Operating robots like a smartphone

The aim of drag&bot: an easy to use, modular operating system for robotics. But...

KEBA - These are our plans with drag&bot

Christian Gabriel, Vice President Automation at Keba, explains how Keba's robotics portfolio benefits from the purchase of the Stuttgart-based start-up Drag&Bot and in which direction robotics will continue to develop at Keba.

Interview: Armin Barnitzke

First of all, in general terms: What is Keba's strategy in the field of robotics?

Gabriel: Keba Industrial Automation does not manufacture robots itself. We offer automation for robots. The target group is primarily robot manufacturers, but of course we also use our robotics knowledge for machine builders who want to integrate robotics or for manufacturers of intralogistics solutions who also want to offer robotics solutions.

And why did you acquire Drag&Bot? What are the advantages?

Gabriel: The acquisition of Drag&Bot offers us new opportunities in the area of intuitive control of robots. With the Drag&Bot expertise as a modular extension of the Kemro-X construction kit, we can offer machine builders simple solutions for connecting robots. By the way: Since intuitive operation is a common thread throughout the entire Drag&Bot product range and is not limited to robotics, we are talking about an overarching, modern and modular visualization framework based on HTML5 technology. This fits perfectly with our easy-to-use claim and will also give Keba Industrial Automation a competitive edge in the field of visualization.

You recently launched your first joint product, Drag&Bot. What can Drag&Bot OS do?

Gabriel: By integrating Drag&Bot OS into our Kemro X automation platform, the simple integration of robots is available to all Keba customers. In the first step, the Drag&Bot technology is mapped in Kemro X as an independent software module and can be controlled independently. In the next steps, Drag&Bot technology will also enable simple operation for Kemotion-controlled robots. In a further integration stage, it will be possible to use all the possibilities of Kemro X within the Drag&Bot software.

What applications are you targeting with this?

Gabriel: The Drag&Bot software feature in Kemro X is particularly interesting for machine builders who want to offer robotics integration and for whom it is important that this solution is independent of robot brands and that their end customers can easily operate the robotics and implement changes quickly and easily themselves. And very centrally: our solution is integral, so robot and machine are one system - also in terms of operation. Our big vision is a platform to easily integrate and operate robots - and to do so in a modular way.

How open should this platform be?

Gabriel: With the Kemro X platform, we are currently the manufacturer that is the most open and offers the highest degree of manufacturer independence. Just as we cooperate with the Google offshoot Intrinsic, we will not close ourselves off to other players in order to offer this simple robotics integration to machine builders in medium-sized companies.

In general, what are Keba's further plans in robotics?

Gabriel: New features based on artificial intelligence (AI) methods are also being used more and more in Keba's robotics. This concerns the areas of engineering, tuning and parameterization. For such AI applications, we have already developed our own platform with optimized computing power, which fits seamlessly into our product portfolio. This will make it even easier for non-experts to operate robots optimally. Easy-to-use will continue to play a major role for us in the future.

KEBA Industrial Automation GmbH

With drag&bot OS, automation specialist KEBA and drag&bot GmbH are launching their first joint product on the market. This means that drag&bot technology, which simplifies robot programming, is now available as an integrated component of the Kemro X platform. drag&bot GmbH has been part of the KEBA Group for over a year.
The graphically based software tools from drag&bot enable production employees to operate robot applications independently, rectify errors and make adjustments, such as teaching new points, without the need for extensive training - even across robot manufacturers.

Martin Naumann, Co-Founder and CEO of drag&bot GmbH: "Our software is a simple, graphical, no-code GUI. The intuitive operation, which is based on HTML5, is easy to understand and can be learned independently via tutorials. The "programming" of a robot is done graphically via function blocks, which can be dragged and dropped - hence the name - to form a flow chart."

Further expansion stages
With the integration of drag&bot OS into the Kemro X automation platform from KEBA Industrial Automation, the simple integration and programming of robots is now also available to KEBA customers. "In a first step, drag&bot technology has now been mapped for the first time in our Kemro X platform as an independent software module," explains Christian Gabriel, Vice President General Automation at KEBA Industrial Automation: "In the next steps, drag&bot technology will also enable simple operation for robots controlled by KeMotion. In a further expansion stage, it will also be possible to use all the possibilities of Kemro X within the drag&bot software."

