Designer: Afshin Mehin, Levi Joo, Mark Choi, Nolan Nisbet, Card79, San Francisco, California, USA
Manufacturer: Rapid Robotics Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
The Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) is an intuitive robotic system that removes the barriers preventing small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers from leveraging Industrial robotics. The system is designed to be adaptable, using computer vision technology combined with a portable rolling base with reconfigurable tables to make it easy to move and set up for new robotics operations in a factory environment.
Spiraling local labor, machine operator shortages, expensive and inflexible equipment, and costly maintenance are some of the challenges preventing many small and medium-sized manufacturers in the U.S. from implementing industrial robots presently.
Rapid Robotics created the Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) as an all-in-one robotic automation solution that is affordable and accessible to all major manufacturing sectors. A robotics system can handle 80% of factory floor tasks (including pad printing, injection molding, heat staking, heat stamping, ultrasonic welding, pick and place, parts inspection, assembly, and many others). It also has a 60-second setup process leveraging a state-of-the-art computer vision platform and a pre-trained A.I. capable of learning new operations.
A robotics solution that can be adapted for any manufacturing setup by utilizing a portable rolling base that allows for endless table configurations. It is efficient and delivers results that can ramp up business and production.
The RMO was designed to minimize environmental impact. It is made with robust materials and construction, allowing it to be redeployed for new clients when a client no longer needs it. The versatility of training the RMO to perform numerous jobs also reduces the need to own multiple robots, decreasing material waste. It was also designed to be visually bold, grabbing people's attention from across a factory floor, providing Rapid Robotics with free advertising.
The designers created an affordable and intelligent robotic worker to help manufacturers grow by making robotic automation easy and affordable, thus enabling Rapid Robotics to further deliver on its promise to end customers.
The Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) exemplifies the core principles of good design through its user-centric approach, innovation, safety, efficiency, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
