to democratize automation in the face of the workforce shortage. Manufacturers who previously could not automate due to barriers like cost, inflexibility or lengthy deployments can make automation dreams a reality with the Yaskawa portfolio as an integrated part of Rapid Robotics’ solutions suite, the company says.

Rapid Robotics says one of the trademarks of its solutions is speed of deployment. This holds true for the industrial RMO due to the company’s modular approach to work cell design. Streamlined industrial Yaskawa robots take advantage of that approach, avoiding interference with peripheral devices and keeping the installation space of an industrial RMO work cell minimal. A key feature of this reimagined work cell is a mobile robot pedestal with modular fixturing, the company says. The mobile pedestal gives this light industrial arm the same flexibility as Rapid Robotics’ collaborative robot (cobot) solution as the pedestal can be moved or reconfigured and then re-locked into place by a single person.

Historically, industrial robotic arms can be more challenging and time-consuming to deploy than their cobot counterparts, especially outside of mass production environments, due to their complexity and the extensive safety measures required. Rapid Robotics’ industrial RMO is said to offer the flexibility of a cobot solution while meeting all mandatory safety measures with the added payload, speed and reach of a traditional industrial arm.