Analysis:
Smart Setup eliminates one of the limitations of robotic arms - they must be programmed for a single task and are often fixed in place to avoid errors due to the pedestal shifting. Historically, this limitation has made robotics impractical for many high-mix, low-volume facilities, because using them for a line that runs only a few hours a day, or an operation that will only run for a few months makes no sense. Smart Setup makes robotic automation accessible for manufacturers with no programming or robotics expertise in-house. It also makes it practical for facilities that have multiple part-time tasks to automate or whose operations change frequently. This could bring needed flexibility to robotic arms, paving the way for them to be used in more industries in the future. – Brianna Wessling