How Do They Do That?

A robot picks up a partially completed bus frame in an assembly line and moves it to another conveyor for finishing. A smaller robot sorts through chocolates, selects the correct pieces of candy and arranges them in exact places in a box. Another robot sorts through a bin and picks specific parts for packaging while yet another motors along a factory floor, maneuvering past people and steel poles. In the computer industry, robots solder tiny wires to semiconductor chips.

Robots can work in heavy lifting capacities and handle materials that require delicate touches. Robots are reprogrammable machines that resemble the behaviors of people and animals.

It's fascinating to watch them in action and how they operate is not a mystery. Read the basics on how a robot operates and get ideas on how your company can find them useful.

The "Brain"

People have a brain that sends signals throughout our physical structure so we can carry out actions like sitting, standing, and lifting. We can walk around hazards like a stack of paint cans, open doors, and end up in a specific location.

A computer is the robot's command center and advanced software systems are programmed to tell the robot how to carry out industry specific tasks. A technical degree isn't needed to program the sophisticated systems found in many of today's industrial robots, especially those used in small to medium sized businesses. The necessary commands can be generated from applications running on a desktop computer.

In the packaging industry, advanced sensing and software allows robots to handle different product sizes. Robots insert bags and cartons into packages the same way a human would but with greater repeatability. Changes are made with ease on a Human Machine Interface (HMI).

A write up Packaging and Palletizing Robots Solve Industry Pain Points delves into the benefits of robotics and the ease of operation. The Vice President of Schneider Packaging Equipment Company, Pete Squires, says his company is an integrator that uses equipment fitted with Rockwell HMIs.

Manufacturer ABB uses a virtual robot programming environment that takes place on a personal computer. The design eliminates the requirement of writing software for robotic material handling applications. Accuracy is ensured because the program runs the same software in the PC as on the robot.

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Vision

Our complex eyes let us see where we're going. Vision systems guide robots since they lack perspective. In food packaging, vision systems can guide robots to pick off the right pieces of food that are constantly moving on a conveyor. Cameras snap the image of an item and send that data to a robot farther down the line.

In auto manufacturing, a three-dimensional vision system guides robots to seal seams in car bodies. A camera is integrated with the robot and looks out in two- or three- dimensional space to find an object. Once the vision system finds that object, the robot's path is adjusted.

This article Robots, Cameras, and Cables: Avoiding Catastrophic VGR Failures highlights the intricacies of vision guidance including cable management.

Movement

Lift a pen off a desk or use a hammer to pound a nail and your elbow will get a workout. Bend over to lift a box of copy paper and your torso, knees, elbows and wrists are put into action.

Robots swivel, lift, and can carry out jobs like spot welding that require frequent movements. Click here to read how a Yaskawa Motoman robot handles welding applications.

Robots are classified as a 2, 3, 4, or 6 axis robot. One axis is the base and allows the robot to swivel. The second axis acts like person's waist and allows the lower arm to extend backward and forward. The third, fourth, and fifth axis extend vertical reach, aid in positioning, and provide up and down tilt. The sixth axis functions like a person's wrist and allows for twisting motions.

Robot technology is in constant development and this basic overview shows that robots can be tailored for many uses in a variety of industries. Check back with A3 for industry updates in the months ahead.