Robotics Design

Robotics Design Inc. is a company that builds and designs modular robots, founded and incorporated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1997. The company produces mobile robots, robotic manipulators and manual arms as well as custom solutions using modular robotic technology. The company developed the BIXI bike dock, a public bike system and the ADC (Automatic Deployable Container), a deployable structure container for quick deployment of housing, hospitals and other buildings.
History
Robotics Design was founded in 1997 by Charles Khairallah M.ing after his invention of ANAT Technology. In 2000, Robotics Design Inc. released the first AMI-100 which was sold to the ETS university for research purposes. In 2003 Robotics Design Inc. became a member of the Canadian Intelligent Systems Companies, published in the following directory by PRECARN By 2004 the ANATROLLER line of mobile robots was introduced to the market with the arrival of the ARI-100 and, by 2006, the ARE-100 and ARI-50 joined the roster. Several new patents were introduced by Charles Khairallah in 2008 with the release of BIXI which was named 19th best invention of 2008 by Time magazine, and winner of the 2009 Gold Edison award for Energy and sustainability.
Technology
Invented by Charles Khairallah in 1995, ANAT technology allows the creation of self-reconfiguring modular robots using U and H shaped modules, which are far more durable then previous L shaped modules. This innovative technology allows any robot to be formed from connected identical modules, reducing the cost of manufacturing these products and increasing their work efficiency. It had led to the creation of several families of modular robots, and continues to generate new advancements in robotics which have been used primarily for industrial purposes. ANAT technology was recognized as a nominee for the 2010 Manning Innovation Awards.
Mobile Robots
The ANATROLLER series of robots are a family of mobile robots based on modular ANAT technology. The line was born with the release of the ANATROLLER ARI-100 in 2003 to the North American market, which it continues to serve to this day. In 2010 the Kel'air duct cleaning company, a French company based in Bordeaux, acquired their first ANATROLLER robot, marking the beginning of ANATROLLER's service to the growing European market.
* ANATROLLER ARI-100 is an industrial robot, currently being used primarily for duct cleaning. Weighing only 8 kg, it can climb obstacles of 5 inches, slopes of 45 , tow 45 kg and carry 50 kg. It is very diverse, and can support a number of accessories allowing it to be used for welding, nuclear reactor maintenance, and materials handling. These accessories can be attached to its articulated arm which can bend in four directions. It also features a completely symmetrical design which allows it to flip itself over at will.
* ANATROLLER ARI-50 is a smaller sized industrial duct cleaning robot, the ARI-50 can fit into 6x6 inch spaces, climb obstacles and slopes, and carry loads. This robot’s arm is stationary, although accessories can still be attached. Its modular design is made from half of the ARI-100, and can be connected to other ARI-50 robots like LEGO blocks to form new robots.
* ANATROLLER ARE-100 is a wireless industrial robot whose base is constructed from a monoblock module. It can climb obstacles, slopes of 45 and tow 40 kg, while weighing only 8 kg. A basic modular mobile robot with an open architecture, the ARE-100 is used primarily for research purposes. With the ARE-100 researchers can develop specialized intelligent robotic projects for security applications such as human-machine interaction, mobile system navigation, robot behavior, image processing, object recognition, voice recognition, tele-operation, remote sensing, and autonomous navigation/patrol map building and localization.
Robot Manipulators
The AMI-100 is an industrial manipulator composed of prismatic axes mounted on a fixed base, and a series of identical modules linked in an articulated scara configuration, which forms an arm. It can be used for assembly, objects handling, maintenance, repair and other applications where a stationary arm with attached tools are used. It is completely programmable and reconfigurable, so for a shift in goods production at an assembly line, this robot could completely re-configure itself into a new architecture to produce the new good. Basic models weigh 50 kg and carry 100 kg, while larger models using hydraulic actuators can be designed to carry several tones. It can also be design with dual or quadra-arm configurations.
A portable tele-operated version of the AMI-100, the AEI-100 is an industrial manipulator, used primarily for materials handling at a distance. It is based on a modular hyper-redundant design and even basic models can carry high payloads.
Manual Arms
The ANATERGOARM AEA-15, winner of the gold medal at the 31st international Geneva Exhibition and a finalist in IDM, is a manual arm designed by Robotics Design Inc. and Michel Dallaire Design Industrielle. It mimics the bio-mechanical movement of the human body, and allows workers performing repetitive tasks (primarily in smaller work-envelopes) to simplify their work, especially when using heavy tools. Is also features an automatic safety brake system, allowing the arm to remain stationary at will.
A portable ANATERGOARM model, the ANATERGOARM TMA-500 (Turbine Maintenance Arm) is a specialized arm for maintenance and manipulation in hydro-electric turbines. The first TMA-500 arm was deployed in 2010 at Hydro Quebec's Robert-Bourassa generating station for breaker box repairs. Is also features an automatic safety brake system, allowing the arm to remain stationary at will. This snake arm can carry pay-loads of 500 kg, and transports them along a circular aluminum rail attached to the turbine's rotor. The ANATERGOARM TMA-500s modularity also allows it to manoeuvre around obstacles while carrying its payload through limited work-spaces, and carry it out of the turbine without risk of damage to the station or its employees. The arm is composed of an innovative 85% aluminum 15% steel construct. After use, the arm is quickly and easily removed and placed in its portable cases, before moving to re-deploy in a new section or plant.
Special Projects
Named 19th best invention of the year 2009 by Time magazine, the innovation behind BIXI was based on Robotics Design Inc.’s modular docking station. It is solar powered and can be removed and replaced quickly, allowing entire stations to be set up in minutes. BIXI currently functions as the Montreal public bike system, and over 3000 stations have been deployed.
ADC (Automated Deployable Container) is an innovative invention that allows easy transportation and deployment of habitable units. ADC helps humanitarian aid workers to easily install housing, hospitals, and schools, making it possible to construct a temporary city in less than one week. At the push of a button, the container is deployed automatically, and can change shape from a standard container compartment to a three compartment unit including kitchens and sanitary rooms, and is equipped with heating and air conditioning systems.

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