SICK and Universal Robots bring out safety solution for cobots

SICK has partnered with Universal Robots, combining SICK’s experience in sensor technology with Universal Robots’ robotics technology to bring to market a new End of Arm Safeguard (EOAS) for collaborative robots (cobots). Mounted directly onto its arm, the EOAS moves with the cobot for teamwork.

It also enables added iterative risk reduction, potentially removing the need for additional safety measures. The EOAS is a category 2 laser device that creates a protective field around the robot tool at the end of the robot arm. This allows it to move with the arm and operate in smaller, more defined areas, enabling protection of a fixed hazard range of up to 400m. When a human disturbs the protective field, this triggers a stop and the cobot ceases moving.

Time-of-flight technology makes it possible for a robotic arm to react dynamically, with a response time of ≤110ms, speeding up production and enhancing safety. Human workers have the confidence to operate collaboratively, with the robotic arm stopping once the protective field is breached and recommencing its task once it is restored.

The EOAS comes with a plug and play set up, meaning it can be installed within 15 minutes. Compatible with robots from Universal Robots, the sensor is automatically recognised as an accessory and easily integrates with existing operations using EOAS URCap software. SICK and Universal Robots have also created a series of tutorials to enable fast and effective integration of the EOAS, and the URCap software provides continuous updates.

The range of applications that could benefit from the EOAS is significant, such as pick and place, machine tending, and handling and assembly. The EOAS is most suited to industry sectors where cobots work alongside human operators, such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors, food and beverage, and more.

“The EOAS ensures worker safety by helping to minimise risk in collaborative robot applications. We are immensely proud of the new EOAS, and it is so easy to install and configure,” said Matthew van den Braak, Product Manager – Robotic & Mobile Platforms, SICK UK. “Our partnership with Universal Robots has seen the EOAS jointly developed and robustly tested in the field. As the first device of its kind on the market, the EOAS helps remove physical and psychological barriers in human/robot collaboration across a wide range of applications.”

“One of the great things about the EOAS is it’s fully patented plug and play technology developed in partnership with SICK. It sits inside our safety system, operating as one device,” added David Lievesley, UK/Ireland Technical Support Engineer, Universal Robots. “When you alter the parameters on the sensor, it alters it on the robot, enabling full human-robot collaboration. The EOAS is ideal for small environments, adding an extra element of safety to what is on the end of the robot and enabling the tool to work in a fully collaborative way.”

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