Last week, thousands of people headed to Detroit to participate in the Automate 2022 trade show and conference. For the first time in 20 years, the show headed back to Motor City.
Automate was held at the Huntington Place convention center by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). It was also the first time the show was held since the COVID-19 pandemic.
From cobots and AMRs to grippers and vision systems, the automation technologies on display were impressive. More than 500 exhibitors showed off their products at the show, as they look to the industry’s future and grow their customer base.
Some of the most interesting technologies we saw were born out of partnerships. At its booth, Mitsubishi showcased how its robots can be used on top of other companies’ hardware and software. Plus One Robotics showed off how its technology integrates with Tompkins Robotics’ tSort system. Effidence’s EffiBOT AMR was roaming around the show floor with a robot arm from Nachi Robotics.
Some of the biggest robotics companies in the world displayed for the first time at least one new robot or robot system. Epson Robots showcased its new high-end SCARA line. Yaskawa displayed its cobot welding work table. FANUC’s booth included its new food-picking delta robot, along with the large FANUC 1000iA assembly robot.
Other companies, such as Universal Robots, showcased technologies that are still a little ways off. The Odense, Denmark-based company displayed a concept cobot that had a smooth exterior that could work well in food handling and medical environments. The company said it is showcasing the concept now to get customer feedback.
Check out the slide show on the right (bottom on mobile) for a deeper look at some of the most interesting robot exhibits we saw at the show.
About the authors: Cesareo Contreras and Eugene Demaitre are the editors of Robotics 24/7.