What a month it was for collaborative robotics. Whether it was OnRobot’s new soft gripper or Universal Robots expanding its UR+ application kits, there was no shortage of collaborative robotics stories to cover in April 2020.

Here are the Top 5 most popular robotics stories on Collaborative Robotics Trends in April 2020. Subscribe to Collaborative Robotics Trends‘ newsletter to stay updated on the collaborative robotics stories you need to know about.

5. Locus Robotics ‘RAD’ service expedites AMR deployments

Locus Robotics unveiled its Rapid Assessment & Design Service last month. The program enables prospects and customers to evaluate the benefits and return on investment of deploying autonomous mobile robots. Locus claims it can deliver a detailed report and recommendations in just one week, speeding up evaluation and implementation times. Read Full Story

4. OnRobot Soft Gripper designed for picking challenges

The OnRobot Soft Gripper uses three interchangeable silicon-molded cups to pick up small objects under 2.2kg. The flexible end-of-arm tooling comes in star and four-fingered configurations. Unlike traditional vacuum grippers, the new end effector requires no external air supply, so it can reduce both cost and complexity. Read Full Story

3. How cobots save Coty Cosmetics $500,000 per year

Coty Cosmetics is a worldwide cosmetics company behind such well-known brands as Sally Hansen, Rimmel and CoverGirl. At the company’s factory in Maryland, eight Universal Robots on four mobile carts now automate the picking and packing of products at the powder presses. The mobile solution delivers $500,000 in annual savings while improving both quality inspection and the employee work environment. Read Full Story

2. CNC machine shop achieves higher productivity with cobots

True Precision Machining is a full-service machine shop in Buellton, Calif. that serves the engineering and machining needs of customers in the medical, aerospace and communications industries. After implementing a Productive Robotics OB7 cobot on its wire EDM machine, True Precision was able to double machine output and meet deadlines early. Read Full Story

1. ActiNav to democratize cobot bin picking

Autonomous bin picking is a common robotics application, but it typically requires integration and programming efforts customers can’t do themselves. Universal Robots is hoping to change that with its ActiNav autonomous bin-picking kit for machine-tending applications. ActiNav is the newest addition to the recently launched UR+ application kits, a series of “plug-and-produce” kits the company said will make it easier to deploy collaborative robots for common applications. Read Full Story