HERMES AWARD 2024: The 2D Grasping Kit is setting new benchmarks in terms of flexible and intelligent automation

The 2D Grasping Kit reliably handles repetitive, monotonous handling tasks and is easy to operate even without expert know-how. The intelligent solution also convinced the jury of the HERMES AWARD 2024, which honored the innovative 2D Grasping Kit with the coveted technology prize at the Hannover Messe.

“The path to automation is still challenging for many companies. This is the reason why small and medium-sized companies in particular, are not yet using their full potential and this is exactly where we start,“ emphasizes Kristina I. Schunk , CEO of SCHUNK. “With innovative, highly flexible, and easy-to-use automation and digitalization modules such as the 2D Grasping Kit the shortage of skilled workers can be closed in a process-reliable way, but productivity can also be increased. At the same time, they also create a healthy and attractive working environment in which people and machines from a symbiosis.“

Simply by using AI

With the 2D Grasping Kit companies can implement intelligent Pick & Place processes for randomly arranged parts with little effort. The kit consists of a camera with a lens, an industrial PC, an AI software as well as an application-specific gripper. All components are perfectly coordinated and can be combined with any robot and any higher-level controller. Thanks to the intuitive user interface, the AI software is taught in a few simple steps and requires no prior knowledge of programming or image processing. Once done, the AI trains itself and recognizes the components based on characteristic features such as shape, size, and color. The AI compensates for variations caused by changing light, color, or background conditions. What is unique, is that the system automatically calculates the gripping points for the gripper used together with the object detection and transmits parameters such as rotation angle and opening width to the robot control. Monotonous, recurring sorting or logistics tasks can thus be reliably and easily automated.

Sustainable and future-proof

“We want to counteract the shortage of skilled workers and increase the productivity potential as well as resource efficiency. In times when healthy and sustainable production environments are becoming increasingly important, our 2D Grasping Kit offers a solution that not only increases efficiency, but also improves working conditions,” explains Gessmann. Automation solutions such as the 2D Grasping Kit play a central role here. “Winning the HERMES AWARD encourages and motivates us to continue working on solutions with which companies can easily and effectively exploit the potential of automation.”

News release from Schunk, 28/04/2024

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