The drag&bot software feature in Kemro X is particularly interesting for machine manufacturers who want to offer robotics integration or supplement their service portfolio with it and for whom the following aspects are particularly important:

• End customers should be able to implement changes quickly and easily themselves.
• Robot and machine are an integrated system; also in terms of operation and handling
• independent of robot brands and robot types.

At the beginning of 2022, the Stuttgart-based start-up drag&bot - a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) in Stuttgart - was acquired by KEBA Industrial Automation in Linz. The company's main product was "drag&bot OS", a manufacturer-independent operating system for industrial robots. drag&bot OS enables easy operation and customization of various applications such as machine loading and unloading or assembly. A main goal of the acquisition was to push the international marketing of drag&bot OS more strongly and to use synergies and new opportunities by combining drag&bot OS with KEBA's product portfolio to make the product even better.

Integration in Kemro
Since the takeover, a lot has happened and the new direction of the product is set: drag&bot OS is now part of the KEBA automation solution Kemro X. Kemro X is the modular system for industrial automation (hardware and software) from KEBA Industrial Automation GmbH and consists of controllers, I/Os, mobile and stationary operating devices, servo controllers including motors, safety technology and the modular control platform FlexCore. This results in new possibilities that make drag&bot OS particularly interesting for system integrators and machine/plant builders:

• thanks to the use of KEBA control hardware, additional I/Os and fieldbus interfaces can be added in the form of I/O modules and expansion cards and used from drag&bot OS.

• parallel to the application program created in the drag&bot OS no-code programming environment and thus easily adaptable, further logic can be mapped on the optional parallel PLC, e.g. for controlling a conveyor belt or other peripherals without their own control.

• The graphical user interface of drag&bot OS can be displayed on a KEBA mobile handheld control unit, which also enables jogging of the robot via buttons and thus operation and programming of the robot system exclusively with drag&bot OS.

By combining drag&bot OS and Kemro X, system integrators and machine/plant builders get the opportunity to combine classic PLC-based automation with the ease of use of drag&bot OS, and

To provide your customers with easy-to-use and flexible robot automation.

The new possibilities resulting from the combination of drag&bot OS and Kemro X will be presented by drag and bot in a free webinar on March 3rd, 2023.

The simple entry into flexible automation with a construction kit

Almost every manufacturing company has considered using robots to automate repetitive tasks. However, many - especially small companies - are hesitant to invest in automation because the flexibility and adaptability required when buying a turnkey solution is not available. Even for small changes to the robot, the supplier has to be involved every time, as the companies or their employees are not able to do this themselves.

To change this, drag and bot GmbH, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production and Automation (IPA), offers a flexible, easy-to-use and cost-effective automation kit, the drag&bot Robot Kit. The basis of the Robot-Kit is "drag&bot OS", a software solution for robotics, which supports manufacturing companies in all steps from planning, simulation, integration, programming to fast retrofitting. In addition - depending on the customer's wishes - cost-efficient robots, pre-integrated gripping systems, intelligent camera systems, standardized robot platforms and modular systems for parts provision and safety are also included. This means that even manufacturing companies without their own robotics expertise can use robots simply, flexibly and economically, even for medium quantities, and convert them themselves, e.g. in the case of many and/or changing variants of a product series.

Step #1: Simply plan robot solutions
The free cloud solution drag&bot SIMULATION, a drag&bot OS variant that can only be used for simulation, enables simple, iterative configuration and evaluation of automation ideas in a 3D environment as the basis for an investment decision.

In the first step, the application is modeled. For this purpose, drag&bot SIMULATION selects suitable robots, grippers, part provisioning solutions and other peripherals from the automation construction kit in a 3D environment and arranges them spatially. Additional elements, such as the machine tool to be loaded, further devices or individually designed cell solutions can be uploaded and inserted as a CAD model to represent the planned application as accurately as possible.

In the second step, the robot is brought to life. For this purpose, program sequences are created in the graphical no-code programming environment of drag&bot. The created sequences can be simulated and adjusted until the behavior of the robot meets the requirements. If it turns out that the arrangement of robot and machine tool, for example, is not optimal or that it would be better to use a larger robot, the arrangement can be adjusted at any time in the 3D environment.

The result of the planning is a specified robot solution tailored to the customer's application with correctly selected core components (robot, gripper, part provisioning solution, platform) arranged in a working layout. Based on this specification drag&bot quickly creates an orderable offer in cooperation with its partners. In combination with the estimation of the cycle time resulting from the created sequence program, the profitability or ROI of the robot application can be determined and a realization decision can be made quickly and well-founded.

