Mr Eric Drewery, Chief Executive Officer of Asea Brown Boveri UK, was asked to speak at the annual press conference announcing the publication of Robot Facts , the annual survey by the British Automation and Robot Association of the UK’s progress in utilizing flexible automation in comparison...

By implementing a high‐speed welding system with a new arc welding robot, researchers have far exceeded current welding speeds. The heat warp of the work piece and adhesion of spatter onto the workpiece has been decreased, reducing the cycle time, and total heat input.

Automating the welding process for the shipbuilding industry is very challenging and important, as this industry relies heavily on quality welds. Conventional robotic welding systems are seldom used because the welding tasks in shipyards are characterised by non‐standardised workpieces which...

As the application range of present day industrial robots is expanded beyond pick‐and‐place operations, spray painting and spot welding, there is an increasing need for the control of contact forces between the manipulator end point and environment. One important force control task is...

SILVER, the special interest group on advanced robotics and intelligent automation, is holding a series of meetings on applications in different sectors of industry. The May meeting was held at the Silsoe Research Institute in Bedfordshire. Speakers from Silsoe, as well as from universities and...

Cooperative work with Keio University has resulted in the development of a machine for exercising the hip and knee joints of stroke patients to recover their walking function. The Therapeutic Exercise Machine (TEM) has two mechanical arms to move the lower extremity of a stroke patient. The arms...

Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF). SIRIUS is a climbing robot meant for any vertical surface, regardless of the angle. The robot can be outfitted with tools to perform a variety of service‐sector tasks such as façade cleaning, building and ship coating, ship...

This paper presents new prototype powered wheelchair systems that are easy to use and safe. The systems use simple ultrasonic sensor systems to assist users in steering their powered wheelchairs. The new systems could improve the chances of some disabled children learning that behaviour and...

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a cost‐effective alternative to the open surgery whereby essentially the same operations are performed using specialized instruments designed to fit into the body through several tiny punctures instead of one large incision. The EndoBots (Endoscopic Robots)...

This paper takes a critical look at the progress of the commercialisation of service robots. For over 20 years researchers and developers have been trying to develop robots for service or household applications. So far the forecast market potential has not been achieved. Service robots through...