RWI homepage
RWI manufactures intelligent mobile robotic systems, including
the B14 (an evolved B12) and B21 R&D platforms, the new ATRV-1 for
outdoor mobile robotics applications, and in collaboration with
ActivMedia, Inc. and Kurt Konolige of SRI International, the low-cost
Pioneer 1 Mobile Robot for training and research.
The contest-winning (AAAI-'94 and '96) Real
World/ActivMedia/Konolige
Pioneer 1 Mobile Robot is targeted for research and training
where affordability (under $2,500!) and many platforms are
required. Pioneer 1 has a position-accurate, differential 2-wheel
drive in a 46 x 35.5 x 23cm (LWH) chassis, which also carries a 84 Wh
powerpack and hosts seven sonars. The custom on-board 68HC11-based
controller runs a suite of robotics servers accessible via onboard
serial port by a piggyback laptop or basestation computer client.
Client libraries and a simulator are included to assist
application development.
The Fast-Track Vision System, based on Newton Labs' Cognachrome Vision System
is now available for Pioneer 1. Manipulation gripper and experimenter's
modules, with supporting texts by Dr. Kurt Konolige to come Fall '96.
Recently redesigned from the B12, the B14's 35.5 x 61cm (14" x 24")
(d x h) 3-wheel Synchro Drive Base now has built-on, tool-less access Smart
Panels(tm) with tactile sensors, a 192-watt hr, hot-swappable battery power
system for continuous service, and carries up to a 9kg (20 lb) payload. New
B14 Enclosure mounts on top the Base and hosts Intel Pentium(tm)/Pentium
Pro(tm) (SMP available) computer system, complete with Linux OS and RWI's
RAI robotics servers and client development software libraries. B14 comes
with full range of IR, sonar, and tactile sensors.
RWI's flagship robot -- the B21 -- is for intelligent,
mobile,autonomous robotics research and indoor commercial
applications. The B21's 53x30cm (21" x 12") (d x h) 4-wheel Synchro
Drive Base carries a payload of 90kg (200 lbs) and has 1500 Wh
of independent battery power, hot-swappable for continuous
service. The B21 Enclosure mounts on top the Base and hosts two
internal Intel Pentium(tm)/Pentium Pro(tm) (SMP available) computers
plus a console laptop, all integrated via an onboard Ethernet, Linux
OS, and RWI's RAI robotics software. Smart Panels(tm) around give easy
access to Base and Enclosure equipment and host a full range of IR,
sonar, and tactile sensors. Optional four-axis arm has gripper and
360-degree wrist, and mounts inside Enclosure.
RWI's new All Terrain Robot Vehicle (ATRV-1) is a very rugged
four-wheel, differential drive robot (skid steering) with off-road
40cm (16") tires and 1-hp drive that will take your 65kg (150 lb)
payload up to 5km (3 mi) at the fast clip of nearly 4 km/hr (6 mph)
through rain, sleet, snow... The ATRV-1's weather-sealed body protects
its drive system, onboard Intel Pentium(tm)/Pentium Pro(tm) (SMP
available) computer and other internal electronic gear of your
choice. And it's flat, 90 x 85cm (36" x 34") top provides ample space
for a variety of sensors and accessories--your choice of options.
The B14, B21, and ATRV-1 come with a variety of accessories,
including a high-performance stereo vision system and other video options,
wireless communications, laser range finders, and more.
(Pioneer) Basic Robot $2,495
Fast-Track Vision System (camera included) $3,495
Color CCD Camera with Manual Tilt ................$500
Gripper $750*
Radio Modem (900 MHz pair) $595
Experimenter's Module $200
2.4 GHz Video Transmitter/Receiver pair $350
Serial Cables $45 & $35
(B14) Mobile Base w/ tactile Smart Panels(tm) $9,000
B14 Enclosure w/ IR, sonar and tactile Panels $7,000
B14 Power Station $400
(B21) Base w/ tactile and IR Smart Panels(tm) $19,500
B21 Enclosure w/ IR, sonar and tactile Panels $11,500
B21 Four-Axis Arm $18,250
B21 Power Station $1,500
(Computers**) Pentium(tm) 150/32/1600 $2,750+/-
Bxx Pentium(tm) 166/64/1600 $3,250+/-
Bxx Pentium Pro(tm) 200/64/1600 $4,250+/-
Bxx Dual-Pentium Pro(tm) 200/64/1600 $5,500+/-
Ultra-SCSI Interface and 2 GB Drive Upgrade $1,375+/-
Laptop with 11" Color Display $4,500+/-
(Acc) Advanced Stereo Vision System $8,100
Pan-Tilt Head $1,950
PCI-based Video Frame Grabber $950
CCD Cameras (color & B &W) $1,300-$1,800
Radio Links (RS-232 & Ethernet) $595-$5,390
Digital Navigation Compass $1,000
* Introductory price good through December, 1996.