Step #2: Simple implementation of the robot solution
Depending on the resources available in the company, there are two options for implementing the planned robot solution:

The company implements the robot solution itself on the basis of a pre-integrated drag&bot bundle that works from day one
The company procures a flexibly adaptable complete solution from a drag&bot partner
Do-It-Yourself automation with drag&bot
A drag&bot bundle consists of the components selected from the automation construction kit, drag&bot PRODUCTION - the variant of drag&bot OS for the realization of real robot solutions - and a training package. A bundle is always characterized by the fact that all components are integrated in drag&bot OS and thus ready for use and usable without further integration effort. The associated training package is adapted to the previous knowledge of the customer's employees, and enables the employees to realize the planned application themselves. This is made possible thanks to the graphical no-code programming environment integrated in drag&bot OS - the drag&bot BUILDER - as well as application-specific customizable program templates. For loading and unloading the machines, for example, there are program templates with functions for gripping from grids, for using single or double grippers, for NIO testing and for collision-free basic position travel. These program templates can be further customized in the drag&bot BUILDER. New function blocks can be inserted via drag-and-drop if required. Graphical wizards can be used, for example, to teach and adjust robot movements, configure grids or define I/O communication.

In this way, any personnel with a basic technical understanding, e.g. maintenance personnel, CNC specialists, line supervisors, are able to adapt and modify program templates to implement specific applications after about one day of training. If help is still needed, drag&bot offers additional support via partners, e.g. for
If help is still needed, drag&bot offers additional support via partners, e.g. for the implementation of the communication to a machine tool, for the programming of applications that cannot be mapped via program templates or for the preparation and execution of the CE acceptance.

Alternative: flexibly adaptable complete solution
Companies lacking the resources to implement a robot application themselves, e.g. because no suitable employees are available, can alternatively procure a complete solution based on drag&bot OS and thus flexibly adaptable to the results of the planning from a company in the drag&bot partner network. Again, after about one day of training, any staff with a basic technical understanding will be able to adapt and modify program templates to implement specific applications.

Step #3: Use robot solutions flexibly
Robot solutions implemented with drag&bot OS are easy to use and can be adapted to changing conditions by the manufacturing company itself. For this purpose drag&bot distinguishes two user levels: commissioner and operator. While commissioning users have all rights to create and modify applications with the drag&bot Builder as described above, the "OPERATOR COCKPIT" displayed on a touch panel is the central interaction element for operators to start and control the robot application, to monitor it and to intervene in case of errors. A large number of so-called widgets are available for this purpose
From which the commissioning engineer can configure application- and operator-specific OPERATOR COCKPITs.

Examples of widgets are:

3D visualization of the robot solution
Display of KPIs such as number of parts produced, number of NIO parts, ..
Functions stored via buttons, e.g. stop after next cycle, collision-free basic position run, eject part, open/close gripper, ..
Visualize and change I/O values
Display result of image processing e.g. localized objects in camera image
Display program sequence and current position in the sequence
Visualize and modify the occupancy state of a partial grid
In addition, operators can adapt robot applications to new requirements, such as changing part geometries or new part provisioning grids, using step-by-step instructions. The step-by-step instructions can be created by the commissioning engineer during the creation of the robot application from basic elements such as images and text in an application-specific way, so that the operator is given exactly the configuration options he needs, but other parameters, such as the limited maximum speed of the robot, cannot be accessed. Should further changes to the robot application be necessary, the commissioning engineer can easily make any adjustments to the program flow, robot movements, I/O communication, etc. via the graphical no-code programming interface described above in conjunction with various wizards, e.g. to integrate new processes.

Possible applications

The drag&bot Robot-Kit is especially designed for any application to insert and remove parts for machining, labeling, assembly or quality inspection in machines. These insertion tasks are still performed manually in many cases, although automation would be technically possible without any problems. The implementation usually fails due to the - due to high flexibility - lack of economic efficiency of classic automation solutions, which can only be adapted by experts.

