Katie, Lisa, and Hank

[Leathurkatt]

The yellow industrial robots we know and love from KR08, the sisters Katie and Lisa, and their brother Hank. I found info and pictures on them and decided to share.

All About Katie, Lisa, and Hank

KITT certainly steals the stage, but Knight Rider has a few other sentient machines in its cast. We have had some questions regarding the robots Katie, Lisa and Hank in our forum. We did a little searching and found some great articles all about them on the RobotWorx website.

[Leathurkatt]

All About Katie and Lisa

NBC's Knight Rider T.V. show takes an automated approach to mechanic work.

Two reconditioned RobotWorx robots act as intelligent grease monkeys in KITT's high-tech garage. Named Katie and Lisa by NBC, the robots scan KITT for damages, and even interact with the human actors around them.

Want to learn more about Katie and Lisa? Here's the scoop.

What Kind of Robots Are They?
The Knight Rider robots are Fanuc ArcMate 100i models. They are versatile, standard industrial robots with 6 axes (joints) of motion. They can lift up to 6kg, reach as far as1373mm, and install anywhere - floor, wall, upside-down, and at an angle.

Fanuc ArcMate 100i robots are known for their speed, accuracy, and compact build. Acting is definitely not a normal line of work for these robots. Instead, they perform a variety of jobs, including arc welding and material handling, often in factory settings. See them in action: ArcMate 100i robots welding.

Getting the Knight Rider Robots Ready:
RobotWorx' main specialty is reconditioning. The company takes used robots and fixes, cleans, and integrates them into robot systems. The Knight Rider robots received the same treatment. Before the robots shipped to a filming studio in California, a team of RobotWorx technicians made sure the robots were cleaned, reworked, tested, and repainted.

Out of Context: Industrial Robots on Film
One change had to be made before Katie and Lisa were deemed stage-ready. Each robot is powered by a controller - a large, rectangular cabinet that houses the brains of the robot.
"The controller needed to be dead silent," RobotWorx' shop manager Matt Schrift explained. "But the fans are there for a reason. They're part of the normal noise the controller makes."
The solution? A longer cable was provided so the controllers could be placed further away from the robots.

Final Step: Robot Training
Robot technician Robert Edens Jr. was responsible for training a representative from NBC's set crew at RobotWorx' Marion facility. Edens taught the NBC set technician about the robots' safety features and how to direct their movements. To simulate KITT, Edens used a box and cart.

[Leathurkatt]

All About Hank

A third RobotWorx robot took to the stage in the most recent episode of NBC's Knight Rider.

"Hank" is a robot with feelings. With this industrial robot character, the NBC TV show explores human-robot connections. Not only does he communicate with other human cast members, but he's rather sentimental about his past. Like Katie and Lisa, Hank is presented as another one of Dr. Als Graiman's artificial intelligence creations. In this episode, Hank malfunctions, throwing objects till the Dr. has to temporarily cut the robot's power.

The Technical Side of Hank
Hank is a reconditioned Fanuc ArcMate 100i robot identical in construction to both Katie and Lisa. This robot is a 6-axis model with a 6kg payload and 1373mm reach. However, this time the Knight Rider special effects team outfitted the robot with "eyes" and a customized gripper.

The end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT) was simulated in AutoCAD, then cut out with a CNC machine. An extra ram was built into the gripper, allowing Hank to propel objects much like a pinball machine. The pneumatics of the gripper mechanism are all handled by the industrial robot's controller.

NBC achieved a human-like quality when they created the robot's radio-controlled, moving eyes. "That's what really sold it - to have the eyes go up and down - which makes it look like he's tracking something," NBC's special effects technician said.

As with programming for any industrial application - welding, material handling, cutting - the movements of NBC's Hank, Lisa, and Katie are inputted using a handheld teach pendant. While some of the programming is handled in advance, with the help of a breakout panel, at other times the special effects technician has to move the robot "on the fly" with the pendant. This robot adlibbing can be very challenging.

NBC's special effects technician received his robot training in one day at RobotWorx' facility. "I picked it up really quickly, but there's still a lot I can learn," he said. RobotWorx offers free training to every customer. The robot integrator also provides technical support over the phone, another benefit NBC's tech appreciates. He normally talks to one of RobotWorx' project managers, Dustin McDowell: "Dustin's really smart - he actually knows what's wrong before I call."

