Robotics “Manufacturing USA” Institute Selects Six New Industry-Relevant Projects

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Manufacturing USA Institute has announced the selection of six new projects from its fourth Technology Project Call held earlier this year. ARM will invest more than $2.5M across the six projects, with the total investment reaching $5.8m. The projects focus on areas that promote technology development, as well as integration of the technology for successful robotics adoption and expansion. Over 40 percent of ARM’s membership will be involved across the six projects and each project will have at least one industry partner to ensure outputs are suitable and compelling for industrial application.

The six projects awarded are:

• Automated Defect Inspection of Complex Metallic Parts (led by the University of Washington)
• Collaborative Composite Sheet Layups (led by United Technologies Research Center)
• Development of a Cost-Effective Robotic Sewing System (led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
• Handling and Direct 3D Draping of Limp Materials (led by GE Global Research)
• Open Source Teach Pendant Programming Environment (led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
• Robotic Sanding & Finishing Phase 2 (led by Lockheed Martin)

“We believe that the outputs from these projects will address critical areas of need in US manufacturing,” said ARM’s Chief Technology Officer Arnie Kravitz. “The projects focus on the development of robotic solutions that empower American workers while lowering the cost of manufacturing in the United States.”

ARM was founded in January 2017 as a public-private partnership with a mission to assert U.S. leadership in advanced robotics manufacturing and to empower American workers. The Institute has over 200 member organizations who will have an opportunity to convene for an annual member meeting in Pittsburgh on November 5-6. There, ARM members will have the chance to learn more about the six new technology projects and to strengthen partnerships already underway.