This is where drag&bot comes in: the drag&bot Robot Kit in combination with drag&bot OS as a software solution for the simple planning, commissioning and use of robot solutions allows manufacturing companies an entry into flexible automation adapted to the resources and competencies available in the company: companies without previous experience are taken by the hand during planning and receive a solution that can be operated and thus flexibly used by their own employees. Companies with their own resources can implement solutions themselves on the basis of a bundle and thus save costs as well as quickly and cost-effectively implement any adaptations required later, both in programming and in the hardware itself. In both cases, economic automation is possible with high flexibility requirements.

drag&bot with automation construction kit

The specialist for simple programming now offers an interesting package. In addition to its own software including a 1-year update & support contract, it includes either an articulated arm robot or a Scara robot, gripper, PC, image processing and a mobile platform. However, at least an inexperienced mid-sized company will not be able to cope with this hardware. For this reason, the price starting at €35,000 still includes assembly and one day of service (programming/setup). And even if an additional day has to be purchased, an SME receives a ready-to-use solution in the areas of machine loading and unloading, pick & place and handling at a very calculable price. However, this is only the case if no collaboration with a human is desired. This is because the bundle does not include a cobot.

The world's first industrial robot simulation in the cloud

With the new, free robot simulation from drag&bot, planning automation solutions for factories becomes much easier. CAD models of the cell and gripper can be used to estimate the feasibility, reachability and cycle time of the application within a few minutes.

The Stuttgart-based company drag and bot has created "drag&bot SIMULATION", the first purely cloud-based simulation environment for industrial robots. In the user-friendly web application, various robots can be combined in a 3D environment with their own CAD models of the robot cell as well as the objects for handling and specific grippers to create a complete working environment. This creates a "digital twin" of the robot application, which can be easily programmed using the drag-and-drop principle. With the help of drag&bot SIMULATION, manufacturing companies can now evaluate new automation solutions much faster and free of charge.

Fast start without specific robot know-how

After free registration, users receive their access data for the simulation by e-mail. Understandable online tutorials are available for the first steps, so that no specific robot know-how or extensive training is necessary to get started. With just a few clicks, complete robot programs including special functions such as error handling can be assembled from various function blocks. Own CAD environments can be easily uploaded and used in the simulation. Each program can be tested with different robot brands and models with regard to reachability and cycle time, thus determining the appropriate hardware. Finished robot programs are then available for download and can subsequently be used directly on the real robot with the production version of drag&bot.

Implementation with internal resources: Do-It-Yourself-Robotics

After the evaluation with "drag&bot SIMULATION", manufacturing companies can use the corresponding software "drag&bot PRODUCTION" to independently implement their robot cell with internal resources. Plug&Play interfaces to hardware such as grippers, force-torque sensors, cameras, vision, feeder, PLC systems, and many others enable integration in just a few minutes - even without IT knowledge. For the program structure, the already existing program from drag&bot SIMULATION can be used. Real waypoints and paths are taught to the robot via the robot's teach panel, intuitive drag&bot teach pendant or e.g. a 6D mouse. After commissioning, workers and production employees can see the most important KPIs of the system with the help of the customizable cockpit panel and interact directly and flexibly with the robot in the event of retooling or errors. Due to the associated flexibility and rapid profitability, more and more factories are turning to stand-alone automation with robots.

Already in use in many different industries

Almost all common robot applications can be realized more flexibly with drag&bot than was previously possible. The software is now compatible with robots from all major manufacturers in Europe, including recently with robots from Epson, Yaskawa and Stäubli. In addition to automotive and plant engineering, industries such as metal processing and electronics manufacturing are increasingly relying on drag&bot.

Flexibility through simple robot programming

The main difficulties in introducing robots in companies include high acquisition costs, the installation effort and a lack of personnel know-how. But what if robots could be used flexibly for different applications and no developer skills were needed for programming? With the software from the Stuttgart-based company Drag&Bot, this is exactly what is possible.

Many employees in Switzerland assume that they will benefit from the use of robots. Namely, that robots could take over routine tasks in the future. Nevertheless, small and medium-sized companies in particular often still shy away from using robots - due to the costs and the perceived lack of flexibility. After all, when one thinks of robots and their activities, images of mass production and processes that always remain the same come to mind in many people's minds. Many people do not know that a lot has happened in the last few years, and that robots can be controlled flexibly and without in-depth programming knowledge thanks to the simplest programming. With software that can program industrial robots for other tasks in just a few minutes, companies can respond to changing situations in the best possible way and thus make the best possible use of their capacities and financial resources. Drag&Bot GmbH, a spin-off of Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart, has developed exactly such software. The software is often used for programming industrial robots in production; typical processes include loading and unloading machines, pick-and-place, screwing, and assembling components.