** All Bxx computers come with installed and configured with Linux OS and
RWI RAI software and with Ethernet networking. Robot-complementary
LinuxStation desktop systems also available.
Remotec
114 Union Valley Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
tel: 615.483.0228
fax: 615.483.1426
The ANDROS line of teleoperated mobile robots. These were
designed to be useful in the nuclear industry and in other
hazardous applications, and are very rugged. You can hose them
down. Available in a range of sizes, with a variety of
optional attachments, such as video cameras, arms, etc.
TAG Technology
5 Bowlands Mill, Dispensary Street
Alnwick, Northumberland, NE661LN, UK
tel: +44 655 604895
fax: +44 665 510624
net: http://www.tag.co.uk/robots/
A variety of small modular mobile robots, sensors and controllers.
- Frank - a tracked vehicle. Cost $UK 3198
- Igor - a small quadraped walking machine. $UK 2238
- Sensors - ultrasound and IR. $UK 144 - 318 depending on model.
- Neural modeling system - single eurocard board for neural work.
Visual Inspection Technologies
27-2 Ironia Road
Flanders, NJ 07836-9124
tel: 201.927.0033
fax: 201.927.3207
VIT specializes in remote visual and ultrasonic testing but sells or
rents a small tracked rover for inspection work. Products include
ROVVER, SPOT, and PIPECAT vertical pipe crawler. VIT also makes
miniature remote pan and tilt devices.
Yamazaki Construction Company
Intelligent Robot Lab
Kaika Building
2-7-1 Sotokanda
Chiyoda-ku 101 Tokyo
Japan
tel: 81-3-5256-0715
LR1 robot - small research robot, basically a VME cage on
wheels with some ultrasonic sensors and a nice constant force
suspension. Has shown up at IEEE R &A conferences $30K.
RoboSoft SA
6, allee Paul Cezanne
93360 Neuilly Plaisance
FRANCE
tel: +33 1 4944 3035
fax: +33 1 4944 3297
[8.1.1] AGV Companies
AGV's are Automatic Guided Vehicles. They are common in factory
automation and usually consist of mobile platforms for transporting
goods and materials within factories. Most still use buried wires for
guidance, but several vendors have or will have off-wire
capabilities. AGV subsystems can also be useful in building mobile
bases. Wheel modules can be purchased that already include hub, tire,
motor, bearings, suspension and sometimes steering as well as
drive.
The first AGV was installed by the Cravens Company at Mercury Motor
Express in Columbia, SC in 1954. The use of AGV's did not take off
however and even by the early 80's the investment by US firms in AGV's
was less than $70M. However, several European companies took hold of
the idea and rapidly evolved it. The industry in the US peaked in 1985
at about $175M and is slowly recovering.
-- From Modern Materials Handling - 4/96
AGV Products
9307-E Monroe Road
Charlotte, NC 28270-1485
tel: 704.845.1110
fax: 704.845.1111
Controls and components for AGV's. Supplier of Schabmuller
motor-in-wheel drives.
BT Systems
7000 Nineteen Mile Road
Sterling Heights, MI 48314
tel: 313.254.5200
fax: 313.254.5570
Automated Handling Systems (Formerly Volvo Automated Systems)
Caterpillar Industrial (now FMC)
5960 Heisley Road
Mentor, OH 44060
tel: 216.357.2935
fax: 216.357.4410
Manufacturer and distributor of fork lift trucks and guided
vehicles. Cat's SGV's use rotating laser scanner and barcodes
as opposed to traditional wire-guided systems.
