And no, there’s no typo in the header. Pally 3.4, now available, can palletize up to 35% faster than earlier versions.
As a side note, they were not slow.
Do you have a customer whose production requirements you’ve struggled to meet? Do you have a palletizer that runs faster than you want it to? Test it in MyRobot.cloud with Pally 3.4 and see if a software upgrade can help you deliver a better solution to your customer. Our internal tests show a minimum of 10% quicker palletizing with an improvement of up to 35%.
How did this just happen?
The secret is OptiMove, a recent innovation from Universal Robots introduced in their 5.21 PolyScope release. OptiMove maximizes robot acceleration within the set safe limits while also reducing vibrations.
By intelligently leveraging the speed and force parameters to the maximum, OptiMove allows the robot to accelerate much faster and operate closer to the force safety limits without triggering a safety stop. The ability to smooth out movements and minimize vibrations when handling boxes enables Pally and the cobot to move closer to the limits of speed and force parameters, ultimately enhancing overall performance.
Technical details: Dive into the technical release details of PolyScope 5.21 here.
How does this enable such an improvement?
Acceleration is a very underestimated value for cobot palletizing and the cycle time.
Palletizing is special in the sense that the robot does a lot of long movements with heavy acceleration and deceleration on a continuous basis. Even without increasing the maximum speed, an increased and smooth acceleration will make a huge difference in the cycle time without negatively impacting the safety of the palletizer.
Increased cycle time and safety assessment
So, what does the increased cycle time mean for the safety assessment? Probably nothing.
The safety assessment will likely be similar if safety settings are kept the same. The reasoning is that for safety, the main driver for increased force is the maximum speed, not the maximum acceleration. The matter is that Pally, with or without OptiMove, will never override the safety settings on the cobot. We just got better at taking advantage of the possibilities within those safety settings.
Disclaimer: This is a general statement and can not be used as an excuse for not making a proper safety assessment.
Video: OptiMove comparison
How to get it?
OptiMove is the default for Pally and MyRobot.cloud from Pally 3.4. While it can be disabled, we highly recommend taking advantage of it. We see several values of using the latest innovation from Universal Robots and Rocketfarm, as OptiMove offers key benefits:
- Solve those tricky customer projects where cycle time is on the limit
- Increase the longevity of the robots by smoothening movements and acceleration or by making the robot move at a slower maximum speed
Get it by downloading the latest version of our Pally URCap on our download page.
Availability for existing palletizers
Any customers on a Pally Active Plan have the right and option to update to the latest and greatest Pally software.
Please get in touch with pally@rocketfarm.no or your account manager if you would like to know more about how you can propose this upgrade to your customers.
Test Pally 3.4 with OptiMove now
The great thing is that you don’t need a physical cobot palletizer assembled in your workshop to test these improvements! Simply head over to MyRobot.cloud and test it out now. Use the latest software settings (PolyScope 5.21 and Pally 3.4) to experience OptiMove in action.
Here’s a screen recording showing how to compare an earlier project with OptiMove and get an idea of how your customers can benefit from this innovation.
Future-proof your palletizer with Pally and Rocketfarm
This latest Pally and Universal Robots upgrade is a perfect example of why you should work with established software for your cobot palletizer. It simply just future-proofs your solutions and helps you create added value for your customers.
Imagine what great customer meetings you can have if you offer a 10–35% performance upgrade (proven upfront with a digital twin) – all through a simple software upgrade. Or give your customers the option to increase the life of their robot by slowing it down to a minimum (again, backed with real data from a digital twin).
Are you ready to explore the many possibilities in cobot palletizing?
Let’s talk – get in touch today!
