Pick and place software for robots

CapSen Robotics, a producer of 3D machine vision and motion planning software for robotic bin-picking applications, has  released CapSen PiC, which turns any industrial robot arm into a robot work cell for pick-and-place applications.

CapSen PiC software combines 3D vision, motion planning, and control algorithms to give robots the ability to locate, pick, and manipulate objects from cluttered bins and shelves. It detects 3D objects in a range of different positions and orientations, even when partially occluded or in tight, variable workspaces.

The software provides control of a robot, end effector, and 3D cameras within a robot cell.

“Tasking a robot with making high-speed, accurate picks of parts presents several challenges, including the fact that parts can be randomly piled in containers, stacked on top of one another, or even entangled,” said Jared Glover, CEO, CapSen Robotics.

“CapSen PiC takes aim at the most challenging bin-picking problems by combining 3D vision with advanced motion planning and control software to give robots spatial intelligence, and it does so without the need to custom program new parts.”

A hardware-agnostic platform, CapSen PiC v1.0 offers advanced motion planning algorithms for collision avoidance, while delivering fast and accurate parts picking, regrasping, and even advanced tasks such as detangling and assembly.

Image processing and planning times of less than one second let robot cells pick and place up to 30 parts per minute, representing a reliable automation solution for short-run assemblies and repurposing robots for disparate plant-floor tasks.

“Deploying CapSen PiC allows DENSO robots to manipulate a range of pick-and-place tasks — from small, difficult-to-grasp parts to heavier objects that must be moved quickly and efficiently,” said Mark Anderson, regional sales engineering manager at DENSO, the largest manufacturer of small assembly robots in the world.