Control Engineering Company
Jervis Webb Company
34375 W. Twelve Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48331-5624
tel: 313.553.1220
fax: 313.553.1253
Eaton-Kenway
515 East 100 South
PO Box 45425
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0425
tel: 801.530.4000
fax: 801.530.4243
AGV's and integrated systems
Elwell-Parker
4205 St. Clair Avenue
Cleveland, OH
tel: 216.881.6200
fax: 216.391.7708
Designs/manufactures rider style, electric, fork and platform
mobile material handling equipment. Line includes AGV's, high
tonnage capacity. Mobile cranes, explosion proof forklifts.
Eskay Corporation
563 West 500 South
Bountiful, UT 84010
tel: 801.295.5315
fax: 801.299.9990
Automated material handling systems including AGVS.
Fata Automation
37050 Industrial Road
Livonia, MI 48150
tel: 313.462.0678
fax: 313.462.0997
Sales and service of AGVs.
FMC Corporation
400 Highpont Drive
Chalfont, PA 18914
tel: 215.822.4300
fax: 215.822.4342
AGVs, Automated Handling Systems, Consulting, Trolley and
Power and Free Converyors, Tow lines, Integrated Systems and
Controls, Roll Handling Equipment.
Frog Navigation Systems b.v.
Cartesiusweg 120
3435 BD Utrecht
The Netherlands
tel: (+31) 30 244 05 50
fax: (+31) 30 244 07 00
net: frog@ich.nl
contact: Leo Lans
USA-office:
1091 Centre Road, Ste 170
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
tel: (+1) 810 377 4000
fax: (+1) 810 377 4004
contact: Charles Rouse - dir of marketing and sales
net: 102024.665@compuserve.com
FROG makes AGVs and AGV navigation systems that utilize infrastructure
components to accurately determine AGV position. FROG, and the
SuperFROG AGV supervisory software, are used in both 'traditional' and
'non-traditional' AGV Markets. Traditional applications include
manufacturing and warehousing. Non-traditional applications include
container handling, personnel transport, mining and military use.
FROG will fit any vehicle and can be used in any environment from
clinically clean warehouses to weather beaten dockyards.
Articles on Frog are in 'Automation' February 1991 or in 'Modern Materials
Handling', December 1994 P.46.
IDAB Incorporated
1 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 300
PO Box 8157
Hampton, VA 23666
tel: 804.825.2260
fax: 804.825.9307
Automatic handling systems and AGV's
Mannesmann Demag Corporation
29201 Aurora Road
Cleveland, OH 44139-1895
tel: 216.248.2400
fax: 216.248.3086
Overhead cranes, wire rope and chain hoists, AGV systems,
automatic storage and retrieval systems, monorail, aircraft
maintenance equipment.
Mentor AGVS, Inc
8500 Station Street
PO Box 898
Mentor, OH 44060
tel: 216.255.4051
fax: 216.255.2131
url: http://www.apk.net/agvs
net: mentor@harborcom.net
Mentor designs and produces AGV systems and automated transfer cars.
Mentor has co-designed the world's largest robot. (10m tall and
viewable at their web site) Mentor is also the only AGV company to
provide Class I, Div I & II, explosion proof designs. Mentor is the
leader in outdoor and heavy load designs with capacities to 112,000
kg. Menotr is the clear leader in jumbo paper roll transport although
they move all types of loads copper, steel, aluminum, pallets etc.
Munck Automation Technology
161 Enterprise Drive
Newport News, VA 23603
tel: 804.887.8080
fax: 804.887.0558
url: http://www.munck.com
Manufacturer and integrator of automated material handling
systems. AGVS of many configurations (unitload, forklift,
towing)
The Raymond Corporation
South Canal Street
PO Box 130
Greene, NY 13778
tel: 607.656.2311
fax: 607.656.9005
Material handling equipment.
RTR GmbH
D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
tel: +49-231-9743328
fax: +49-231-9743162
North America:
Novasco.com Inc.
15 Bolton Terrace,
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 2Z2, Canada
net: rtr@novasco.com
fax: 902-466-2556
Reinoldus Transport-und Robotertechnik GmbH (RTR) evolved from the
Institut fur Transporttechnik und Warendistribution (ITW) and, since
1986, concentrates on the development, manufacture and distribution of
material handling systems and devices. These include AGV systems and
integrated material handling equipment.
