Aaron Wright of URI had the opportunity to speak to the students at the Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (GO CAPS) in Monett, MO on October 12th.

He discussed various robotic applications in industry, speaking primarily about material handling, machine tending, welding/cutting and dispensing. He stressed the importance of ancillary equipment such as vision guidance, PLC (controls), and tooling. He also taught the students how to perform cost justification and timely payback studies to satisfy ownership and shareholders. "Once you get past the 'gee-whiz' factor of robotics you can dial in on implementation, production expectations and cost justification of a robotic automation initiative."

For more information about the GO CAPS program, you can visit their website at gocapsmonett.com.