In the framework of the "European Robotics Week", 120 European compa- nies, universities, and research institutes will carry out about 330 events and campaigns around the topic robotics from November 28 to December 4, 2011. SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping sys- tems from Lauffen, Germany is one of the participants: In a three-day “Robot Competition“, two teams of the Secondary Modern School Güglingen will compete against each other in the training center of the innovative family- owned company.
According to Henrik A. Schunk, Managing Partner of the high-tech company in Lauffen, and Chairman of the Management Board of the European Robotic Asso- ciation EUnited Robotics, robots will become an integral part of our lives in some years. “Similar to the computer, where people had the impression some years ago, that it has no right to exist, robots will establish in everyday life as well,“ says Hen- rik Schunk. “Therefore robotics offer enormous potentials to job beginners and the society as a whole.“
Among experts all around the globe, the family-owned company in Lauffen, is con- sidered to be one of the most competent contact person in the field of service ro- botics. For the fifth time, SCHUNK will organize the annual Expert Days on Service Robotics, the world’s leading symposium on applied service robotics next year. In contrast to industrial robotics, where the robots are performing their tasks shielded from humans, service robotics is a direct human-robot interaction. Numerous com- panies and institutes world-wide have recognized the potentials of robotics as a helper of humans, and are working intensively on practical solutions. The spectrum comprises minesweepers over milking robots, automatic pool cleaning to the enter- tainment machine, and the nursing. While the leisure industry plays an important role in Asia, in the United States the armaments industry, agriculture, and the consumer industry have a strong interest in the multi-purpose helpers. In Europe how- ever, it is searched in the fields livestyle, logistics and laboratory automation. Ex- perts are convinced, that robotics will become a key element, when it comes to manage societal challenges ahead, the ageing society for example, creating and sustaining equal-opportunity high-quality employment, the defence of external and internal security threads, and the increasing competition for production locations.
With the participation at the „European Robotics Week“, SCHUNK especially wants to call the attention of pupils and job beginners for the gigantic future market. The pupil teams‘ challenge is the programming of a toy robot. This illustrates how great the possibilities of ”real“ robots are. After just two days of preparation, the pupils will be capable to lift, transport, and balance table tennis balls, or to move chess pieces with the help of small robots, and everything without any previous knowledge. The three-day “Robot Competition“ at SCHUNK is organized by the electronics apprentices. The actual competiton, where an audience is invited, will take place on Friday, December 2, 2011 between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the SCHUNK training center, im Brühl 72, Lauffen. At 3 p.m., the managment is going to honor the winning team.
Contact Persons:
Matthias Poguntke, MBA, Dipl.-Ing. (FH)
Business Unit Manager Product- and Portfolio Management Clamping Technology and Gripping Systems
Tel. +49-7133-103-2341
Fax +49-7133-103-942341
matthias.poguntke@de.schunk.com
Nicole Pluskota, Technische Diplom-Kauffrau Business Unit Manager
International Product and Market Communication
Tel. +49-7133-103-2351
Fax +49-7133-103-2688
The Robot Competition at SCHUNK is a part of the European Robotics Week from November 28 to December 4, 2011.
One week with 330 events on robotics all over Europe!
For further information please visit www.robotics-week.eu
Press release in pdf