Collaborative Robots

Baxter, the robot, is coming to the December First Friday Breakfast of the Cape Cod Technology Council. Harley Green, a robotics specialist with Gibson Engineering of Norwood, MA, will discuss the growing field of collaborative machines which includes robots designed to work alongside people in close proximity with safety and effiency. The robots handle mundane tasks, freeing their human associates to do more skilled work while making the business more competitive and able to compete with international sources.

Baxter, one such robot, is a $20-25,000 robot from Rethink Robotics, a Boston company that grew out of work at MIT and was founded by one of the originators of IRobot, known for its robotic vacuum cleaners and military robots. Baxter has two arms and is easily programmed by moving it through a task as the motions are recorded and then repeated. It is being used in manufacturing and distribution operations, as Harley will describe.

Gibson Engineering, Inc. is a leading solutions provider to world-class manufacturers of industrial automation products that help major the corporations become time and cost efficient.  Using skills-based training through its curriculum and technical support team, Gibson becomes an extension of its customers’ engineering groups by creating innovative technological applications.

The CCTC event includes networking and a hot breakfast followed by the presentation and questions and answers. The charge for members in $15, while there is a $20 charge for non-members.