Toyota Motor Corporation has partnered with READY Robotics and NVIDIA to revolutionize the programming of its aluminum hot forging production lines, aiming to enhance safety and efficiency through advanced technology.
At the forefront of this collaboration is READY Robotics, a leader in automation and robotics operating systems. Together with Toyota and NVIDIA, they are introducing a simulated-to-real (sim-to-real) robotic programming environment, reshaping industrial manufacturing approaches.
Traditionally, programming robotic systems for forging involved challenges related to handling hot metal parts, posing safety risks. The integration of READY ForgeOS and NVIDIA Isaac Sim aims to transform this by providing a robotics simulator on the NVIDIA Omniverse platform. This allows Toyota to program in a simulated environment, eliminating risks associated with hot parts.
Isaac Sim, developed on NVIDIA Omniverse, acts as a robotics simulator, enabling seamless programming in a simulated environment, mitigating risks associated with hot parts.
ForgeOS and Isaac Sim: A Powerful Duo for Industrial Automation
READY Robotics’ ForgeOS, recognized as the industrial OS for robots and automation, streamlines the programming process, making it more accessible for industrial robotic manipulators. The combination of ForgeOS with NVIDIA Isaac Sim provides Toyota with unparalleled visual and physics simulation, delivering realistic simulations of hot forging processes.
A significant advantage of this sim-to-real workflow is the ability to transfer programs seamlessly from the simulated environment to the live production work cell, eliminating the need for on-site programming and enhancing safety while reducing downtime.
ForgeOS integration also facilitates real-time relay of production data, creating a digital twin of the live cell for improved monitoring and oversight.
Dr. Kel Guerin, Chief Innovation Officer at READY Robotics, emphasized the contribution of NVIDIA and ForgeOS to the collaboration. “NVIDIA provides the tools needed to help our programs reflect real-world situations, and ForgeOS provides the connection from this simulation to the real cell and back,” he stated in an email press release.
The collaboration includes SCSK, a leading Japanese IT services company and NVIDIA Omniverse partner, to bring this solution to Toyota.
Kazuhiro Suzuki, Group Manager of Toyota Motor Corporation’s Raw Materials Development Division, highlighted the unique architecture of ForgeOS, stating, “The sim-to-real workflow we need for this production line bridges NVIDIA Isaac Sim’s simulation capabilities with the control of our physical system.”
The collaboration aims to redefine how robotic automation is programmed and deployed, emphasizing efficiency, usability, and safety. If Toyota teaches AI to drift GR Supra, the world’s first self-drifting car, this could set the stage for integrating artificial intelligence applications into manufacturing.
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“We are looking towards a future where machine learning and AI allow for advancements in our manufacturing processes, but everything starts with improving our current processes,” added Suzuki.
Deepu Talla, Vice President of Embedded and Edge Computing at NVIDIA, highlighted the potential of simulating industrial processes in high fidelity before real-world deployment. He stated, “The collaboration between Toyota and READY Robotics is a great example of the pioneering use of technology to unlock industrial digitalization possibilities in manufacturing.”
As Toyota enters this innovative era of robotic programming, the industry eagerly anticipates the outcomes of this collaboration, envisioning a safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced future for industrial manufacturing.
