Apr 15 2016
The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) announced today it will hold its International Collaborative Robots Workshop from May 3-4 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass. In partnership with the largest technology trade organization in Massachusetts, Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC), and its innovation hub for robotics, known as MassRobotics, the Workshop will explore advancements in the field with a global view on collaborative robot technology, applications, safety implications, and the human impact.
RIA will host many of the world's leading collaborative robot experts who will offer presentations on a variety of topics, with top robotics companies also showcasing their emerging technologies and trends. The Workshop is being held on the same days and in the same location as The Vision Show, a bi-annual event hosted by RIA’s sister organization AIA, the world’s largest trade association for advancing vision and imaging.
Human-robot collaboration has become ever more prevalent with robots now moving out of safety cages with the ability to be deployed flexibly in ever-changing applications. This development prompts many questions and topics addressed by the RIA workshop. Agenda includes:
- Overview of Collaborative Robots
- User Panel: How We Implement Collaborative Robots
- Getting Started with Collaborative Robots
- Collaborative Robot Technologies and Customer Applications
- Collaborative Gripping Technologies
- The Role of Simulation in Collaborative Robot Applications
- TR 15066 Overview: Safety for Collaborative Applications
- Supplier Demonstrations
“Collaborative robots are the hottest topic in robotics today,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of RIA. “We’ve seen demand for these collaborative solutions increase immensely in the last couple of years as more and more companies look for ways they can automate to improve efficiency and increase their overall bottom line.”
“Our members have shown consistent, growing interest in what collaborative robots are and how they can benefit from having them in the workplace,” said Tom Ryden, executive director of MassRobotics. “Given Boston is such a hotbed for technology innovation, we can’t think of a more perfect place to host this event, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
The Details
The Workshop will be held in conjunction with The Vision Show 2016, which takes place May 3–5 at the Hynes Convention Center, and many of the companies speaking at the conference are also exhibiting in a special “Collaborative Applications” section on the show floor. There is no cost to register to attend The Vision Show, walk the show floor and see the keynotes.
The Vision Show will open with a keynote from Steve Varga, Principal Scientist, Imaging and Instrumentation R&D / Global Technology Export Controls, Procter & Gamble. Presentations on where the collaborative robots are being deployed today will be given by leading manufacturers, including Scott Mabie, General Manager at Universal Robots, and Jim Lawton, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Rethink Robotics. In closing, an overview on the future of collaborative robotics will be presented by David Mindell, CEO and founder of Boston-based Humatics Corporation, whose talk is titled “Our Robots, Ourselves: Toward Situated Autonomy.” For a full schedule of speakers and events at the Workshop, click here.
Attendees can also register to attend the AIA and RIA’s Networking Night on May 3rd, where more than 300 industry leaders in the robotics and machine vision industries will enjoy food and refreshments at Boston’s historic Fenway Park.
Registration for the International Collaborative Robots Workshop is $695 for RIA and MassTLC members ($795 for non-members). For complete details and registration information, visit the International Collaborative Robots event website or call RIA Headquarters at 734-994-6088 FREE.