Intelligent sensors pave the way for the industry of the future

At the Hannover Messe (HM) trade fair, SICK AG presented innovative sensor solutions for forward-looking applications under the slogan “Industry 4.0 ready”.

As a technology supplier in the field of industrial sensors, SICK’s presentation explained how intelligent sensor data can be used: from highly aggregated, complex web services in the cloud and shop-floor systems for logistics transparency to autonomous robot control. Alongside the company’s own intelligent systems and sensors, SICK also presented various examples of its collaborations with research and industry partners. These joint exhibits featured integrated solutions typical of Industry 4.0, which were a big hit with visitors.

In particular, the exhibit on human-robot collaboration proved to be a major draw, featuring a robot arm which took a glass cup from a visitor.

The robot used the RFID tag affixed to the cup to read the individual print job and performed the task by itself. As the station was protected with microScan3 laser scanners, the robot was able to work without partition screens in this application. As soon as anyone came within a certain distance of the robot during operation, its movement slowed down. If someone came even closer, the robot stopped completely.

Meanwhile, the trade fair also featured a first in the field of track and trace technology in the form of the RFU65x RFID read/write device, which creates transparent paths within the factory. The device is the first to be able to measure the movement direction of an RFID tag bearer when read. This means that, in the future, it will be possible to record not only the position, but also the transport path of workpieces with minimal effort. In this way, the current location of a part will always be evident in real time.