Operating industrial robots like a smartphone
An important point that must not be forgotten at the beginning of automation processes: the acceptance of robots should also be there among the employees. After all, if existing employees are involved in the process right at the start and don't have the feeling of being left behind, that's a big plus for the working atmosphere. But how do you get employees excited about robot programming? Drag&Bot's intuitive user interface enables all employees to independently implement robot applications without extensive training. Programs can be assembled from predefined function blocks using the drag-and-drop principle. Graphic operating and input aids support the user in adapting to specific requirements. Robots can thus be used flexibly and programmed individually, completely independent of hardware. The result: with Drag&Bot, robot programs can be created five times faster than with text-based programming. How exactly Drag&Bot can be used is shown below using an example from the automotive industry.

Programming collaborative robots in the automotive industry
Until now, industrial robots in the automotive industry have been used in large-scale production, performing the same tasks over several years without requiring any changes to the processes. Due to the shortage of skilled workers or the current pandemic, there is an urgent need to automate more and more activities that were previously performed manually due to their flexibility requirements, such as the assembly of subassemblies.

Automotive supplier Denso has used Drag&Bot to automate a pre-assembly process that was previously performed manually. Since this requires various processes, it is important in this case that the robots collaborate in the human workspace and that the work of the industrial robots can be coordinated. With the help of Drag&Bot, the robots can be instructed by technicians on site themselves through the intuitive interface. For example, if a robot is to reach a certain place, the user guides the gripper arm to the corresponding position and confirms this in the software. Thanks to so-called guides, the user is led step by step through typical applications such as screwing, palletizing parts or camera calibration.

Extension modules of Drag&Bot also enable sensitive functions to adapt the behavior should unforeseen situations arise in the production process or more complex robot movements be necessary, for example for assembly. With the "Localization" module, cameras are supported for image processing to determine the exact coordinates of a component so that the robot movement still functions without errors even if the positions of the component are shifted.

The advantage for the automotive supplier is not only the simple programming, which he can now perform independently with Drag&Bot, but also the flexibility. With the simple and intuitive robot programming, the robots can be retooled within a few hours.

Drag&Bot supports a wide range of different hardwares
It's not just the ease of use that speaks in favor of Drag&Bot, but also the wide range of supported robots, grippers and force sensors, as well as image processing systems and communication interfaces, which make everyday work much easier. The software can save valuable time when integrating grippers, cameras or PLC systems. Drag&Bot thus offers an ideal solution, especially for small and medium-sized companies that have little or no experience with robots. SMM

Programmed Colleagues

Let's face it, who can program a robot? Almost everyone, as Daniel Seebauer, co-founder and CFO of drag&bot, explains. His start-up develops simple programming solutions and wants to turn robots into flexible production tools.

MOB: Mr. Seebauer, how did the idea to found a start-up with your solutions and enter the market come about?

DANIEL SEEBAUER: One of our co-founders, Martin Naumann, was already doing intensive research on new ways to control industrial robots during his time at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production and Automation. After we presented a prototype of Drag&Bot at a trade fair in 2014, the response from trade fair visitors was so overwhelming that we then decided to spin off the technology. Our first customers were mainly established players in the automotive industry who use the solution for the rapid evolution of new robotic applications.

MOB: What role do robots play in industry today?

SEEBAUER: Robots are used in almost all manufacturing industries today. However, most robots are installed by system integrators as part of a specific machine that has been optimized for the customer's task. These systems are usually only worthwhile for very high volumes or large value added by the process and are therefore depreciated over many years. This is changing more and more towards more flexible standard robot cells, also - but not only - due to the spread of more cost-effective cobots. However, many customers appreciate the longer service life, accuracy and speed of classic industrial robots as opposed to cobots. Thus, even in 2020, only one in ten robots sold will probably be a cobot.

MOB: If more and more employees have a robot as a "colleague" in the future, what role will user orientation play?

SEEBAUER: From our point of view, it is very important that companies take their employees along with them right from the start in the upcoming change toward more automated production. We want to make an important contribution here so that employees are not afraid of robots, but perceive robots as useful aids and possibly even as colleagues. Our approach is to train existing employees in robot programming and operation. Workers should be able to use and operate robots just like other machines at any time.

MOB: Why is it important that the robots can also be controlled on a mobile basis?