Call RobotWorx to learn more about Hank, Lisa, and Katie, the Knight Rider robots - 740-383-8383.

[Leathurkatt]

Fanuc ArcMate 100i Robot

Fanuc ArcMate 100i Robot Specifications
* Axes: 6
* Payload: 6 kg
* H-Reach: 1368 mm
* Repeatability: ±0.1 mm
* Robot Mass: 290 kg
* Structure: Articulated
* Mounting: upright, inverted, wall, angle
* Software: All Fanuc robots sold by RobotWorx include legal software and manufacturer software support.

The Fanuc ArcMate 100i is an electric servo-driven robot designed for precise, high-speed welding and cutting. With its wrist size reduced for smaller openings, the ArcMate 100i will fill many needs on the manufacturing floor.

Designed with integral utilities including gas/air lines and a Lincoln Electric wire feed motor cable routed inside the robot arm. This offers improved reliability, reduced setup time and eliminated external cabling requirements.

TurboMove advanced servo control features allow quick and smooth point-to-point motion, which increases arc on-time and throughput.

Robot Motion Range
J1 ±165°
J2 +135°, -75°
J3 +150°, -149°
J4 ±190°
J5 ±140°
J6 ±320°

Applications
* Arc Welding
* Mig Welding
* Tig Welding

Robot Controllers
* RJ2
* RJ3

Robot Motion Speed
J1 120 °/s (2.09 rad/s)
J2 120 °/s (2.09 rad/s)
J3 120 °/s (2.09 rad/s)
J4 360 °/s (6.28 rad/s)
J5 360 °/s (6.28 rad/s)
J6 450 °/s (7.85 rad/s)

Robot Application Projects
* Reconditioned Workcell with Fanuc ArcMate 100i RJ2
* Pre-engineered RW1050 Workcell Welding Solution
* Reconditioned Robot Sent to Mexico for Educational Use

Fanuc ArcMate 100i Related Parts

Part Number Description Status
A05B-2301-C192 RJ3 TEACH PENDANT old P/N was A05B-2301-C372 In-Stock
A05B-2301-C300 RJ/RJ2 TEACH PENDANT In-Stock
A05B-2301-C302 TEACH PENDANT RJ, RJ2, RJ3 Series In-Stock
A05B-2301-C305 RJ/RJ2 TEACH PENDANT In-Stock
A05B-2301-C360 RJ3 RIA TEACH PENDANT In-Stock
A05B-2301-C370 RJ3 TEACH PENDANT P/N Changes A05B-2301-C190 In-Stock
A05B-2301-C371 RJ3 TEACH PENDANT RIA-Compliant - New P/N A05B-2301-C191 In-Stock
A05B-2402-B001 ArcMate 100i RJ3 Controller/Robot In-Stock
A20B-2000-0360 RJ-RJ3 PENDENT PCB In-Stock
A660-2004-T840 / L20M CABLE TEACH PENDANT RJ2 In-Stock
A290-7210-T501 WRIST ASSY. ARCMATE 100I/M6I Available
A660-2004-T840/L10M CABLE TEACH PENDANT RJ2-RJ

[Leathurkatt]

Robots Return Home

The season finale of NBC's Knight Rider aired last night, but the careers of industrial robot actors Katie, Lisa, and Hank are far from over.

In fact, they're ready for their next assignment, whether it be acting or manufacturing. Interested in purchasing one of the NBC stars? Contact RobotWorx for pricing information - 740-383-8383.

KR Robots Home Again:
The robot trio recently returned to RobotWorx' Marion, Ohio facility, after spending roughly eight months at the production studio in California. Following a cross country truck ride, the robots emerged in good condition - their acting names painted on their upper arms.

The transition back from stardom and the Knight Rider T.V set has been smooth. Katie is on display in the building's lobby while Lisa and Hank are set up in RobotWorx' Integration Bay. The NBC Special Effects team has been replaced by robot technicians and engineers. Instead of interacting with actors, Katie, Lisa, and Hank now interact with customers.

On Stage:
The "job" for NBC's Knight Rider was a rare opportunity for the three reconditioned Fanuc ArcMate 100i RJ3 robots. Cast as intelligent shop assistants for KITT's Cave, the robots were programmed to carry out specific moves. Katie and Lisa inspected KITT, handed tools to other characters, and participated in a water gun fight. Hank was given a more challenging role and EOAT to match.