PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Kinova is a 2021 finalist for the Innovation Prize awarded by the Association for the Development of Research and Innovation of Quebec (ADRIQ). Above, a robot developed by the company.
The “cobot”, the future at our doorstep
The use of robots is common in the industrial world, but they require several safety systems. Kinova’s industrial collaborative robot (cobot) is a turnkey solution to reduce the costs of adopting automation technologies for SMEs. “You could put a cobot in front of a robotic cell, for example. It is a robot that can accompany another robot. He can collaborate and interact with humans without the latter having to wear safety equipment. No need to know how to code either, the product is sold with an intuitive interface. This robotic solution was also designed for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and can allow data collection, ”says Marc-André Brault, marketing coordinator at Kinova.
Turn 4.0
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Hand assembly of fragile components at Kinova facilities
To achieve its growth plan, which calls for a six-fold increase in sales by 2024 and the hiring of 260 new employees, Kinova had to go digital.
We create technologies with a human vocation and we want to help humanity push its limits to achieve the extraordinary. We apply this philosophy within the company, removing tasks that have no added value and offering more rewarding jobs.
Marc-André Brault, Marketing Coordinator at Kinova
The company continues to assemble its products by hand due to the fragility of the components, but it has equipped itself with four innovative systems. The VLM (vertical lift module) is an automated system that collects the items the employee needs to assemble the product. “It’s a real-time inventory that allows us to know the number and location of all the components. In the event of a defect, we no longer need to look for who had the said part in their possession, ”explains Marc-André Brault. In addition to this system, MES production control software (manufacturing execution system) which takes care of quality control, an automated test cell for actuators and even an automated tightening cell.
A story of innovations
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
A Kinova robot that is tested before being delivered to the customer
Founded in 2006 by Charles Deguire and Louis-Joseph L’Écuyer, Kinova is not its first innovation. “Kinova’s initial mission was to offer a robotic assist arm to people with physical limitations. From there was born Jaco in homage to the uncle of Charles Deguire ”, says Marc-André Brault.
Since then, the company has diversified and operates in five business sectors. The Gen3 arm supports research projects and professional applications. The Gen3 lite arm is a tool for education. “Schools use it to show students, for example, how to program sequences. As for Gen2, it is used by more than 500 university and industrial researchers around the world, as much for research on the control of the brain as for cleaning bathrooms, dismantling explosive devices and automating the environment. ‘Agriculture. “It’s not science fiction, it’s real, we design, develop, manufacture, distribute, install and maintain robotic parts that can even be used for surgical platforms”, specifies Marc-André Brault .