Application: The design project “Chocomatic” serves as an automatic praline selection bench equipped with an IGUS robotic arm. Mounted on an IGUS guide, the customer operates a robot controlled via a tablet or their own smartphone to put together a range of chocolates and fill their box with sweets.
These applications are built around the interaction between the customer and the robot.
The employees of the shop where a robot is located do not need any training and do not have to do delicate operations. The robot works fully “standalone”, all one has to do is refill the chocolates and press start.
The robot, equipped with a camera on the tool, is going to take a picture of all pralines from which it will teach itself where each type of praline is located. Then the robot will measure the height of each type of praline, to be used later, when filling a box of chocolates. For each praline that the customer asks for, a photo is first taken in order to find out the exact position of the desired praline and thus take the praline perfectly in the middle and place it in its box. The robot also takes into account the position of each praline in the box, e.g. the robot will not immediately put difficult round chocolates into the box, but first look at what comes next to decide when it is suitable to place them.
When, for example, there are no more pralines of a type present, the customer will no longer be able to select them and the employees will receive a notification asking them to refill that type of praline. This development offers excellent service for the customer and optimal ease of use for the employee where no technical knowledge is required.
Problem:
Today, there is great demand from SMEs for a “low cost automation product”. This is because on the one hand, these SMEs do not have the capital to pay for the multiple and expensive licenses needed to collaborate with the major brands in the field of robotics, and on the other hand, the profitability of the product does not outweigh the annual costs.
A further advantage of the IGUS robolink series is the fact that their minimal size and weight make them ideally suited to smaller applications while still offering excellent range and overall functionality.
Solution:
This development mainly proves its service as a tourist attraction in chocolate shops and museums that focus on tourism, but on the other hand it also reduces costs for shops that can run their business in this way, with an employee who can fully take care of the needs of the customer and support them while the customer composes a box of chocolates and gives orders to the robot.
This automatic praline counter also increases hygiene because the chocolates are shielded from people and placed directly into their box on the counter.
These applications are built around interaction between the customer and the robot.