Mimic Kit: Human Skill - Machine Precision

The NRS-6Force/Torque Sensor kit is a high stiffness, durable and accurate multi-axis force-torque sensor suitable for demanding force-sensitive applications. The sensor measures both forces and torques and is ideal for tasks such as grinding, polishing, object weighing, and velocity adjustment based on payload.

Mimic is an intuitive software platform that captures and transfers workers’ organic hand movements into robots by demonstration. It allows automation of complex tool paths that are too difficult and time consuming to program with a traditional point-to-point approach. It is a modular and open software platform, which means that users maintain control of their robot, can use their own tracking technology and work with both handheld and robotic tools they already know. The Mimic UR Kit consists of Nordbo Robotics’ pose tracker sensor and a corresponding URCap, ensuring an easy plug and play experience. Robots equipped with Mimic enable flexible automation of surface treatment in application areas of grinding, sanding, deburring, painting and pouring. There Mimic provides scalable flexibility as it does not require a robotics expert on-site to tweak and rearrange a production schedule. Workers can reconfigure their own production in a matter of hours, and without external involvement.

Automation of surface processing tasks can often be challenging due to the inflexibility of robotic movements. These issues are magnified when dealing with surfaces that have any level of complexity to them. The Nordbo Active Compensation Unit solves these problems using innovative pneumatic technology which allows users to select a desired force and have it maintained automatically by the robot. This allows users to design a process that delivers a consistent and accurate finish regardless of the complexity of the surface curvature, processing speed or orientation of the tool. This lightweight, easy to install component is a necessity for any automation project which seeks to deliver a uniform and precise level of surface finishing.

Automation of sanding applications have proven to be challenging as much of the organic movements required in completing these tasks are time consuming and difficult to program via traditional point to point methods. Additionally, the consistent application of force on any surface that isn’t completely flat adds another dimension of complexity to the process. The team at Nordbo Robotics has studied these issues and developed a system that addresses these common challenges and delivers a complete solution for automating your sanding processes. The UR+ Mimic Sanding Solution achieves this through a unique combination of technologies which when used together can be utilized by any operator regardless of their robotics experience. Most significant of these is the Mimic Sander Software which allows experienced technicians the ability to program the robot by demonstration. This is achieved through the integration of our force torque sensor based, dual handed Sander Joystick. Operators will be able to physically guide and record the movements of the robot and watch as it duplicates their actions. Also crucial is the Nordbo Active Compensation Unit, which measures and adjusts the delivered force ensuring that despite the angle, orientation or surface complexity, a consistent finish can be delivered. These innovations are all controlled and adjusted through a user-friendly interface tailored for sanding that utilizes touch screen interaction that users will find both easy to learn and easy to teach.