Rethink Robotics announced the Intera 5 software platform, which enables control from a single robot and extends to the entire work cell. Manufacturers can orchestrate conveyors, equipment and other machines from a central Intera 5-powered robot.

According to Rethink, Intera 5 paves the way for connected manufacturing environments because it will allow manufacturers the ability to deploy full work cell automation in a matter of hours, instead of weeks. 

“With the introduction of Intera 5, we’ve created the world’s first smart robot that can orchestrate the entire work cell, removing areas of friction and opening up new and affordable automation possibilities for manufacturers around the world,” said Scott Eckert, president and CEO, Rethink Robotics.

Injection molding company Tuthill Plastics Group is using a Sawyer robot with Intera 5. Operating 24 hours a day, five days a week, Sawyer with Intera 5 is picking parts from a conveyor belt and communicating with a computer numeric control (CNC) machine to precisely place the part into the machine by using the platform’s force-sensing capabilities. According to a Retink press release, by applying a precise level of force while placing the part, the Tuthill team has been able to improve part quality and consistency, reducing a length defect on the part by 98 percent.  

German magnet manufacturer MS Schramberg is also using the platform and has seen improved deployment time. According to Rethink with less than a day of training, an MS Schramberg engineer was able to deploy and train the robots in less than two hours. The robots now run 24 hours per day, six days per week, cutting MS Schramberg’s deployment times by hundreds of hours.

Beginning in March, Intera 5 will be available for download on all existing Sawyer robots, and will come standard on all new robots.