Author: Erin

Why We Built Resolver…and Why Now Is the Right Time

Posted on by Erin

If you’ve ever been involved in setting up a robotic workcell, you know the pain points all too well. Long hours. Manual effort. Endless iteration. And always the looming question: Will we hit our cycle time targets – or will we need to scramble for fixes?

At Realtime Robotics, we’ve spent years listening to the frustrations of engineers and manufacturers. We’ve seen how traditional path planning slows down production, inflates costs, and puts teams in a reactive mode instead of a proactive one. And we knew there had to be a better way.

Today, I’m excited to share that better way: Resolver, our new cloud-based solution for accelerating the design, deployment, and optimization of robotic workcells.

Check out this video for more on how Resolver works.

What Makes Resolver Different?

Resolver brings something truly new to the table. It gives manufacturers the ability to simulate, test, and optimize robot motion paths and interlock signals at superhuman speed, and with minimal effort. That means faster proposals, smarter designs, and more confident production launches.

Instead of spending weeks or months manually programming motion paths and tweaking sequencing, Resolver does the heavy lifting in minutes. It’s infinitely scalable, requires little onboarding, and enables you to work directly with your preferred simulation tool (currently integrates with Siemens Process Simulate, but more are on the way this year).

It’s not just about speed. Resolver delivers smarter outcomes by exploring options human programmers wouldn’t even consider – unlocking more efficient paths, tighter cycle times, and more throughput without added cost.

Read our press release on Resolver here.

Why Now?

There’s never been a more important time to rethink how robotic automation gets done. Manufacturers are under pressure to move faster, deliver more value, and do it all with fewer resources. Yet the systems in place are holding them back – trapped in workflows that haven’t evolved alongside the technology they’re supposed to support.

Resolver is our answer to that disconnect. It gives teams the power to be strategic from day one. Whether you’re working on a proposal or refining a fully built production line, Resolver helps you cut down cycle times, reduce engineering effort, and hit your performance targets without the guesswork.

Come See Resolver in Action

We’ll be demoing Resolver live at two major industry events this year. If you’re attending, come see how it works – and find out what it could do for your team:

● Automate 2025, May 12-15, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan – Realtime will be in booth #9101, in Hall E.
● Automatica 2025, June 24-27, 2025 in Munich, Germany – the team will be in booth #301, in Hall B6.

Resolver is already in the hands of some of the world’s most forward-thinking manufacturers – and the feedback has been nothing short of amazing. If you’re ready to bring speed, intelligence, and efficiency to your manufacturing operations, it’s time for Resolver.

The Need for Workcell Optimization

Posted on by Erin

As anyone reading this knows, performance is everything in the world of industrial robotics. It often boils down to cycle time – i.e., the time it takes to complete a specific set of tasks. Whether it’s painting, welding, or something else entirely, the goal is always the same: finish as quickly as possible and move on to the next job. But what happens when your cycle time drags? That workcell becomes an inefficient bottleneck, slowing down the entire assembly line.

Naturally, when you’re looking to boost performance, the first idea that comes to mind is adding more robots. It seems straightforward enough; more robots should mean more work gets done and that it gets done faster, right? But the reality is much more complicated. It’s like adding more cooks to a kitchen; sometimes it works, but most of the time, you just end up with too many people tripping over each other.

The fact of the matter is just adding more robots isn’t enough. You need to maximize the benefit of every single one of them.

The Multi-Robot Conundrum

So why is it so hard to achieve better performance in multi-robot workcells?

Picture this: you’re tasked with designing a workcell that has four robots and 50 tasks that need to be completed per cycle. Now, not only do you have to figure out which robot does what, but you also have to decide the order in which they do it. The number of possible designs is mind-boggling. Even if you could test one design per nanosecond, it would still take longer than the age of the universe to go through all the possibilities.

What makes a good design stand out is when every robot is kept busy, with minimal idle time, and when they can move around without getting in each other’s way. It’s all about finding that perfect choreography. The difference between a good design and a bad one is like night and day in terms of performance. Most bad designs mean collisions, resets, and a return to the drawing board.

The Traditional Approach

So, how do engineers typically approach this problem? It’s all about taking a sample design, evaluating it, and then deciding where to go next based on what you’ve learned. It’s a bit like navigating in the dark with only a flashlight to guide you – you take a step, look around, and then decide where to step next.

