| The 19th century British novelist, James Payne said: | | | | customer-specific solutions that suffer from several |
| "A man with an invention on which he has spent his | | | | limitations. |
| life, but has no means to get it developed for the | | | | Robots can lose accuracy because of the distortion |
| good of humanity, or even patented for himself, | | | | and expansion of their joints due to temperature and |
| must feel the pinch of poverty very acutely." His | | | | stiffness related effects. Absolute Robotics has set |
| words still ring true today. | | | | out to address these problems by developing a |
| For a manufacturing or engineering business in today's | | | | method that measures those changes in-line, in real |
| economy, protecting and commercialising designs and | | | | time and with great accuracy. At the core of the |
| inventions is just as important as having a good idea | | | | system is a new measurement device that uses laser |
| in the first place. It does not depend on whether the | | | | beams and imaging sensors to locate the position and |
| economy is doing well or badly, but in a downturn | | | | orientation of two systems of axes relative to one |
| when business is hard to come by, the last thing you | | | | another. |
| want is someone stealing your branding, ideas and | | | | This concept can be used to calibrate robots in line |
| the future revenues that go with them. | | | | under their actual working conditions, over their entire |
| This principle is now starting to be understood more | | | | working envelope and without interference with the |
| widely than it has been. IP registration is growing | | | | robot's tools or its productivity cycle. It is also a |
| massively, the number of patents is doubling each | | | | general solution because it is not robot or application |
| decade. Manufacturing is moving to emerging | | | | specific. Any robot can be calibrated in absolute |
| economies where IP is key to value generation and | | | | space without modification and robots can be |
| economic growth, and developing countries are now | | | | networked to each other and also to their work |
| recognising the importance of IP. Eighty percent of | | | | objects in absolute space too. Moreover, the concept |
| company value is now said to be held in intangible | | | | allows in-line manufacturing to be integrated with |
| assets. | | | | in-line quality assurance to achieve zero scrap |
| Intellectual property and intellectual capital are often | | | | condition. Each robot becomes in essence a |
| misunderstood. All too often organisations file a | | | | manufacturing as well as a quality assurance tool, |
| patent application and think that that is all they need | | | | checking the quality of its own performance in-line, to |
| to do. When intellectual property is mentioned, people | | | | ensure no mistakes are made. |
| usually think of filing patents, and registering | | | | Absolute Robotics realised that it was necessary to |
| trademarks and designs. But it is not just about | | | | ensure that the intellectual property of such an |
| patents and other formal IP such as trademarks, | | | | invention would be fully protected right from the |
| designs and copyright. A company's value is contained | | | | beginning. The company contacted Coller IP |
| in its wider intellectual capital, where know-how, | | | | Management (CIPM), a company that helps |
| branding, skills, policies and processes all have a role | | | | organisations understand the value of their intellectual |
| to play. | | | | property and to protect and manage it effectively. |
| The value of IP protection | | | | CIPM has prepared and applied for the required |
| The need to protect IP applies to both new and | | | | patent applications on behalf of Absolute Robotics. It |
| well-established companies. Absolute Robotics is an | | | | has also helped the company to evaluate the search |
| example of an organisation that has recently seen | | | | reports on the inventions to enable the distinctive |
| the value of IP protection. It was set up three years | | | | and innovative features to be identified. |
| ago in Bedfordshire to develop a concept that | | | | Absolute Robotics is currently presenting the concept |
| upgrades standard industrial robots to make them | | | | to interested parties and it is being evaluated by a |
| suitable for advanced manufacturing and aerospace | | | | number of organisations. The next step for the |
| applications. | | | | company is to form a partnership with appropriate |
| Standard industrial robots are widely used in the | | | | relevant businesses and create a working prototype. |
| manufacturing industry, automotive in particular. | | | | IP protection plan |
| However, according to Absolute Robotics, the | | | | In summary, whatever the size of your company |
| aircraft industry, among other types of business, has | | | | and whatever stage it is at, it is vital to understand |
| found it difficult to use robots in the construction | | | | the value of your intellectual capital and have a plan |
| process or for advanced manufacturing because of | | | | to protect it. Companies, and individuals, pour their |
| their lack of capability for absolute accuracy, | | | | flair, imagination, money and time into new inventions. |
| networking, large volume in-line manufacturing and | | | | It is well worth putting a little time, money and effort |
| inspection. Previous attempts to overcome these | | | | into ensuring that they, rather than a competitor, |
| problems have usually resulted in expensive, | | | | reap the rewards. |