SEEBAUER: We have to distinguish between robots on rolling, mobile platforms and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that navigate independently through factories
navigate through factories. Rolling platforms with industrial robots with payloads of up to 20 kg are particularly suitable for the automation of manual workplaces, where work is to be performed by robots at various locations in the factory. They are connected to the respective workstation or machine via docking stations, as we know from laptops in the office, for example. Our clear focus is on these applications. Up to now, AGVs have been used primarily for material flow, for example from the warehouse to the assembly stations, or in logistics.

MOB: Under the slogan "AI Made in Germany", the German government presented its AI strategy in November 2018. How do you assess this and do you yourself, as an AI startup, already notice something concrete from the implementation of this strategy?

SEEBAUER: In our view, AI is an enabler technology that will change large parts of society and production globally and sustainably in this decade. Europe has some catching up to do here. I think this awareness has also arrived in politics with the new AI strategy at the latest. While the field in basic research is unlikely to be won over China and the USA in the foreseeable future, as we are fighting here against tech giants with billions in funding. Europe should focus on leveraging its existing production know-how and applying this knowledge as quickly as possible in terms of machinery, equipment and processes to increase efficiency. In robotics today, for example, AI-based handle-in-the-box solutions are already faster and more flexible than the previous patter-matching methods for evaluating 3D point clouds. AI is also increasingly being used for the automatic optimization of control parameters in robots, which was previously performed by control experts. At the same time, AI is not a miracle cure, for the many, remaining challenges in robotics. For example, the integration of different hardware and software solutions is a major challenge that we can solve with Drag&Bot.

MOB: Which technology could benefit your business field the most in the next few years?

SEEBAUER: The main driver for robotics is investment costs and total cost of ownership. While new technologies and materials will make hardware more cost-effective, an intuitive user interface will also allow us to sustainably reduce the costs of retrofits even after the investment, both of which will lead to even faster adaptation. In addition, increasingly powerful and intelligent hardware will lead to ever greater volumes of data at device level. Much of this machine data must be analyzed and processed on the devices themselves; transferring it to the cloud would not be resource-efficient. Here, technologies such as quantum computing and edge AI (i.e. AI with only very limited computing capacities) are likely to play a central role. At the same time, we assess the impact of, for example, 5G on the production environment as less serious than many have predicted. With fiber optics and wifi, the necessary technical prerequisites are already available today to fully network production facilities in the required bandwidth and to connect them to the cloud. Nevertheless, IT and production departments are very restrictive when it comes to networking and connecting their systems due to the threat of cyber attacks. This is unlikely to change anytime soon, even with 5G.

Shipra Kren

Cloud-based online simulation for robots

Drag&Bot's new software tool is geared as a free do-it-yourself potential analysis for production processes. In the user-friendly 3D environment, users can import their own CAD models and combine them with 3D models of robots, grippers and cells. Then, according to the vendor, a robot program can be created with just a few clicks and the application can be realistically simulated. The software is uncomplicated to use, making it easy to get started, especially for companies that have little or no experience with the use of robots. The result is a well-founded decision-making basis for automation in the form of a report on technical feasibility (e.g. on accessibility or cycle times) and an ROI calculation. The use of the software should enable manufacturing companies to implement new robot solutions and systems faster and more cost-effectively than before.

Robot programming for all

As CEO of drag&bot, Martin Naumann has a lot to say about current trends in robotics. His company, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart, offers a solution for the uncomplicated programming of robots and end-of-arm tools. In the interview, he reveals where a lot of investment is being made, where the trend in cobots is heading and how standards are becoming established.

handling: Mr. Naumann, with drag&bot you offer a manufacturer-independent and cross-manufacturer solution for robot programming. Do you have access to all the interfaces of the robots and the connected tools and grippers?

Almost all manufacturers of industrial robots, grippers, cameras and other peripheral devices offer standardized interfaces that we use as an interface to drag&bot. These interfaces are often well documented and we often receive support from the manufacturers during integration.

So drag&bot can be used to control the supported robots and end-of-arm tools as comprehensively as with the manufacturers' solutions?

Yes, we often develop a special interface for the hardware together with the hardware suppliers in so-called integration projects in order to make all functions intuitively available to the operator. We even know some hardware manufacturers who use drag&bot internally in quality assurance to carry out functional tests on their hardware. Since drag&bot is executed on an external industrial PC, the limits are mainly robot applications that require very fast, deterministic reactions from the robot, such as conveyor tracking. Due to the speed, these should be executed directly on the robot controller and in the robot's programming language. Such systems will also be implemented by system integrators in the future.