Choosing that first step, or initial design, is daunting. Even with years of experience, it’s hard to know where to start. You might try to allocate tasks evenly among the robots or assign tasks based on proximity, but those are just educated guesses. The real challenge comes when you start evaluating these designs. You need to create a motion plan for each robot’s movements, which is a complex, time-consuming process – and often the reason why multi-robot workcells don’t work as intended.

And then, once you have the workcell design you feel is best, you need to manually try it out, making adjustments along the way until you reach a point where you feel the design and setup is the most optimal. But you can only evaluate a handful of designs, so you might miss out on the best ones. You’ll never be 100% sure, nor will you have the time or resources to keep trying.

The Needle in the Haystack

This is why we here at Realtime Robotics developed our Optimization solution. In short, it’s a proprietary algorithm that can sift through the enormous number of possible workcell designs and find the one that delivers the best performance. It’s already proven to be successful for many of our clients and partners, such as VW and Valiant TMS.

Our software can analyze hundreds of thousands, even millions, of designs in a matter of hours. To expand upon an analogy, it’s like going from using our flashlight to a floodlight; you can see so much more of the landscape, and you can use that knowledge to make better decisions. This ability to rapidly evaluate so many designs means we can find the highest-performing design – one that would otherwise remain hidden. 

The journey to fully optimize multi-robot workcells is ongoing, and I’m sure there are technological advancements still to come. But there’s no reason to continue with time-consuming, manual methods that deliver less-than-perfect outcomes. Check out our Optimization solution and drop us a line at info@rtr.ai if you’d like to learn more about how it can help you shave seconds off of your cycle times.

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here, and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

Realtime Robotics Names Ville Lehtonen Vice President of Product

Posted on by Erin

Deep Robotics Expertise and Technology Product Experience to Help Guide the Evolution of Realtime’s Award-Winning Optimization Solution

Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that Ville Lehtonen has been named the company’s Vice President of Product.

Ville brings a rich technology, product, and leadership background to Realtime Robotics, having most recently served as Head of Product at Pickle Robot. At Pickle, Ville was instrumental in guiding the robotics company to its leadership position in the truck and container loading and unloading industry.

“Ville’s track record speaks for itself, and we’re confident he will be an excellent addition to the team,” said Kevin Carlin, Chief Commercial Officer at Realtime Robotics. “Our Optimization solution is already helping several manufacturing companies to reduce cycle times and improve productivity. With Ville’s expertise, we can evolve to meet additional customer needs and expand its adoption throughout the manufacturing and logistics industries.”

Prior to Pickle, Ville was the Head of Product for HighRes Biosolutions, a laboratory automation software company, and was the Co-Founder and CEO of LabMinds Ltd., a laboratory automation company. Ville holds a BS and an MS in Computer Science from the Helsinki University of Technology and an MBA from Oxford University.

“I look forward to helping already highly automated production lines become even more efficient and cost-effective with the use of Realtime’s Optimization technology. I am confident we can help manufacturers save tens of thousands of hours on their industrial robotics projects,” added Lehtonen. “What Realtime is doing is a massive gear change in deploying automation. While this will be incredibly helpful for current manufacturers, the most exciting opportunities come from unlocking the economics for companies operating on a far smaller scale than the heavy users of robots. Realtime’s technology stack also can do for kinematics what real-time object detection frameworks like YOLO [You Only Look Once] have done for computer vision, further lowering the barriers to entry in the robotics space.”

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution uses a combination of proprietary software and experienced robotics and application engineering insights to drastically improve a manufacturer’s overall productivity by reducing a workcell’s cycle time. The solution analyzes a customer’s existing digital twin, identifying bottleneck areas and recommending improvements based on desired parameters. This can all be done without interfering with ongoing production efforts. For more information, please view our recent video here or visit https://rtr.ai/solutions/optimization/.

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here, and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization Solution Named the Gold Winner for Manufacturing Solution by the 2024 Globee Business Awards

Posted on by Erin

Revolutionary Optimization Solution Lauded for Ability to Reduce Workcell Cycle Time, Increasing Productivity for Manufacturers

Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that its Optimization solution has been named the Gold Winner in the Manufacturing Solution category in this year’s Globee Business Awards.

