Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is investing in Clearpath Robotics. This Canadian company specialises in the development of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). AMR manufacturer OTTO Motors, among others, is part of Clearpath Robotics. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation intends to use the investment to expand and strengthen its support for factory automation.
OTTO Motors and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have been working together for some time, both strategically and commercially. With Mitsubishi's investment in parent company Clearpath Robotics, the parties are strengthening this cooperation.
OTTO Motors is a developer of AMRs. These are small and manoeuvrable robots that can be used in warehouses and production sites, among other places. They can move freely within a defined area and can thus automate all kinds of manual tasks. Think of transporting products within a magazine.
Available in several variants
OTTO Motors' AMRs are available in several variants, each aimed at a different application. Among other things, the size and carrying capacity of the robots varies. For example, the OTTO 100 is the smallest AMR the company supplies. In practice, this model replaces a hand truck and can carry up to 150 kg. The OTTO 1500, on the other hand, is aimed at the heaviest loads with a load of up to 1,900 kg. OTTO Motors also supplies the OTTO Lifter, which can replace a forklift truck.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is also active in the field of robotics. The company's products include industrial robots and collaborative robots. These include vertical articulated arm robots, SCARA robots and variants of SCARA robots for overhead mounting.
MELFA Smart Plus
In addition, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is supplying MELFA Smart Plus, which makes intelligent functions available on the company's MELFA FR industrial robots. These include predictive and preventive maintenance functionalities. Here, the technology detects abnormalities in the behaviour of robots that indicate technical problems, before parts actually fail.
The software also helps in faster training of force sensors, which ensure robot arms grasp objects with the correct force. However, also consider automatic compensation of the robot's thermal expansion. In this way, the software takes the robot's accuracy to the next level.
Little is known about the partnership between Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and OTTO Motors. For instance, it is unclear how much money Mitsubishi is investing in parent company Clearpath Robotics. The parties only report the investment will expand their strategic partnership and strengthen their commercial cooperation.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: OTTO Motors
