Originally spun-out in 2020 from research in computational intelligence and robotics, BOW was set up to lower the barriers to entry and scale the deployment of robotics by addressing the issue of restricted programming languages that tend to vary from robot to robot. This is a major issue for the industry as it limits the pool of potential programmers; ensures a lack of interoperability between different makes and classes of robots and makes simulating applications across multiple different robots extremely challenging.
The BOW platform has been designed from first principles to be code-agnostic, allowing software developers and roboticists alike to program robots in their preferred language and OS - including C# and NET, JavaScript, C++, Python and running on Windows, Linux or Mac.
Programmers can simulate their solution in real-time using BOW’s simulator SDK, producing reusable control algorithms that can be easily applied to any number of different robots – so addressing the problems of interoperability and scalability.
At this year’s Hannover Messe BOW is the official software partner for Sarcomere Dynamics and inMotion robotic - together with its partner Deep Robotics - two leading robotics companies that have been demonstrating BOW-enabled applications on their stands.
inMotion robotic and its partner Deep Robotics have developed bionic quadruped robots that are intended for use in challenging environments including inspections in power stations, factories, pipeline corridors and emergency search and rescue environments.
These robots are delivered to end-customers with the BOW SDK as standard, enabling easy programming and simulation, interoperability with other robots and scalable deployment.
inMotion robotic is demonstrating two models of the bionic quadruped robots, both programmed and controlled using the BOW platform.
Sarcomere Dynamics is a Canadian deep tech company dedicated to bringing near-human capabilities to general-purpose automation and is using robots to address labour shortages in dull, dirty or dangerous jobs.
The company provides system integrators and manufacturers with alternative end effectors that are compact, lightweight, more affordable, and demonstrate better dexterity. All Sarcomere products are designed for easy integration into existing automation systems.
At Hannover Messe, Sarcomere has been displaying the ARTUS Lite, a robotic hand that replicates human capability in manipulating objects and tools. The bimanual system and the ARTUS Lite have been programmed using the BOW platform to enable teleoperations; the system has been successfully tested in real time, over a distance of 7500 km between operator and robotics.
The Sarcomere system is undergoing trials for diverse applications, ranging from bomb disposal to industrial hazardous material handling.
Commenting Kai Leuze, CEO of inMotion robotic said, “BOW is an integral software partner - their SDK and platform enables our customers to deploy our robots across a variety of applications, including construction, inspection, rescue operations and industrial. Working with BOW has opened up new application opportunities and makes deployment simple and scalable for end-customers.”
“Sarcomere’s mission is to provide versatile robotic systems that significantly enhance productivity and efficiency across industries,” said Harpal Mandaher, CEO and co-founder of Sarcomere Dynamics. He continued, “We selected BOW as our software partner because their platform allows for rapid AI, machine learning and kinematic programming. This is a key capability that allows complex, teleoperations systems, with our ARTUS Lite high dexterity hands, to unlocking use-cases from bomb disposal to hazardous material handling in the nuclear industry.”
“The industrial robotics industry is forecast to more than double within the next six years from $40.6 billion in 2024 to $90.3 billion in 2030. But for robotics to achieve its full potential, the current complexity of programming and deployment must be solved,” said Nick Thompson, CEO of BOW. “BOW is a universal robotics software platform that allows anyone with software development skills to quickly and easily programme robots in their language and OS of choice, simulate and deploy interoperable robots - as demonstrated at Hannover Messe by our partners, inMotion and Sarcomere Dynamics.”