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution combines a mix of proprietary software and deep robotics and application engineering knowledge to significantly boost a manufacturer’s productivity by minimizing workcell cycle times. By evaluating a manufacturer’s digital twin, the solution pinpoints bottlenecks and suggests improvements tailored to specific parameters without disrupting ongoing production.

Using the existing CAD file, Realtime’s engineers generate and test hundreds of thousands of possible robot paths, sequences, poses, end-of-arm-tool adjustments, and intricate robot interlocks to find the most optimal robot paths and sequences. Once the improvements are verified, they can be instantly implemented on the production floor.

“One of the biggest goals for industrial manufacturers today is to drive more productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness from their existing automation investments,” said Peter Howard, CEO of Realtime Robotics. “This is why our Optimization solution has seen such tremendous traction across the industry – its ability to quickly impact the efficiency and bottom line of a production line. We look forward to continuing to improve it to meet the evolving needs of the industry.”

Realtime Robotics Optimization solution was recently named the Gold Winner of the 2024 Merit Awards for Technology in the Robotics category and also named the 2024 winner of the prestigious Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA) award, presented annually by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Industrial Activities Board and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Customers, including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Valiant TMS, have already dramatically cut down robot programming time and realized improved cycle times as a result of working with Realtime Robotics.

The 2024 Globee Awards for Business are renowned for honoring excellence and celebrating the accomplishments of businesses, individuals, and teams that drive success and innovation. To see the full list of winners, please visit https://globeeawards.com/business-awards/winners/. 

About The Globee Awards

The Globee Awards present recognition in ten programs and competitions, including the Globee® Awards for Artificial Intelligence, Globee® Awards for Business (International), Globee® Awards for Customer Excellence, Globee® Awards for Cybersecurity, Globee® Awards for Disruptors, Globee® Awards for Innovation (also known as Golden Bridge Awards®), Globee® Awards for Technology, Globee® Awards for Leadership, Globee® Awards for USA (previously known as Globee® Awards for American Business), and Globee® Awards for Women In Business. To learn more about the Globee Awards, please visit the website: https://globeeawards.com.

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

For More Information
Jeff Drew
Public Relations, Realtime Robotics
P: +1.617.233.5109
E: jeffreydrew@rtr.ai

Congratulations to FFT on 50 Years!

Posted on by Erin

Recently, the Realtime Robotics team visited one of our key partners – FFT – the leading global supplier of innovative, flexible, and highly complex manufacturing systems. The reason for that visit was that FFT celebrated its 50th anniversary with an event in Fulda, Germany.

Over the past 50 years, FFT and its 3,000 employees worldwide have led the way in making advanced automated production systems become a reality. The company’s dedication to innovation and its vision for what the future of manufacturing could be has helped forever change the industry for the better.

The event was an excellent gathering of employees, customers and partners, both old and new, and included presentations, exhibitions of the latest technologies, and an evening reception.

Realtime CEO Peter Howard shared his thoughts on the milestone anniversary as well: “Congratulations on 50 years of being a leader in innovation, delivering value to customers, and recognizing the contributions of team members and partners. We are excited to continue working together to revolutionize automated production systems.”

As mentioned earlier, FFT and Realtime have worked together for several years. FFT was looking to optimize the speed and efficiency of their robotic welding systems for a railway project, one which required each of ten robots to weld a total of 25,000 points, or 2,500 a robot. Optimizing the efficiency of this process could never be managed manually, which is where Realtime was able to help.

Our robot motion control and collision avoidance software enabled FFT to calculate the complete path for the robots to make the necessary welding actions, moving as necessary around one another in the workcell, avoiding collisions. FFT used it to create a system where the robots could essentially self-program themselves to complete the railway welding project as efficiently as possible without worrying about collisions or interlocks. For more details, see what FFT itself had to say about the project in a recent video.

From all of us here at Realtime Robotics to everyone at FFT – congratulations on this amazing achievement – and here’s to the next 50 years!

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization Solution Awarded Gold Merit Award for Technology in Robotics

Posted on by Erin

Solution Recognized for Ability to Eliminate Production Bottlenecks and Improve Manufacturing Productivity

BOSTON – October 3, 2024 – Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that it has been named the Gold Winner of the 2024 Merit Awards for Technology in the Robotics category.

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution uses a combination of proprietary software and experienced robotics and application engineering insights to drastically improve a manufacturer’s overall productivity by reducing a workcell’s cycle time. The solution analyzes a customer’s existing digital twin, identifying bottleneck areas and recommending improvements based on desired parameters. This can all be done without interfering with ongoing production efforts.