Do you see a trend towards standardization in robot control? Do you perhaps want to take the initiative in this area yourself?

Of course we also wanted drag&bot to provide a practical impetus for standardization in robotics, but I think we should also remain realistic. Our primary motivation for drag&bot is to make robotics and its peripherals as simple as possible for everyone in order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers and to automate even small quantities and processes with a high degree of flexibility.

Standardization: Although there are repeated initiatives for standardization in various sectors and all players are aware of the added value for manufacturers and users, examples such as charging cables for cell phones or electric cars show how difficult it is for the industry to agree on standards itself. In automation, too, attempts are being made to create a uniform protocol between machines with OPC UA, for example, although Profibus and Ethercat are still used much more frequently in practice. During our time at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production and Automation (IPA), I myself was involved in the committee for standardization in robotics and learned how difficult it is to reach an agreement. Ultimately, I believe it is legal requirements or global companies such as Google or Apple that not only publish standards, but can also enforce them on the market.

When you look at your customers, do they tend to be experienced users or do companies that are completely new to robotics also come to you?

Companies that are just starting out with robotics are usually very open to innovations such as drag&bot. Here, the greatest advantage is often seen in being able to build up robotics know-how with existing employees and thus achieve greater acceptance among employees and greater flexibility in automation.

Ultimately, I believe it is legal requirements or global companies such as Google or Apple that not only publish standards, but can also enforce them on the market.

Companies with their own experts for programming robots already have established processes for their systems. The robots are often from one manufacturer and the programs are always set up in the same way so that experts can quickly find their way around when changes are made. There is often little motivation to change the status quo and we have to do more to convince them, for example by using test systems to make the added value of drag&bot a live experience. It is important to make it clear here that drag&bot cannot replace all processes, but to highlight the applications in which the added value of drag&bot comes into play, for example through frequent, independent interactions between robots and the operator.

In which area is the use of robots currently growing the most?

Manual workstations with assembly and handling tasks, whether in the metal, electrical or plastics processing industries, currently have the greatest growth potential for flexible robotics.

On the subject of cobots: What special requirements does direct cooperation between humans and robots place on programming?

Compared to offline-programmed industrial robots, the programming of cobots is characterized by the interaction between robot and programmer. For example, during teach-in in the cobot's manual guidance mode, the points of the trajectory should be taken over directly by the robot or entire motion sequences should be able to be recorded live. It is also practical, for example, if the gripper can be controlled and programmed using buttons on the gripper. For hardware that offers these functionalities, we also support them in drag&bot.

During the execution of cobot applications, it is important for the operator to have a clear display of the current process and to be able to quickly make appropriate entries and adjustments on this operating device.

Another important trend in recent years is the individualization of production. What approaches are you pursuing to make the use of robots in assembly more profitable, even with batch size 1?

In addition to the plug & play approach for the various hardware, we work primarily with so-called guides and wizards for the individualization of production processes. Guides are step-by-step instructions for creating new variants of production processes. With wizards, we use graphical explanations to help users define the relevant parameters quickly and without errors. Furthermore, the operator can view the most important parameters of the programs at any time during execution and quickly adjust them if changes are made to the production process.

Production planning – simply reprogram robots

The new drag&bot robotics software enables flexible production planning for industry. With the software, industrial companies can program their robots easily and flexibly and thus efficiently utilize production capacity even when the order situation is weaker.

Production planning: no robotics know-how required
The drag&bot software is a solution for efficient production planning: robots can be reprogrammed in a short time using the drag & drop principle. No robotics expertise is required to operate the intuitive software, which was developed at Fraunhofer IPA. This enables very flexible adaptation of production. Created programs can simply be loaded from the cloud so that the robot can take on different tasks in the morning than in the afternoon. This allows industrial companies to react quickly to fluctuating incoming orders. The software is now compatible with robots from eight manufacturers, including recently with robots from Yaskawa and Stäubli. In addition to automotive and plant engineering, industries such as metal processing, electronics manufacturing and chemicals have also been increasingly relying on drag&bot since 2019. For 2020, the start-up is planning to further expand the compatible hardware in order to support an even wider range of hardware, as well as further integrations.

