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Introduction to Robot
Industrial robots can nowadays be referred to as an important and reliable technology in factory automation. To be able to use the robot in an effective way as possible, a good knowledge about the characteristics and possibilities of the robot is needed.
Robots are used in a number of different tasks and processes. It is then important that the processes are well known so that process variables and breakdowns can be predicted. This demand is increasing in the future because of the steps towards smaller batches, flexible manufacturing systems and computer integrated manufacturing. With these factors in mind it is probably expected that there will be an increasing need of sensors and sensor systems in factory automation. Through this the possibilities towards integrated production with mixed production and shorter set-up times will increase. In this development the use of robots in factory automation will take an exceptional position due to its programmable and flexible mechanical structure.
Knowledge about robots and the possibilities of robot technology is therefore essential for the development of flexible and effective manufacturing systems.
History
The term "robot" was originally used to refer to an automated humanoid machine, although in the world of science and technology the word has had a much wider application. In industry the term is applied to automated systems ranging from the simple to the very complex. The word "robot" has its origin from the German word "robat". This word survived in the Polish and Czeckish languages as "robota" and means compulsory labour. It appears that the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov was the first to use the word "robotics" to describe robot technology. Joseph Engelberger, is entitled to be the father of robotics, together with George Deroe developed the first commercial robot, Unimate, in 1961. It was placed on Ford and was there used for a press-loading operation.
The first robots were principally intended to replacing humans in monotonous, heavy and hazardous processes. A distinctive feature of the use of the newly developed robots were in handling of materials and workpieces without direct control or participation in the manufacturing process. Robots did not become a major force in industry generally until they had been used extensively in the Japanese automobile industry.
Definition of an industrial robot
The term industrial robot or robot is sometimes used in a routine way by laymen and experts. They sometimes use this term for a machine that performs a specific task in an automated way. ISO, the International Standard Organization, have formulated the following definition with respect to robots and manipulators. "Manipulating industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multi-purpose, manipulative machine with several degrees of freedom, which
may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications."
"Manipulator is a machine, the mechanism of which usually consists of a series of segments jointed or sliding relative to one another, for the purpose of grasping and/or moving objects (pieces or tools) usually in several degrees of freedom ... "
"Degrees of freedom is one of the variables (maximum number of six) required to define the motion of a body in space."
The interpretation of the definition would then be that a robot should:
• be reprogrammable in an easy way, without having to change the machine physically.
• have a memory and logic to be able to work independently and automatically.
• have a physical structure in a fashion that allows the use for several tasks without major reconstruction.
A common feature in the definition of the term "industrial robot" is adaptability and versatility. Both terms referring to the robots flexibility, meaning short set-up time and a large area of use. Adaptability means adjustment to the task being carried out. Meaning that a robot should be able to carry out its process no matter what interferences might occur in the workplace. This demands sensor systems that would provide the robot controller with relevant information about the specified task.
Versatility means that the robot should have such a mechanical structure that it can carry out different tasks or perhaps the same task in different ways. This means that an installed robot should be able to be used when the production is changing, i.e. if the production is changing through the changes of the original product or the product is being exchanged.
By the way of contrast the Japan Industrial Robot Association. (JIRA) provides descriptions to six categories of robots:
1. MANUAL MANIPULATOR - a manipulator worked by an operator.
2. FIXED SEQUENCE ROBOT - a manipulator that repetitively performs successive steps of a given operation according to a predetermined sequence. condition. and position The set information cannot be changed easily.
3. VARIABLE SEQUENCE ROBOT - a manipulator similar to that in category 2 but whose set information can be changed easily
4. PLAYBACK ROBOT - a manipulator which can produce from memory. operations originally executed under human control
5. NC ROBOT -- an manipulator that can perform a given task according to the sequence. conditions. and positions commanded via numerical data. using punched tapes cards or digital switches
6. INTELLIGENT ROBOT - a manipulator incorporating sensory perception (visual and/or tactile) to detect changes in the work environment and. using decision-making capability. proceed accordingly
The differences in these definition are believed to be responsible for the larger number of robots reported to be in use in Japan. U.S. numbers are reduced significantly as a result of not including fixed sequence machines.
U.S. consider types 4, 5 and 6 as robots while Japan includes types 1 2 and 3 in their classification.