“We knew that some of the biggest challenges for manufacturers were assembly line bottlenecks that increased cycle time and slowed productivity. While it was commonly understood that improving robot movement plans and paths could break a bottleneck, it was also a manual, time-consuming process that few organizations had time for,” said Peter Howard, CEO of Realtime Robotics.

“We developed our Optimization solution to automate the process, rapidly evaluating and testing out potential robot movements and actions alongside different configurations, ultimately finding the solution with the shortest cycle time. This award is a testament to the hard work of our team in bringing a solution to life that can so dramatically impact a manufacturing operation.”

Customers need only send Realtime their simulation CAD file for the bottlenecked cells. The company’s engineers will then use proprietary algorithms and expertise to optimize the workcell in just days, rapidly generating and testing hundreds of thousands of potential robot paths, sequences, poses, end-of-arm-tool rotations and complex robot interlocks, until cycle times are reduced with better robot paths and sequences. Once the results are validated, they can immediately be transferred to the production floor.

Realtime Robotics Optimization solution was also recently named the 2024 winner of the prestigious Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA) award, presented annually by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Industrial Activities Board and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Customers including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Valiant TMS have already dramatically cut down robot programming time and realized improved cycle times as a result of working with Realtime Robotics.

For more information on how Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution can help reduce workcell cycle time and improve manufacturing productivity, please view our recent video here or visit https://rtr.ai/solutions/optimization/.

The 2024 Merit Awards for Technology were judged based on submissions that represent the best in current and next-generation innovations and technologies. To see the full list of winners, please visit: https://www.merit-awards.com/winners-technology-2024.

About Merit Awards

Designed to recognize the efforts put forth by global industries and the markets they serve, the Merit Awards will acknowledge companies that have contributed to the continued growth of the market. The Merit Awards are judged by industry executives, Merit Awards staff, members of the media and consultants. For more information please visit our website at http://www.merit-awards.com.

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

# # #

For More Information
Jeff Drew
Public Relations, Realtime Robotics
P: +1.617.233.5109
E: jeffreydrew@rtr.ai

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization Solution Wins 2024 Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA)

Posted on by Erin

Annual Award Presented by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Industrial Activities Board and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR)

BOSTON – June 24, 2024 – Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that it has been named the 2024 winner of the prestigious Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA) award for its innovative Optimization solution.

Established in 2005, the IERA Award is presented annually by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Industrial Activities Board and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The award highlights and honors the achievements of inventors with value creating ideas and entrepreneurs who propel those ideas into world-class products.

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution was recognized as one of four finalists for the award, and then was judged to be the 2024 winner following a presentation of the solution’s creation and commercialization by company Co-Founder Will Floyd-Jones and Vice President of Business Development Japan, Koji Kobayashi, at the recent IEEE/IFR Joint Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics and Automation in Yokohama, Japan.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the leading organizations in the robotics industry” said Will Floyd-Jones, co-founder of Realtime Robotics. “The award is validation at the highest level for our Optimization solution and the tireless efforts of our team to bring this vision to the market.”

Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution has been proved to significantly help engineers and manufacturers reduce costs and increase productivity by identifying and eliminating production bottlenecks. With only a simulation file or digital twin of a customer’s workcell, the solution rapidly generates and evaluates hundreds of thousands of possible solutions to identify the one with the shortest cycle time. Customers including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Valiant TMS have dramatically cut down robot programming time and realized improved cycle times as a result of working with Realtime Robotics.

To learn more about how Realtime Robotics’ Optimization solution can help improve the cycle time of your workcells, watch our recent video here or visit: https://rtr.ai/solutions/optimization/.

For a photo of Koji Kobayashi, Will Floyd-Jones and IERA Awards Chair Andra Keay at the awards ceremony, please visit: https://ifr.org/downloads/press2018/IERA_Award_Winner_2024_high_res.jpg

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

# # #

For More Information
Jeff Drew
Public Relations, Realtime Robotics
P: +1.617.233.5109
E: jeffreydrew@rtr.ai

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Leads Series B Investment in Realtime Robotics

Posted on by Erin

Strategic Investment From Long-Term Partner to Accelerate Market Scale-Up of Company’s Award-Winning Robot Optimization and Runtime Control Solutions

BOSTON – May 28, 2024 – Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that it has secured a strategic investment from Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. This is the lead investment in Realtime Robotics’ recently opened Series B round. Mitsubishi Electric was also a participant in the Series A round, and will be adding a senior representative to Realtime’s Board of Directors.

