Universal Robots, provider of collaborative robots (cobots), has launched three new modules for its online learning platform, Universal Robots Academy. Adding to its basic training, the new modules focus on mastering more advanced features of collaborative robots.
The three new modules step up complexity by teaching users how to create and work with coordinate systems, variables and conditional statements, and how to use the robot's wizard to easily create a program for packaging.
CTO and Co-Founder of Universal Robots, Esben Ostergaard, explained that it is unusual in the industry to make robot training curriculum of this caliber available for free: "This is a long-term investment for us. We want to raise robot literacy, and the reason for speeding up the entry of cobots is not only to optimize production here and now. We are facing a looming skills gap in the manufacturing industry that we need to bridge by all means possible. Facilitating knowledge creation and access to our robots is an important step in that direction."
Stefan Stubgaard, Head of Global Competence Center at Universal Robots, added that the Academy modules have received positive feedback from users around the world: "This learning resource is now also reaching small and medium-sized manufacturers that, up until now, regarded robotics as costly and complex. By simply logging into the Academy, they experience first-hand how simple the set-up can be, and they can easily envision what production tasks could be automated with our cobots."
One of the early adopters of Universal Robots Academy is Whirlpool Corporation, where the Universal Robots Academy modules provide the basic foundation for all UR robot training at the company's Ohio plant. Tim Hossler, Controls Engineer at Whirlpool, said "Now we do not have to wait and send employees out for basic training elsewhere. The modules can be completed at their own pace, and we can even pick and choose which modules we offer different personnel depending on their skill sets. The interactive approach makes learning very hands-on and transferable to what we are actually doing here at our plant."
The nine Universal Robots Academy modules are available in English, Spanish, German, French and Chinese. The basic training upon which the three new modules are building include adding end-effectors, connecting I/Os and creating basic programs, in addition to setting up tools and safety zones.
For more information contact:
Universal Robots USA
5430 Data Court, Suite 300
Ann Arbor, MI
844-462-6268
ur.na@universal-robots.com
www.universal-robots.com/academy