Microsoft makes industrial robot

It seems that the new industrial revolution is really on the threshold, even if Microsoft has started creating a robot for modern production. Model Intelligent Industrial Work Assistant (Kuka LBR iiwa) is being developed together with Kuka, a manufacturer of industrial robots and automation systems.

Compact stationary robot Kuka LBR is able to perform various tasks on the conveyor. It is distinguished by high accuracy of movement and a sensitive system of sensors for “interacting” with a person, reacting to his movements (and in order not to damage the fragile human body). This sensitivity allows for precise operations that are difficult to handle with conventional mechanical movement. Suppose that you insert a flexible plastic tube tightly into the hole (see video).


')
For its part, Microsoft provides access to Microsoft Azure Internet of Things (IoT) cloud services, a Kinect sensor for computer vision with gesture recognition and an OPC-UA communication system for the robot. The factory manager will remotely track through Azure how the robot does the job.

OPC Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) is a specification that defines the data transmission in industrial networks and the interaction of devices. There is an implementation on .NET.

Microsoft showed this robot at the Hanover Industrial Trade Fair (Hannover Messe), which is taking place these days. In general, the exhibition presented several robots in this style. For example, the company's products Universal Robots .


Model UR3 from Universal Robots

So, Microsoft’s entry into this market is quite logical: it has almost matured and is becoming mainstream.

Who knows, maybe in the future such robots will appear in every home and will be able to make furniture and other household items from metal and wooden blanks.