BRAMPTON, ON, Dec. 15, 2015 /CNW/ – Sheridan’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT) has become the first facility in Canada to acquire ABB’s YuMi® robot. A special event to unveil and showcase YuMi’s capabilities was held yesterday at Sheridan’s Brampton Campus.
YuMi is the world’s first truly collaborative robot and is designed for small parts assembly, able to work side-by-side on the same tasks as humans while ensuring the safety of those around it. YuMi represents a major gain in advanced manufacturing, showcasing how the robot’s abilities can combine with human intelligence and adaptability to create a more effective manufacturing process. YuMi includes flexible hands, parts feeding systems, camera-based part location and state-of-the-art robot control.
“This acquisition expands the capabilities of our state-of-the-art ABB Robotics Centre, and will provide our students with hands-on experience that will greatly enhance the value and contributions they bring to their future employers,” said Dr. Farzad Rayegani, Director of CAMDT and Associate Dean of the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technology. “It is also an important asset in our ongoing work with SME’s on industry projects and applied research.”
The acquisition of YuMi is part of Sheridan’s ongoing educational collaboration with ABB. YuMi will be integrated into Sheridan’s Engineering curriculum as a game-changing new tool to teach students, industry and community SME partners about Human-Robot Interaction. Working closely with ABB, students will interact with YuMi as part of their research and capstone projects with industry partners.
The event was attended by a number of Sheridan’s industry partners and local dignitaries, including Brampton’s Mayor, Linda Jeffrey. After touring CAMDT and viewing the demo of YuMi, Mayor Jeffrey stated: “By working together, ABB and Sheridan have established a competitive edge for Sheridan graduates, which will help develop a new generation of thought leaders and innovators who can claim Canada’s place as leaders in the global market.”
“Robotic automation is the key to transform Canada’s manufacturing industry, a cornerstone of our economy,” explains Nathalie Pilon, CEO of ABB in Canada. “Technology innovation is in the DNA of ABB and we are proud to partner with Sheridan College to support the development of a new generation of talent entering the workforce, prepared to take on the next level of productivity in advanced manufacturing.”
“The addition of YuMi to our ABB Robotics Centre, together with our existing Product Innovation Centre, is a great example of our communities of expertise at work,” said Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, Sheridan’s President and CEO. “We are grateful that our industry partnerships are allowing us to bring together the ideas, experience and infrastructure needed to become a true technology hub and resource for the manufacturing sector in Peel and Halton regions.”
About ABB:
ABB in Canada (www.abb.com) employs 5,000 employees from coast to coast who are experts in their field of technology and contribute to ABB’s industry leadership in key energy and industrial sectors across the country. Our company has been serving our Canadian customers for nearly a century with reliable energy efficient solutions for utilities, industry, buildings, infrastructure and transportation.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people.
About Sheridan:
As one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions, Sheridan is home to over 20,000 full time students, who study in over 120 diploma, certificate, and bachelor degree programs at four campuses in the western GTA. The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT), located at the Brampton campus, is a 40,000 sq. ft. facility housing highly specialized manufacturing and design equipment. CAMDT allows Sheridan and its industry partners to collaborate on addressing challenges in the manufacturing sector, while developing graduates with the skills and practical knowledge to make an immediate and positive impact in the workplace.
