Educating the next generation of workers in manufacturing is crucial but it is not always easy for educators and students to access affordable robots. Kawasaki Robotics has released a new education robot at a fraction of the cost of other educational robot platforms. Astorino, that’s its name, will premiere at IMTS Chicago next month.
Kawasaki Robotics wants to equip students with the real-world skills needed for modern manufacturing. Student indeed, need to increase their knowledge in areas such as mechatronics and programming to be able to have a comprehensive view of robotic systems. This is crucial as it will prepare them for real-world application environments.
Though training is crucial, it is not always easy to find accessible robot platforms. However, with Astorino, Kawasaki hopes to make a difference by offering educators and students the capabilities of a modern industrial robot at an affordable price.
A Price of $5000
Named after the popular open-source Arduino platform and development partner ASTOR, Astorino is a 6-axis robot with a 1 kg payload, priced at just $5,000.
It weighs 12 kg and is powered by 110V to make it usable in any classroom.
The platform also supplies STL files so students can rapidly print 3D replacement parts for 99% of the robot.
Its structure as well as its programming environment are nearly identical to that of a Kawasaki industrial robot.
In a press release, Paul Marcovecchio, Director – General Industries, Kawasaki Robotics (USA), Inc said:
“We launch the Astorino with a clear goal: to advance industrial robotics education. With this new cost-effective and dynamic robotic platform, we eliminate many barriers to entry that have kept educators from providing advanced robotics design tools to their students. Our accessible price point and ease of use will enable more educators to offer the valuable hands-on experiences so critical to success in today’s manufacturing environments.”
What is Included in the Astorino Platform?
The Astorino platform includes a built-in control system; dedicated firmware and software; Modbus TCP and USB/Ethernet communication, and safety functions such as E-Stop and safety brakes. Motor control uses three signals (pulse/direction/enable) and steel gears reduce backlash to <5 arcmin. The robot is flexible and can also be paired with multiple options such as three kinds of grippers, a 24V IO module, a cube feeder with optical sensors, and external sensors.
Kawasaki Robotics is developing course materials, including a basic introduction to the robot, programming, operations, repair, and maintenance programs, as well as a Train-the-Trainer course for the Astorino, to equip instructors with the skills needed to effectively teach robotics.
Why Is Its Price So Low?
Astorino was designed to be cost-effective for learning institutions by minimizing operational, maintenance, and recurring costs. The development environment includes dedicated firmware, free software and a free code editor. By eliminating recurring costs such as software licenses and replacement parts (since the students can print 3D parts), educators have a clear idea of costs and can focus on teaching rather than budgeting.
At a base price of $5000, Kawasaki believes educators can now afford to provide a low student-to-equipment ratio so each student can spend more time directly working with the robots.
Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers
For Marcovecchio,
“Astorino is further proof of our commitment to helping prepare the next generation of technicians, operators, and engineers. With Astorino and our extensive training resources, like-minded educators can take their teaching to a higher, more interactive level as they prepare the next generation of workers.”
Kawasaki Robotics (USA), Inc. will premiere Astorino at the 2024 IMTS Smartforce Student Summit in Chicago on September 9-14. Visitors will be able to experience it in Kawasaki Robotics’ booth #121415.
