Standard robotic work cells consist of several components including one or more robots that perform various processes on parts being manufactured, tooling to secure and hold the manufactured part, and material handling equipment to index the parts to the next operation.  A cycle for a simple operation includes an operator loading parts in a fixture (tooling) that is then presented to a robot where it is welded or some other operation is performed. The part is then passed to another robot or placed in a storage bin or rack.  Productivity is dependent on how often the robot is actively working on a part and not in an idle state waiting on some other function to occur.   85% utilization is considered very good for most cells.

TRA’s revolutionary new robotic work cell, called the SuperCell™, allows for greater productivity because the robot or group of robots are working 95+% of the time.  What allows this considerable gain in productivity is a complete role reversal between the robot and the material handling system.  TRA’s system is not dependent on the part being presented to the robot for an operation, but rather, the robot holds the part and presents it to another machine for processing. This requires that the robot engage tooling that holds the part, which can be passed to another robot or storage location allowing the robot to engage another tool (and part) and keep working more efficiently with less idle time.  Another very important part of this system is that the tooling has on-board intelligence and communication capability.  This allows the production control system to know exactly where every part is in the manufacturing cycle.  The control system can then optimize the scheduling of the entire manufacturing process within the various work cells in the plant.  While TRA has built tooling with on-board intelligence before, the ability to fully use the tooling while stationary at a docking station, or attached to a robot, or even while connected to both is a revolutionary innovation in industrial controls.  Maintaining the communication and power link when the tooling is engaged and disengaged from the robot is the breakthrough technology that allows the SuperCell™ to work and be so efficient.