The funds will be used to support the refinement and scalability of the company’s revolutionary robot workcell optimization and runtime solutions, which significantly help engineers and manufacturers reduce costs and increase productivity.

Realtime Robotics’ unique and innovative collision-free path planning technology provides solutions across the lifecycle of robotic workcells. In iterative design stages, the award-winning multirobot optimization software rapidly generates and evaluates hundreds of thousands of possible solutions to identify the shortest cycle time. Deployment and production are further simplified by runtime control, enabling multiple robots to work closer together, while simultaneously reacting to dynamic changes. Finally, when the workcell needs to be retooled, the complex robot control is effortlessly reprogrammed for optimal cycle time from the first iteration.

Customers, including automotive manufacturers BMW and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, as well as integrators Valiant TMS and Schaeffler Group, report improved cycle times, reduced downtime, and increased throughput as a result of working with Realtime.

By increasing its stake, Mitsubishi Electric plans to further integrate Realtime’s cutting-edge motion planning technology into 3D simulators and other software to optimize manufacturing through the power of digital twins. Later, Mitsubishi Electric expects to incorporate Realtime’s technology into factory automation (FA) control system devices, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), servo motors and computer numerical controllers (CNCs), to ensure uninterrupted plant operations by responding to needs for expanded automation capabilities, streamlined plant operations for improved efficiency, and fast responses to unexpected events.

“For years, industrial robot programming has remained a rigid, costly and labor-intensive process. Realtime is helping manufacturers realize the next wave of efficiency improvements necessary to get the most out of their new and existing automation applications,” said Peter Howard, CEO of Realtime Robotics. “Our optimization and runtime technologies constitute a powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) that operates much like the human brain’s motor cortex, efficiently managing multiple actions at the same time. Think of several cooks in a crowded kitchen being able to seamlessly work around each other to produce meals without error or collision. That’s the power of our technology.”

Realtime’s interfaces with leading simulation software brands and industry standard controllers help customers and partners access its powerful optimization and runtime solutions through their preferred method. “We will utilize these funds to accelerate the development of additional interfaces, driving toward full industry-wide accessibility in an increasingly user-friendly and efficient manner,” added Howard. “Mitsubishi Electric understands manufacturers’ need to improve efficiency and productivity in the face of rising costs and diversifying customer needs. We’re thrilled to work closely with them to expand the use of our unique motion-planning technology.”

To learn more about how Realtime Robotics’ can help your organization improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your industrial automation efforts, please visit: https://rtr.ai/.

About Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

With more than 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in factory automation, information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric enriches society with technology in the spirit of its “Changes for the Better.” The company recorded a revenue of 5,257.9 billion yen (U.S.$ 34.8 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. For more information, please visit www.MitsubishiElectric.com.

*U.S. dollar amounts are translated from yen at the rate of ¥151=U.S.$1, the approximate rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2024.

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in single and multi-robot workcells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering multiple robots to work closely together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

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For More Information
Jeff Drew
Public Relations, Realtime Robotics
P: +1.617.233.5109
E: jeffreydrew@rtr.ai

Eliminating Collisions and Improving Operations for Schaeffler Group

Posted on by Erin

Long-time readers of this blog might remember that we began working with the Schaeffler Group, a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, a few years ago. They had evaluated our RapidPlan robot motion control and collision avoidance software as a way to help them utilize multiple robots together at the same time, improving throughput and eliminating costly collisions.

In fact, we initially wrote about their usage and excitement for the technology here.

Well, we recently checked in with the team for an update on how their use of RapidPlan is progressing, and learned that they’ve seen some tremendous results thus far. We even had the opportunity to film the Schaefler teams discussing RapidPlan and what it enabled them to accomplish. Check out that video here:

  • Automatic path generation
  • Automatic collision prevention
  • AutoHoming reduces downtime
  • Support from design through production
  • Automatic complex interlock generation
  • Higher machine utilization
  • Increased production
  • Improved planning
  • Reduce variability

As you can see in the video, Schaeffler has three industrial robots working in a very tight workspace, interacting with one another to accomplish their tasks. RapidPlan automatically generates collision-free work paths for the robots, optimizing their performance and eliminating the worry that expensive equipment will collide with each other or any other obstacles in their environment, and halt production in its proverbial tracks.