Roberts Sinto Corporation
3001 West Main Street
PO Box 40760
Lansing, MI 48901-7960
tel: 517.371.2460
fax: 517.372.4930
MGV's (Mechanically guided vehicles)
Professional Materials Handling Co, Inc.
4203 Landmark Drive
Orlando, FL 32817
tel: 305.677.0040
Steinbock fork trucks. Wire guided, use regenerative braking.
Saurer Automation Systems
Saurer Automation Systems
11818 James Street
Holland, MI 49424-9658
tel: 616.393.0101
fax: 616.393.0331
Holland, MI
Saurer was formerly Litton Industrial Automation and is a full
service material handling company.
[8.1.2] Underwater robots
There are a number of companies building underwater remotely operated
vehicles (ROV's).
R.O.V. Technologies, Inc
Franklin Road, Vernon, Vermont 05354
tel: 802.254.9353
net: rovtech@sover.net
Nuclear Underwater Equipment, Sales and Service
Oceaneering International, Inc.
16001 Park Ten Place, Suite 600
Houston, TX, 77084
tel: 713-578-8868
fax: 713-578-5243
Oceaneering International provides engineered services and hardware
for industries that operate in harsh environments. Its Space,
Environmental, & Engineering segment produces spaceflight and robotic
tools and life support systems and provides environmental remediation
services. Other divisions include: Oilfield Marine segment produces
offshore diving, remotely operated, and survey vessels. The Offshore
Field Development segment produces mobile offshore production systems
and subsea products including umbilicals and pipeline repair
hardware. The Industrial Marine segment produces inland diving
equipment and provides search and recovery services.
- Hydrovision Tel UK ? 224-740145
- Benthos Tel US 1-800-446-1222
- JW Fishers Tel US 1-800-822-4744
- Sutec Tel Sweeden ? 46-13-15-80-60
- Rovtech Tel Uk ? 229-813641
- Deep Ocean Engineering Tel US 501-562-9300
- UWI Tel UK ? 224-896913
[8.2] Manipulator companies
This is only a partial list of manipulator manufacturers. A wide
variety of arms and arm components are made by these vendors and other
vendors.
Adept Technology
150 Rose Orchard Way
San Jose, CA 95134
tel: 408.432.0888
fax: 408.432.8707
url: http://www.adept.com/
High speed direct-drive and harmonic-drive SCARA style arms. 0.001"
(.025mm) repeatabiliy. Payloads from 4-25kg Can be used in clean room
and food applications as well. Adept also sells vision systems and
controllers.
AEA Technology
AEA is the commercial division of the UK Atomic Energy
Authority. markets the NEATER series telerobots for decommssioning in
the nuclear industry. The system includes a bilateral input device and
active (autonomous) force control.
The system can deploy drills, reciprocating saws, nibblers,
grippers for insertions etc. Larger range of robots including the AEA
Technology 200 Kg arm, use filtering compliance to avoid damage to the
robot when deploying heavy duty dismantling tools.
Antenen Research
PO Box 95
Hamilton, OH 45012
tel: 800.323.9555
tel: 513.887.4700
fax: 513.887.4703
New and used robots for manufacturing, research and
training. Used at savings of 40% - 70%. Also lots of parts and
accessories.
Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), Vesteraas, Sweden
ABB Robotics
2487 South Commerce Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151
tel: 414.785.3400
fax: 414.789.9235
Now own Cinncinatti Milacron robotics group, Graco and
Trallfa. ABB Robotics is part of a ABB, large swiss-based company,
with Many types of larger industrial robots. Many are optimized for
painting, welding and sealant applications.
Comau - Italy
Via Rivalta 30
10095 Grugliasco
Torino, Italy
tel: 011 33341
fax: 011 7809156
A variety of industrial manipulators ranging in payloads from
6kg to 125kg. All electric AC drives. One of the novel designs is a
6DOF, 12kg payload robot The SMART-3 6.12 R. It uses a carbon fibre
forearm, absolute resolver feedback and 0.15mm repeatability.
CRS Robotics
5344 John Lucas Drive
Burlington, Ontario
Canada L7L 6A6
tel: 905.332.2000
fax: 905.332.1114
net: info@crsrobotics.com
url: http://www.crsrobotics.com
In Europe:
ISRA Systemtechnik GmbH
Industriestraße14
D-64297 Darmstadt, Germany