Smart sensors and safe robotics

Communicating with the highest network levels, transmitting diagnostic data necessary to enhancing the production process and preventing breakdowns and machine stops – these are, in short, the advantages that enable smart sensors to be integrated with latest generation systems. The potential of smart sensors and vision systems in robotics is the focus of SICK’s offer.

Carefree HRC. Robots designed to be lightweight, compact and agile, but most of all, capable of working in the same environment as human operators without requiring physical barriers. Safe human robot collaboration is guaranteed by high precision solutions like the new microScan3 laser scanner, which makes use of light propagation technology to guarantee a scanning angle of 275° and a protective field range of 5.5 meters.

AppSpace. In order to personalize the functionality of sensors according to the user’s specific requirements, SICK has developed AppSpace, an ecosystem made up of AppStudio (an app development environment) and a wide range of sensors that can be programmed for image processing, identification and measurement.

Distributed quality control. TriSpector1000 is the first 3D vision sensor based on laser triangulation. It is easy to configure, performing inspection directly from the camera, with no need of programming languages. It is suitable for quality control applications in all production phases and for robot guidance.

Communicating and sharing data. An advantage of smart sensors is also their capacity for internally processing cycle and service data and sending them back in real time using IO-Link communication protocol. This interface is used by many SICK sensors, including the PowerProx MultiTask series, made up of four types of photoelectric sensors (Distance, Speed, Precision and Small), which quickly and reliably identify the presence of flat and small objects, glossy or black, from distances anywhere between 50 and 3800 mm. They feature flight time technology, class 1 laser, are not harmful to the eyes, and have high performance optics with a high work frequency, enabling reliable results even under harsh conditions.