{"72627":{"#nid":"72627","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Advances Manufacturing Robotics Research Through $1 Million Equipment Gift","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech College of Computing\u2019s Robotics and Intelligent Machines (RIM) Center will use a gift of nearly $1 million of robotics equipment from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC) to create a Manufacturing Robotics Logistics Laboratory on the Georgia Tech campus. The new laboratory will allow RIM faculty and students\u2014who come from across Georgia Tech, including the Georgia Tech Research Institute\u2014to study the use of robotics in supply chain and fleet management.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAutomation has made possible a vast number of efficiencies in modern commercial logistics and manufacturing,\u201d said Henrik Christensen, RIM director and KUKA Professor of Robotics. \u201cUsing supply chains as an example, if we can use robots to optimize the entire process from start to finish, we can make improvements on a whole range of measures, such as end costs to consumers and environmental impact from transportation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new 3,400-square-foot logistics lab initially will be outfitted with $944,000 in hardware from a CCBCC prototype bottling plant. Built by KUKA, a world leader in manufacturing robotics and system integration, the equipment includes robots, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), conveyor technology, safety components and other system technology. KUKA has provided the resources and manpower for delivery and set-up of the robots.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso providing resources to move the automation equipment to Georgia Tech and start up the AGVs is Efacec USA, a leading supplier of automated material handling and storage systems located in the greater Atlanta area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are happy to partner with KUKA to bring Georgia Tech students the opportunity for hands-on learning with sophisticated robotics equipment,\u201d said Lauren Steele, vice president of Corporate Affairs at CCBCC. \u201cUsing this technology, these students will be able to develop commercial applications in manufacturing that will strengthen our economy and create American jobs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, Christensen said Georgia Tech will use the laboratory for three purposes: creating optimization algorithms for logistics; testing sensing equipment such as automated cameras and laser sensors; and supporting the annual \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.vma-competition.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EVirtual Manufacturing and Automation Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E, organized in conjunction with the National Institute for Standards and Technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the specific uses Christensen envisions, he said the new lab will open up new possibilities for robotics students and faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs Georgia Tech continues to advance its robotics research in industrial systems, this major gift will give our students unparalleled access to a professional, industry-quality facility,\u201d Christensen said. \u201cNo other university has a similar facility.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201dKUKA is very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Georgia Tech in the field of manufacturing and logistics,\u201d said Dr. Christian Wurll, technical director for Logistics of KUKA Systems North America. \u201cThe lab will be used to intensify the research and development in mixed-case palletizing, mobile robotics and new manufacturing processes. In addition KUKA is glad to set up and support a state-of-the-art lab environment that will inspire the young generation and will get them in touch with real-world applications and equipment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile Efacec has already been involved with Georgia Tech for the past few years in helping to develop engineering curriculum for the power transmission industry, we are pleased to continue our relationship in being a part of the creation of this new Manufacturing Robotics Logistics Laboratory,\u201d said Jorge Guerra, executive director for Business \u0026amp; Operations of Efacec USA.\u0026nbsp; \u201cThis new lab will give engineering students access to high-tech equipment with which they can increase their exposure to robotics and logistics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EManufacturing\u2014along with health care and service robotics\u2014is one of the three main robotics areas to which the United States should devote the bulk of its research focus and support in the future, according to a 2009 report by the Computing Research Association.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E###\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Georgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech College of Computing is a national leader in the creation of real-world computing breakthroughs that drive social and scientific progress. With its graduate program ranked 10th nationally by U.S. News and World Report, the College\u2019s unconventional approach to education is defining the new face of computing by expanding the horizons of traditional computer science students through interdisciplinary collaboration and a focus on human centered solutions. For more information about the Georgia Tech College of Computing, its academic divisions and research centers, please visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_self\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated provides large gift of KUKA industrial robots to create manufacturing logistics laboratory"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Computing\u0027s Robotics and Intelligent Machines Center will use a gift of nearly $1 million of robotics from Coca-Cola Bottle Co. Consolidated to create at Manufacturing Robotics Logistics Laboratory on the Georgia Tech campus.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College of Computing\u2019s RIM Center to create a Manufacturing Robotics Logistics Laboratory."}],"uid":"27560","created_gmt":"2011-11-10 15:42:27","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:10:38","author":"Jason Maderer","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2011-11-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2011-11-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"64219":{"id":"64219","type":"image","title":"Henrik Christensen - KUKA - Coke","body":null,"created":"1449176735","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:05:35","changed":"1475894564","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:42:44","alt":"Henrik Christensen - KUKA - Coke","file":{"fid":"191968","name":"070213BR007.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/070213BR007_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/070213BR007_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3877000,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/070213BR007_0.jpg?itok=76RtugNK"}}},"media_ids":["64219"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2741","name":"coca-cola"},{"id":"11890","name":"henrik christensen"},{"id":"2836","name":"kuka"},{"id":"15022","name":"manufacturing robotics"},{"id":"667","name":"robotics"},{"id":"12919","name":"robotics \u0026 intelligent machines"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrendan Streich\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector of Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Computing at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bstreich@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebstreich@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["bstreich@cc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}