Industrial robots can nowadays be referred to as an important and reliable technology in factory automation. To be able to use the robot in an effective way as possible, a good knowledge about the characteristics and possibilities of the robot is needed.
Robots are used in a number of different tasks and processes. It is then important that the processes are well known so that process variables and breakdowns can be predicted. This demand is increasing in the future because of the steps towards smaller batches, flexible manufacturing systems and computer integrated manufacturing. With these factors in mind it is probably expected that there will be an increasing need of sensors and sensor systems in factory automation. Through this the possibilities towards integrated production with mixed production and shorter set-up times will increase. In this development the use of robots in factory automation will take an exceptional position due to its programmable and flexible mechanical structure.
Knowledge about robots and the possibilities of robot technology is therefore essential for the development of flexible and effective manufacturing systems.
History
The term "robot" was originally used to refer to an automated humanoid machine, although in the world of science and technology the word has had a much wider application. In industry the term is applied to automated systems ranging from the simple to the very complex. The word "robot" has its origin from the German word "robat". This word survived in the Polish and Czeckish languages as "robota" and means compulsory labour. It appears that the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov was the first to use the word "robotics" to describe robot technology. Joseph Engelberger, is entitled to be the father of robotics, together with George Deroe developed the first commercial robot, Unimate, in 1961. It was placed on Ford and was there used for a press-loading operation.
The first robots were principally intended to replacing humans in monotonous, heavy and hazardous processes. A distinctive feature of the use of the newly developed robots were in handling of materials and workpieces without direct control or participation in the manufacturing process. Robots did not become a major force in industry generally until they had been used extensively in the Japanese automobile industry.
Definition of an industrial robot
The term industrial robot or robot is sometimes used in a routine way by laymen and experts. They sometimes use this term for a machine that performs a specific task in an automated way. ISO, the International Standard Organization, have formulated the following definition with respect to robots and manipulators. "Manipulating industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multi-purpose, manipulative machine with several degrees of freedom, which
may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications."
"Manipulator is a machine, the mechanism of which usually consists of a series of segments jointed or sliding relative to one another, for the purpose of grasping and/or moving objects (pieces or tools) usually in several degrees of freedom ... "
"Degrees of freedom is one of the variables (maximum number of six) required to define the motion of a body in space."
The interpretation of the definition would then be that a robot should:
• be reprogrammable in an easy way, without having to change the machine physically.
• have a memory and logic to be able to work independently and automatically.
• have a physical structure in a fashion that allows the use for several tasks without major reconstruction.
A common feature in the definition of the term "industrial robot" is adaptability and versatility. Both terms referring to the robots flexibility, meaning short set-up time and a large area of use. Adaptability means adjustment to the task being carried out. Meaning that a robot should be able to carry out its process no matter what interferences might occur in the workplace. This demands sensor systems that would provide the robot controller with relevant information about the specified task.
Versatility means that the robot should have such a mechanical structure that it can carry out different tasks or perhaps the same task in different ways. This means that an installed robot should be able to be used when the production is changing, i.e. if the production is changing through the changes of the original product or the product is being exchanged.
By the way of contrast the Japan Industrial Robot Association. (JIRA) provides descriptions to six categories of robots:
1. MANUAL MANIPULATOR - a manipulator worked by an operator.
2. FIXED SEQUENCE ROBOT - a manipulator that repetitively performs successive steps of a given operation according to a predetermined sequence. condition. and position The set information cannot be changed easily.
3. VARIABLE SEQUENCE ROBOT - a manipulator similar to that in category 2 but whose set information can be changed easily
4. PLAYBACK ROBOT - a manipulator which can produce from memory. operations originally executed under human control
5. NC ROBOT -- an manipulator that can perform a given task according to the sequence. conditions. and positions commanded via numerical data. using punched tapes cards or digital switches
6. INTELLIGENT ROBOT - a manipulator incorporating sensory perception (visual and/or tactile) to detect changes in the work environment and. using decision-making capability. proceed accordingly
The differences in these definition are believed to be responsible for the larger number of robots reported to be in use in Japan. U.S. numbers are reduced significantly as a result of not including fixed sequence machines.
U.S. consider types 4, 5 and 6 as robots while Japan includes types 1 2 and 3 in their classification.