As anyone who’s familiar with robotics knows, interlocks are time-consuming to program, increase cycle time, and must be re-calculated every time there’s a change. With RapidPlan, interlocks are automatically calculated for Schaeffler, allowing robots to operate within much closer proximity and to cycle through changes much faster. This also made it much easier for the company to set up and manage operations.

One of the biggest advantages that Schaeffler reports thus far is the AutoHoming feature of the software. When there is a fault, robots traditionally need to be jogged back to a “home” or “maintenance” position. This used to be manual, time-consuming, and required a skilled robotics technician. But with AutoHoming, Schaeffler’s robots can either find collision-free paths to return to a home position from anywhere in the sequence. If possible, they can then automatically restart where they left off from, drastically reducing downtime.

Overall, both engineering and production teams are thrilled with the results thus far – and we’re thrilled to be making these revolutionary advances in their use of robotics possible. Plans are underway for additional projects to use RapidPlan as the benefits are clear.

So watch the video, see how our collision-avoidance and automatic motion planning software has helped Schaeffler already, and drop us a line so we can explore how to optimize your automation efforts as well.

Valiant TMS and Realtime Robotics Partner to Reduce a Customer’s Cycle Time by 17% and Cut Programming Time in Half

Posted on by Erin

Momentum for Realtime Robotics’ Optimization-as-a-Service Solution Continues, as Industry Leaders Use It to Identify and Eliminate Production Bottlenecks

BOSTON – January 8th, 2024 – Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that Valiant TMS, a full-service Industry 4.0 system integrator, has partnered with the company to apply its innovative Optimization-as-a-Service solution to customers’ manufacturing operations.

The combination of Valiant TMS’ years of manufacturing industry expertise with Realtime Robotics’ proprietary optimization software and experienced robotics engineering insights presents customers with an easy way to improve the efficiency and productivity of their automation operations. Realtime’s solution rapidly generates and tests hundreds of thousands of potential robot paths, determining the best motion sequences based on target sequences, robot reach, and other customer-desired parameters.

In fact, in a recently completed multi-robot application, Valiant TMS used Realtime’s optimization solution to design motion plans with more efficient motion paths, better interlocks, and a faster execution time, ultimately reducing a customer’s robot cycle time by 17% and cutting robot programming time in half. 

“Our collaboration with Realtime Robotics is very interesting and trendsetting,” added Michael Schaubmayr, Group Manager Mechanical Engineering Simulation at Valiant TMS. “The proofed cycle time-reduction of 17% in comparison with manual programming is breathtaking – and will be a game-changer in automation.”

In order to begin, all that’s necessary is a simulation file or digital twin of the cell that needs to be improved. The entire optimization process can be undertaken without causing any delays in a customer’s current production. Once the analysis is complete and the results validated, the newly optimized plan can be transferred to the factory floor and put into use without delay.

“Manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve their production processes, but few have the time or resources to spend on such a lengthy, involved task,” said Peter Howard, CEO of Realtime Robotics. “We’re thrilled that our optimization solution has struck a chord with so many, automating the task of generating and testing potential layouts and paths to quickly present them with the optimized solution. They can reap the benefits without wasting hours of their team’s time.”

“I am impressed by the results provided by Realtime Robotics. It seems to be the best software among all on the market. Everything indicates that after some improvements it will be able to eliminate manual work during robot path creation,” said Pawel Kukowa, Simulation Engineer at Valiant TMS.

For more information on how Realtime Robotics’ Optimization-as-a-Service reduces robot cycle times and improves automation efficiency, please see our recent press release here, or visit our website.

About Realtime Robotics

Realtime Robotics is the leader in automatic, collision-free motion planning for industrial robots. Its innovative technology generates optimized motion plans and interlocks to achieve the shortest possible cycle time in multi-robot cells. The company’s solutions expand the potential of automation, empowering robots to function together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, reacting to dynamic obstacles the instant changes are perceived. Learn more about Realtime Robotics here, watch its technology in action here and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

# # #

For More Information
Jeff Drew
Public Relations, Realtime Robotics
P: +1.617.233.5109
E: jeffreydrew@rtr.ai