HLS Engineering Group and Realtime Robotics team up to optimize production

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Optimization-as-a-Service and HLS data collection can help with automated workcells. Source: Realtime Robotics

Among the robotics trends of this year was the growth in partnerships between industrial automation providers and systems integrators. Realtime Robotics today announced that it is combining its Optimization-as-a-Service offering with HLS Engineering Group’s expertise in mechanical engineering and automation integration for various industries. 

Realtime Robotics claimed that its proprietary optimization software, plus its robotics and application engineering insights, can improve productivity. It added in a release that the HLS team has years of experience with automotive, aerospace, and other manufacturers.

The companies said they will together enable “manufacturers to analyze and optimize their automation cells, improving efficiency and productivity within weeks instead of several months.”

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Realtime Robotics service could shorten cycle times

Boston-based Realtime Robotics said its technology provides automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. The systems allow robots to function together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles as soon as they’re perceived, it said.

The company added that its technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in multi-robot cells. Released last month, Optimization-as-a-Service promises to reduce cycle times, according to Realtime. 

“Our optimization solution has already delivered proven results for customers in the automotive manufacturing industry, and the partnership with HLS creates an even stronger value proposition for customers,” stated Peter Howard, CEO of Realtime Robotics.

“Our combined expertise and technology can help manufacturers find additional productivity and efficiency improvements in their existing automation cells, without forcing their teams to spend countless hours manually testing different combinations until they achieve their goals,” he said.

HLS to help analyze manufacturing bottlenecks

Founded in 1966, HLS Engineering Group specializes in integrated engineering, focusing on bodywork in the automotive industry. It also provides systems to the rail vehicle and aerospace industries.

In addition, the German company supports assembly technology, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), and industrial and collaborative robots. HLS said its customized services range from production planning and system construction to commissioning.

HLS plans to use advanced scanning technology to virtualize a customer’s cells. It will collect data and create a digital twin of their manufacturing operations. Realtime’s Optimization-as-a-Service will use that information to analyze and identify any bottlenecks within production processes.

The service rapidly generates and tests hundreds of thousands of potential robot paths. It can determines the best motion sequences based on target assignment, robot reach, and any other customer-desired parameters, said the companies.

This process can be completed without causing any delays in ongoing production, asserted Realtime and HLS. Once the results are completed and validated, they can immediately be transferred to the production floor, they said.