FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miller Teams Up with ICS to Develop Revolutionary Collaborative Robot (“Cobot”) Copilot^TM Welding Automation System 

ICS’ UX design team created an interface offering extraordinary ease-of-use and flexibility, enabling small shops and less experienced welders to run jobs within minutes with minimal training 

WALTHAM, MA – September 8, 2025 – ICS, at the forefront of embedded software development for regulated and complex industries, today announced that it was selected by Miller Electric Mfg. LLC to help create its new Copilot™ Welding Automation System. This collaborative robot (“cobot”) welding system is designed to simplify automation for small shops and welders new to robotic technology. It works alongside human workers, automating repetitive tasks while allowing welders to focus on more complex work. 

Miller will be showcasing the Copilot™ Welding Automation System at FABTECH this week, visit Booth B20027 to see a demo.

"One of the things we're most proud of with the Copilot system is how incredibly easy it is to use,” commented David Savage, Automation Engineering Manager at Miller. “We've had welders with no robot experience pick it up and run a job within minutes — no lengthy training required. The feedback from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive. They love how it simplifies complex welding tasks and makes automation accessible, even for smaller shops."

Recognizing an underserved market, Miller approached ICS with an ambitious vision to democratize robotic welding for small shops. The welding industry faces a growing shortage of skilled professionals, and while AI and robotics offer a promising solution, most systems remain overly complex, unintuitive and tailored for large-scale manufacturing environments.

Miller turned to ICS’ UX design specialists to re-imagine the typical cobot control touchscreen interface, a critical user experience challenge. The team immersed itself in welding workflows to understand how welders interact with their tools and environment, and restructured common welding tasks into streamlined, wizard-like dialogs that gently guide users through each step without locking them into rigid paths. Advanced options are one tap away, preserving expert-level control for welders with years of experience. Leveraging UX best practices they translated those insights into an interface that balances ease-of-use with flexibility – one so intuitive, even the most junior-level welder can learn to use the cobot almost immediately. 

"Working with the Miller team was incredibly rewarding. They brought deep domain expertise and a clear vision, but what really made the collaboration fruitful was their openness to new ideas,” said Dorothy Shamonsky, PhD, ICS Director of UX Strategy. “They trusted ICS to push the boundaries on UX and development, which gave us the freedom to innovate. That level of mutual respect and flexibility is what turned a promising prototype into a truly market-leading product."

The Miller® Copilot^TM Welding Automation System is now a market leader in its niche. This category-defining system includes two distinct products: Miller Copilot^TM – a fixed, tabletop system ideal for repetitive small-part welding, and Copilot^TM Builder^TM – a flexible version mounted to a movable cart or wall, perfect for field or on-site applications. Both products have been purpose-built to simplify automation, boost productivity, and maintain a high degree of weld quality  without the steep learning curve characteristic of other robotic systems.

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About ICS

ICS' product development services combine custom user interface (UI) software, intuitive user experience (UX) design, world-class platform engineering and regulatory expertise to help companies create high-impact embedded and IoT devices. ICS’ portfolio encompasses everything from high-performance medical devices, in vitro diagnostic instruments and scientific software, to embedded air traffic control systems, smart agri-business equipment, commercial kitchen equipment and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems for Tier-1 automakers. We also leverage artificial intelligence throughout our workflow to drive efficiency and innovation, and offer comprehensive AI consulting services to help our customers harness the transformative potential of AI in their own products and operations.

About Miller

Wisconsin-based Miller Electric Mfg. LLC is a leading manufacturer of welding equipment. Its Copilot^TM Automated Welding System stands out for its ease of use, advanced automation features, and robust design tailored for shops new to robotic welding. Its intuitive controls, process support, and seamless integration with Miller’s ecosystem make it a compelling choice for businesses seeking to boost productivity and weld quality without the complexity or steep learning curve of traditional robotic systems.

Media Contact:
Heidi Boie
hboie@ics.com
508-846-5307