Ease of operation, rapid deployment and networking: these are the requirements that are increasingly shaping mechanical engineering. KUKA is addressing these requirements at the Hannover Messe. The advanced Smart Factory combines mechatronic components and digital solutions.

As an innovation leader and driver of Industry 4.0, KUKA also has the right robots for the intelligent automation concept: with the KUKA LBR iisy, which is celebrating its world premiere at the Hannover Messe, KUKA is expanding its product portfolio to include a sensitive robot for working together with humans without any protective space.

Smart Factory enables networked production
KUKA customers manufacture products that reach the consumer ever faster and in an even more individualized way. They are demanding solutions that correspond to the following scenario: Easy-to-operate robot applications and cobots support humans in production and quality assurance. Autonomous, mobile robots supply the production robots with components and thus ensure their continuous capacity utilization. Modular software platforms for warehouse management control the effective use of the mobile helpers, which communicate with each other. KUKA is implementing precisely such scenarios at the trade fair stand:
The KUKA Connect software ensures the integration of all mechatronic components and the various, application-specific digital platforms. With KUKA Connect, it is also possible to access machine information and the production status at any time. Of course, a robot is produced in the Smart Factory, albeit only in model format, but with a special engraving. Automation specialist KUKA is celebrating its birthday this year: in its 120th anniversary year, visitors can request an individually engraved anniversary robot.

Everything easy with LBR iisy
KUKA was the first robot manufacturer to bring the sensitive lightweight robot into production halls. At Hannover Messe 2018, KUKA is presenting the prototype of the LBR iisy and expanding its portfolio in the field of human-robot collaboration (HRC) to include the low payload range. This makes KUKA the first manufacturer to cover the entire spectrum from cobots to mobile robotics, intuitive operability and industrial and heavy-duty robots. The LBR iisy can be quickly adapted to new requirements and is therefore suitable for many new applications. LBR iisy sounds as if it is easy to use. And that's exactly what it is: the LBR iisy is aimed at users who have process knowledge but not necessarily programming skills.

A robot for the living room
In the field of consumer robotics, KUKA is working on universal solutions. The company's own robotics and automation expertise is supplemented by know-how from partners and service providers. At the Hannover Messe, KUKA is presenting the "i-do" concept study, the first consumer robotics prototype in KUKA's history. The idea behind "i-do" is a mobile, modular system that end customers can put together individually. KUKA supplies the platform, the framework, and the customer decides which KUKA feature and partner feature they would like to purchase. Five possible variants will be presented at the Hannover Messe 2018.

Augmented reality and products for the IIoT market
KUKA subsidiary connyun is one of the first companies to introduce two standard products for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market. With the I4_Suite, connyun promises standard products under the aspects of "Integrated - Intelligence - Industrial - IoT" that production operators can use quickly and bring them clear advantages in terms of machine and station availability. Device Insight will be presenting possible applications of augmented reality using smart glasses and tablets for the first time. The new service connects technicians on site with remote specialists and combines plant data from the IoT platform with live recordings on site.