Cloud-Based Rapid Robot-Motion Planning

Realtime Robotics has launched its cloud-based product, Resolver, for robot motion planning, engineered to dramatically accelerate the design, deployment and optimization of robotic workcells. Resolver, as demonstrated to MetalForming by Realtime co-founder George Konidaris at Autoform 2025, works by intelligently testing potential robot paths and sequencing solutions more rapidly than any human programmer or modern computer could, quickly generating optimal, collision-free motion paths and interlock signals within minutes, and leading to reduced workcell cycle times and increased throughput.

Traditionally a complex, time-consuming and brittle process, manual robot-path planning involves manually validating the mechanical design, planning robot paths, determining sequencing to hit optimal cycle-time targets and defining interlocks. This process can consume more than 100,000 hr. for a single project. Resolver automatically discovers the fastest target order,  accelerating workcell design from months to days while decreasing engineering effort by 50%, according to company officials.

Users need only to upload the workcell information, set conditions and let Resolver run. The longer it runs, the more options it provides, shortening cycle times until the desired outcome is reached. The details then can be imported easily, according Konidaris, back into the simulation software for validation and operation.

Resolver can be used to speed generation of accurate proposals; design of optimal tools and fixtures that support cycle-time goals; production of optimal robot programs; adjustment of as-built deviations during commissioning; and assessment and minimalization of the impact of product design changes in the manufacturing phase.

Resolver supports path planning with any number of robots, at any phase of the workflow, generating results in minutes. The solution requires minimal onboarding and currently allows users to work directly within Siemens Process Simulate. Support for other simulation platforms are expected later in 2025.

“Resolver has the computational power to generate better motion paths than human programmers in both simple and complex workcells,” says Realtime Robotics CEO Peter Howard. “This is because Resolver searches the possibilities open to robotic arms, while humans tend to stay within the possibilities of the human arm.”

Enhanced features within Resolver allow it to be used at any point in the project lifecycle, from proposal to workcell design. It can accelerate project timelines by generating collision-free motion paths and enabling more accurate cycle-time estimates, enabling users to outbid the competition during proposal. It also shortens the design phase by streamlining manual path planning into simple steps, automatically defining interlock signals and minimizing mechanical-design iterations. And, Resolver can help with fixture design, reachability validation, target sequencing and robot task allocation. It can also be used to design the paths and interlocks for an entire manufacturing line from the start, providing a comprehensive view of the entire operation. Optimization then can be achieved at an early stage.

See also: Realtime Robotics

Technologies: Pressroom Automation

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Start receiving newsletters.