Kawasaki Robotics Unveils New Educational Robotics Platform

Located in Wixom, Michigan, Kawasaki Robotics (USA) Inc. is all set to debut Astorino, an education-focused robotics platform. This innovative and cost-effective solution is primarily targeted at the technical and industrial education providers. Mark your calendars as the grand premiere is scheduled for the 2024 IMTS Smartforce Student Summit in Chicago, taking place from September 9-14.

The breakthrough robotics platform, Astorino, not only replicates the capabilities of a modern industrial robot at just a fraction of the price but also facilitates educators to furnish students with core skills required in the ever-evolving manufacturing sector.

Astorino is named after the renowned open-source Arduino platform and development partner ASTOR. With Astorino, Kawasaki Robotics has successfully combined its technology prowess in various aspects such as hardware, firmware, control system, application software, and training. Astorino even offers STL files enabling students to quickly create 3D replacement parts for the robot.

Paul Marcovecchio, the Director – General Industries at Kawasaki Robotics (USA), expressed, “The launch of Astorino is aimed to push forward industrial robotics education. With this affordable and dynamic robotic platform, we can eliminate many barriers to entry that have kept educators from providing advanced robotics design tools to their students. Our accessible price point and ease of use will enable more educators to offer the valuable hands-on experiences that are critical to success in today’s manufacturing environments.”

Characterized by a 1kg payload and 6-axis functionality, Astorino has a structure and a programming environment that closely mimic a Kawasaki industrial robot. It weighs just 12 kg and can be powered by a 110V outlet, making it suitable for any classroom setting. Moreover, the platform incorporates a series of safety functions such as E-Stop and safety brakes, and a built-in control system.

What sets the Astorino platform apart is not just its low base price of $5,000 that allows a small student-to-equipment ratio but also the elimination of recurring costs like software licenses and replacement parts. Hence, it offers learning institutions a comprehensive view of robotic systems that’s both affordable and practical in terms of operational, maintenance and recurring costs.

Kawasaki Robotics is in the process of developing course materials specifically for Astorino, along with a Train-the-Trainer course. Marcovecchio added, “With Astorino and our extensive training resources, like-minded educators can take their teaching to a higher, more interactive level as they prepare the next generation of workers.”

The Astorino educational robotics platform will be showcased at the IMTS Smartforce Student Summit in the Kawasaki Robotics booth. Should you wish to learn more about this breakthrough platform, visit the Kawasaki Robotics website for more details.