Robotics

Robots and Robotics The word robot was first used by Karel Capek in his 1921 play “Rossum’s Universal Robots”. The word described perfect tireless workers. It was ironic and described the dehumanisation of society Robotics is the science or technology of robots, their design, manufacture, application, and use

Industrial Robots Are reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move materials, tools, or specialized devices, through variable programmed motions for the performance of a range of tasks

Use of Robots in Industry Today most robots used are found in factories and they are referred to as industrial robots. Ten years ago, 9 out of 10 robots were being bought by auto companies - now, less than 50% of robots are bought by car manufacturers. Robots are used in warehouses, laboratories, research, energy plants, hospitals, space exploration etc… Robots are a way business owners can be more competitive http://www.jcdrobotics.com/apps/application.htm

Why robots and what can they do? Robots never get sick or need to rest and can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Useful when the task is dangerous for a person. Robots don't get bored, so repetitive and unrewarding work is no problem for a robot. Spray Coating Assembling Operations Material Removal (including bomb removal) Cutting Operations Part inspection, sorting, cleaning, polishing http://www.jcdrobotics.com/apps/application.htm

Types of Robots Rectangular/Cartesian Cylindrical SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) Polar/Spherical Jointed-arm or Revolute

General Components of an Industrial Robot Manipulator (end effectors) The part of the robot that performs the task Controller Brain or computer center which coordinates the robot’s movements Power supply Vehicle Used to move the robot on a track, free wheels, treads, or some type of legs/feet

Robotic Power Sources Hydraulic Pneumatic Electric Vacuum Often a combination; the end-effectors mostly pneumatic

Industrial Applications of Robots Spray Painting Parts Transferring Small Parts Assembling Electronic Assembling Arc Welding Inspecting Automated Warehouse

SAFETY S A F E T Y

SAFETY S A F E T Y

PENDANT

Business Use of Robots Outer Space Under the Ocean Medicine Promotion Sports

Robots (1) Cartesian robot Arm moves in 3 linear axes. X,y,z axes z x http://www.strobotics.com/

Robots (2) Cylindrical coordinates robot Arm rotates about the base, moves in and out, and up and down

Robots (3) SCARA Robot Rotates in 2 axes in the horizontal plane and moves linearly up and down

Robots (4) Joined-arm or revolute-coordinates robot 3 axes rotational

Multisensory Articulated Manipulator

Pros and Cons of 5 Robot Types Configuration Advantages Disadvantages Cartesian coordinates 3 linear axes, easy to visualize, rigid structure, easy to program Can only reach front of itself, requires large floor space, axes hard to seal Cylindrical coordinates 2 linear axes +1 rotating, can reach all around itself, reach and height axes rigid, rotational axis easy to seal Can’t reach above self, base rotation axis less rigid, linear axes hard to seal, won’t reach around obstacles SCARA coordinates 1 linear + 2 rotating axes, height axis is rigid, large work area for floor space 2 ways to reach point, difficult to program off-line, highly complex arm Spherical coordinates 1 linear + 2 rotating axes, long horizontal reach Can’t reach around obstacles, short vertical reach Revolute coordinates 3 rotating axes can reach above or below obstacles, largest work area for least floor space Difficult to program off-line, 2 or 4 ways to reach a point, most complex manipulator

Links Motoman: http://www.motoman.com/ FAQ: http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/robotics-faq Kuka: http://www.kuka-roboter.de/webc/re_engl/menu/html/produkte/roboter.html ST Robotics: http://www.strobotics.com/