EMROX¶

The EMROX autonomous mobile manipulators combine a ROX mobile base platform with a customised extension and an integrated cobot arm. This enables the automation of complex handling and processing tasks that go far beyond simple transport.

The structure on the flat ROX base platform can be dimensioned to suit the robot arm controller box and can be extended with application-specific additional functions if required. It can also accommodate additional batteries for a longer uptime or an extended safety controller that can handle more complex environmental conditions and operating modes.

In principle, an EMROX can be constructed from any ROX kinematic system. However, due to the additional mass and the potentially long reach of the robot arm, the advantages and disadvantages of the various drive solutions become more apparent.

Diff: As the sprung drive wheels can only transmit a limited force, the speed and acceleration of an EMROX-Diff should be significantly reduced compared to the pure base platform. In addition, this kinematics is the most susceptible to vibrations caused by rapid arm movements due to the swivel castors.
Trike: Thanks to the rigid drive axle under the main working side of the EMROX-Trike, this variant offers significantly greater stability even with relatively wide reaching arm movements. However, it requires more space for cornering and manoeuvring, meaning that the trike should primarily be used in spacious environments.
Argo: The omnidirectional solution with four ArgoDriveModules offers the highest stability and manoeuvrability and is therefore the ideal solution for demanding handling tasks in confined spaces. The EMROX-Argo-Trio variant is less expensive, but sacrifices some payload and stability.

To cover the energy requirements of the cobot arm, the mobile manipulators are usually equipped with at least one additional battery pack in the body. Here too, as with the ROX, there is a choice between classic AGM batteries and modern LiFePO4 batteries. A system with LiFePO4 batteries and an inductive quick-charging station is recommended to keep the charging time as short as possible and in proportion to the robot’s operating time. Intelligent in-process charging even enables continuous 24/7 operation.

Two control software solutions are available for different applications.

PlatformPilot is a professional control software for autonomous mobile robots developed by Neobotix, designed primarily for industrial applications. It is easy to use and set up and offers optimum support for omnidirectional robots. Depending on the robot arm used, the control of the arm and platform can be realised via a local script, an individual interface module or the application control suite of a third-party provider.
ROS 2 is an open-source framework that has proven to be particularly useful for research and development. It offers maximum flexibility and the option of integrating any additional functions and modules, but requires a sound background knowledge. Many cobot and gripper manufacturers offer drivers and software for ROS 2, enabling seamless software integration of all components of the mobile manipulator.