Pick & place, loading and unloading and palletizing
Most customers of drag&bot GmbH rely on handling robots with the software of the same name. This includes typical tasks such as pick & place, loading and unloading machines and palletizing. Companies in the automotive sector and, since 2019, increasingly in electronics production are already making intensive use of drag&bot for these tasks. However, flexible robot programming is also being used more and more in metal processing. Due to the high number of variants with low quantities, production with robots was previously too cost-intensive. Companies can use drag&bot with coordinated hardware and thus optimize robot programs for small quantities with little effort. An equally growing customer sector is the chemical industry, which was previously only able to use robots as special systems due to their complex operation.

Production planning: cooperation with various partners
Drag&bot GmbH is increasingly working together with partners such as plant engineers and machine manufacturers. The network has grown continuously in recent years. For example, drag&bot's software has been optimized for the fast and intuitive retooling of automated folding benches with the company Placke, a manufacturer of folding benches and bending machines. drag&bot is now available to end customers as part of the manufacturer's automation solution.

Drag&bot has also recently started cooperating with Basler AG, one of the leading manufacturers of industrial cameras. Together, the aim is to link imaging sensor technology more closely with robotics. With the help of the interfaces, it is possible to configure any Basler camera directly from drag&bot and use it in the robot application. Calibration between the robot and camera is just as easy as the function modules for common 2D image processing applications, such as pattern matching or the search for geometric shapes in a "region of interest". This provides the customer with an industrial, low-cost 2D camera that can also be used very easily with robots.

Combining imaging sensors and robotics
In the field of 3D image processing with robots, users of drag&bot have also recently been able to use cameras from Roboception. The Smartcam rc_visard already offers prepared apps for many standard applications, such as picking boxes from a pallet or gripping parts from a crate, which can be run directly on the rc_visard and configured intuitively. The camera functions can be controlled directly from drag&bot. With these and other collaborations, drag&bot is expanding the availability and compatibility of intuitive robot programming and making it easier for customers to use the software.

Setting Roboter per Drag-and-Drop

No robotics expertise is required to operate the intuitive software developed at Fraunhofer IPA. This allows production to be adapted very flexibly. Created programs can simply be loaded from the cloud so that the robot can take on different tasks in the morning than in the afternoon. This allows industrial companies to react quickly to fluctuating incoming orders.

The software is now compatible with robots from eight manufacturers, including recently with robots from Yaskawa and Stäubli. In addition to automotive and plant engineering, industries such as metal processing, electronics manufacturing and chemicals have also been increasingly relying on drag&bot since 2019. For 2020, the startup is planning to further expand its compatible hardware in order to support an even wider range of hardware, as well as further integrations.

Pick&place, loading and unloading and palletizing

Most customers of drag&bot GmbH rely on handling robots with the software of the same name. This includes typical tasks such as pick & place, loading and unloading machines and palletizing. Companies in the automotive sector and, since 2019, increasingly in electronics production are already making intensive use of drag&bot for these tasks. However, flexible robot programming is also being used more and more in metal processing.

Due to the high number of variants with low quantities, production with robots was previously too cost-intensive. Companies can use drag&bot with coordinated hardware and thus optimize robot programs for small quantities with little effort. An equally growing customer sector is the chemical industry, which was previously only able to use robots as special systems due to their complex operation.

Strategic cooperations

Drag&bot GmbH is increasingly working together with partners such as plant engineers and machine manufacturers. The network has grown continuously in recent years. For example, drag&bot's software has been optimized with Placke, a manufacturer of folding benches and bending machines, for the fast and intuitive retooling of automated folding benches. drag&bot is now available to end customers as part of the manufacturer's automation solution.

The company has also recently started cooperating with Basler AG, one of the leading manufacturers of industrial cameras. Together they want to link imaging sensor technology more closely with robotics. With the help of the interfaces in drag&bot, it is possible to configure any Basler camera directly from drag&bot and use it in the robot application. Calibration between the robot and camera is just as easy as the function blocks for common 2D image processing applications, such as pattern matching or the search for geometric shapes in a region of interest. This provides the customer with an industrial, low-cost 2D camera that can also be used very easily with robots.

In the field of 3D image processing with robots, Roboception cameras have also recently become available to users. The Smartcam rc_visard already offers prepared apps for many standard applications, such as picking boxes from a pallet or gripping parts from a crate, which can be run directly on the rc_visard and configured intuitively. The camera's functions can be controlled directly from drag&bot.