FANUC Robotics Introduces iRVision(TM), an Intelligent, Easy-to-Use integrated Robot Vision Option


ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., July 18, 2006 -- FANUC Robotics America, Inc.
has introduced iRVision(TM), an easy to use, integrated robot vision option for the
new FANUC R-J3iC Controller. The iRVision System is the company's first builtin
vision package that is available on all R-J3iC Controllers, providing customers
a single source for robot guidance or process feedback.

The FANUC iRVision system is a ready-to-use robotic vision package, requiring
only a camera and cable - no additional processing hardware. It has a 2-D robot
guidance tool to accomplish part location, error proofing, and other operations
that normally require special sensors or custom fixtures.

"The new iRVision system raises the bar for the integration of machine vision to
robotics, providing a new level of robot intelligence with significant cost
reductions and quality benefits," said Edward Roney, FANUC Robotics' manager
of vision product development. "We've taken the complexity out of robot vision,
eliminating the need to combine a separate vision system with the robot
controller. Now, a customer simply plugs in a camera and cable to a dedicated
vision port on the robot's main CPU, and the system is ready to go to work."

FANUC Robotics first introduced robot guidance systems in 1984. Since that
time, the company has installed thousands of vision products worldwide in a
variety of applications including assembly, machine tending, palletizing, error
proofing, and packaging.

"In the early 80's, several robot companies supplied vision systems; however,
when most robot suppliers stopped offering vision as part of their product line, we
continued to view vision as an important complement to robotics. This unique
understanding of the use and benefits of machine vision with robotics has lead to
the development of advanced robot vision systems such as iRVision."

FANUC Robotics America, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures industrial
robots and robotic systems for a wide range of applications including arc and
spot welding, material handling (machine tending, picking, packing, palletizing),
material removal, assembly, paint finishing and dispensing. The company also
provides application-specific software, controls, vision products, and complete
support services. After 24 years of success, FANUC Robotics is the leading
robotics company in the Americas. A subsidiary of FANUC LTD in Japan, the
company has facilities in Chicago; Los Angeles; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati and
Toledo, Ohio; Toronto; Montreal; Aguascalientes, Mexico; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Over 155,000 FANUC robots are installed worldwide. Contact FANUC Robotics
at www.fanucrobotics.com or by calling 800-47-ROBOT.

Cathy Powell,
Sr. Marketing Analyst
FANUC Robotics
Phone: (248) 377-7570
cathy.powell@fanucrobotics.com

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