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How far have robotics and artificial intelligence developed? Answers can be found in specialist journals, discussion forums or trade fairs. However, to expe-rience the new systems from all around the world in live action is more excit-ing, as seen at the igus-sponsored 2018 RoboCup German Open in Magde-burg. Students and young engineers from around 40 colleges and research institutions had a wide range of robots in their baggage: from small humanoid robots up to table-high transport robots. They had to compete each other in various disciplines, for example in football, rescue operations or intralogistics tasks.

Student team from Aachen wins in the logistics league

Lubrication-free and maintenance-free high-performance plastics were used in a large number of such robots. This was also the case in the igus-sponsored Carologistics team, which topped the Logistics league. The robots from Aa-chen had to complete logistics tasks appropriate to a smart factory. The robots had to communicate with each other and find their way in an area covering 112 square metres without aid, transport rings and caps between assembly stations, and finally assemble the products. Teamwork par excellence. In the new intralogistics robots, the drylin linear modules were used in the three-axis control system of the gripper. In addition was an electric linear axis with a lead screw motor and a dryspin lead screw, which provided precision in pick and place. In the Standard league as well, where the robots had to face each other on the soccer field, igus supported the team B-Human of the University of Bremen and the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence. The previ-ous year's winner came in 3rd place and like Carologistics, will face teams from all over the world in June at the World Championships in Montreal in Canada.

igus offers modular systems for cost-effective robots

The company igus has been a well-known name in the robotics sector for some time. Besides the equipping of industrial robots with plastic energy chains and highly flexible cables, the Cologne-based company has set the goal of enabling users a quick and cost-effective automation. The company igus intro-duced the robolink Apiro at the 2018 Hannover Messe. Gearboxes with linear motion and inverted and conventional robolink worm gears in four different sizes are planned and, thanks to the exceptional modularity, can be combined with each other as required. With the new modular system, therefore, even complicated movements and ideas can be implemented. The robolink ReBeL is also a novelty. The new concept is fundamentally different from the other robolink joints and enables robot manufacturers to generate new and very cost-effective solutions in the service robotics sector. Instead of stepper mo-tors, brushless direct-current motors (BLDC motors) are used in the lightweight plastic strain wave gears.

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