School of Engineering & Technology
Our most recent robot flow-line is comprise of four Staubli robots with a Bosch conveyor system and rotary index tables.
We've got robots...
Lake Superior State University is one of the top public universities in the United States with a robotics specialization at the undergraduate level. Companies involved in robotics and automation specifically seek out our graduates.
Our Robotics and Automation Laboratory was recognized by TAC of ABET as one of the most complete and advanced of it kind in the country. It is one of the best educational facilities in North America with modern equipment including vision systems, sensors and rotary index tables, using a variety of software and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Limited enrollment provides you plenty of personal experience with state-of-the-art equipment.
More than 75 percent of our engineering classes have a laboratory component, including robotics, using industrial grade equipment. Our Robotics and Automation Laboratory features robots manufactured by:
Students in Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering can work toward an option in Robotics and Automation. Those majoring in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology are eligible to earn a minor in Robotics Technology. The Industrial Technology program feature courses and technical electives focusing on robotics and programming.
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STAÜBLI |
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Our Staubli line is the most recent addition to the lab. Staübli robots are among the fastest and most articlated with 6 degrees of freedom.
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Devon Clark, a mechanical engineer from the 2009-10 senior project Team AIR, checks out the gripper of a Stabli line robot. |
The work cell features four robots with shared rotary index tables and a Bosch continuous palletizing conveyor system that operate as an 8-station system. The line includes tool changing systems, end-of-arm devices, and vision systems. They are operated by programmable logic controllers (PLCs) using DeviceNet and VAL3 software.
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FANUC |
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Our Fanucs are part of the Arcmate family of robots with six degrees of freedom. They are built by the world's largest robot manufacturer.
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Summer camp visitors watch a pick-and-place demonstration by the Fanuc oval line.
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The Fanuc work group has four Arcmates surrounded by an oval track. They work together as an 8-station system. Activities are coordinated between the robots with a continuous conveyor system. Karel software is used for programming this workcell.
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MOTOMAN |
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Motoman is one of the three largest robotics companies and one of America's fastest-growing.
 This unit was integrated into a demonstration workcell to showcase it's capabilities. The first of two demonstrations has the robot take two "photos" of a Rubik's cube and then proceed to solve the cube using a program prepared by a senior engineering project team. The second sequence has the robot change grippers with various tooling to be able to assemble an automotive distributor (see recessed area of the work table in photo at left).
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ADEPT |
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This vision-system adapted robot is made by the only U.S. robot manufacturer. It is one of the most widely used selective compliance articulate robot arm (SCARA) type robots.
There are several groupings of Adept robots in the Robotics & Automation laboratory. As noted above, a grouping is a component of the "L line." Recently, three Adept robots were integrated with a rotary conveyor table creating a circular workcell.
Watch the circular Adept workcell assemble a flashlight:
- Station 1: pick and place flashlight face and insert bulb assembly
- Station 2: place housing on face and screw in; place in batteries
- Station 3: place on flashlight backer, test for functionality and place unit into either the "good" or "bad" tray
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