Automakers have long relied on machines to do the heavy lifting in their production facilities. But as technology advances, equipment is evolving into smarter and more complex forms.
A recent addition to this evolution is a humanoid robot developed in China. This robot will perform delicate tasks such as inspection, assembly, and logistics at one of Dongfeng's automotive assembly plants.
The industrial-grade humanoid robot will be provided by a Chinese company called Ubtech Technology, as part of an agreement with Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor. The latter, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motors, specializes in manufacturing commercial vehicles in the Guangxi region of China.
Ubtech's robot is called Walker S. It stands 1.7 meters tall and has similar proportions to a human worker. In the car factory, it will perform various tasks such as checking seat belts, testing door locks, assessing body quality, topping up oil and applying labels.
It will also be able to work alongside other automated machines to handle more complex unmanned production scenarios.
As reported by IThome, the humanoid robot is equipped with 41 powerful servo joints and a variety of advanced sensors, including force perception, vision, and hearing. These features allow it to monitor its surroundings and interact with both humans and machines.
According to the Chinese company, Walker S uses advanced "fusion control algorithms" that allow it to communicate with and send data back to the factory's central system in real time.
Lin Changbo, General Manager of Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, emphasized that Ubtech’s humanoid robot would be integrated with the latest AI technology to operate within the “smart” plant of Liuzhou. Changbo added that Walker S would undergo comprehensive training to provide “better solutions in more complex inspection, assembly, and logistics sites.”
It's not clear how many Walker S examples will be used in production and if any workers will be replaced.
Source: IT Home