ROBOTICS

Industrial robots are automated, programmable, and capable of moving on three or more axes. Common applications for robots include welding, painting, assembly, disassembly, selection and placement of printed circuit boards, packaging and labeling, palletizing, product inspection, and testing. All done with endurance, speed, and high accuracy. They can help move materials.

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in 2020, about 1.64 million industrial robots were in operation worldwide. Most industry-conscious commentators agree that robots do not accept jobs. Adding robots to a company increases the likelihood of creating new jobs; Even workers trust robots more than ever. According to a recent World Economic Forum poll, two-thirds of employees say they trust a robot boss more than a real boss.

Robots are becoming more popular today. One thing is for sure, the demand for industrial robots is increasing. According to the McKinsey report from July 2019, the industrial robot market has been growing at a record rate of about 19% per year since 2012/2013.

 

What is the reason for the growth of robotics?

Robotic technology has been greatly improved. However, a broader economic shift has also increased the need for industrial robots in many sectors. Following the global financial crisis of 2008, companies need to find ways to become more productive and competitive. Robots have provided a way to achieve this goal and continue to bring these benefits to the business.

The manufacturing sector has had the greatest impact on robotics and automation. This makes a lot of sense because the industrial robots used in production have been around for much longer than, say, harvesting robots that have now entered agriculture. In the manufacturing sector, there are different types of special industries, some of which use robots more than others.

 

Top 5 industries that use industrial robots

The International Robotics Federation (IFR) publishes its global robotics report every year. The latest report shows that the following industries have installed the most industrial robots in the last three years.

If you work in an industry that is on this list, you are probably either working with robots right now or you will need them soon.

5. Food

Compared to other industries on this list, the food industry has relatively fewer industrial robots than the other industries mentioned; But it is an undeniable fact that with industrial robots, environmental pollution is almost zero and therefore the best choice for the food industry.

 

4. Plastic and chemical products

The plastics and chemicals industry is witnessing the use of many industrial robots for tasks such as material handling, distribution, assembly, and processing.

 

3. Metal and machinery

As the robot maker KUKA says on its website, "The metal industry is one of the most versatile industries and is therefore predetermined for robot-based automation solutions." As the third-largest market for industrial robots, the metal and machinery industries use robots for a wide range of applications in the industry, including welding, painting, and loading/unloading.

 

2. Electricity and electronics

This is the second top industry in the use of robots in 2018. Electricity and electronics companies have been increasing the use of robots for several years. Robots are especially useful for clean room environments because they are pollution-free and are often used for selection, location, or assembly work.

 

1. Automotive

Not surprisingly, the top industry for robotics is the automotive industry, which accounts for approximately 30% of the total number of industrial robots installed. It has been a leading robotics industry since the introduction of the first industrial robot, Unimate, at General Motors.

 

Types of industrial robots

Based on the mechanical configuration, industrial robotic mechanisms can be classified into six main types: articulated robots, Cartesian robots, SCARA robots, delta robots, polar robots, and cylindrical robots. Apart from mechanical configuration, industrial robots can also be classified based on motion control, power supply control, and physical characteristics. Here, the major types of industrial robots will be examined based on their configuration, advantages and disadvantages, and applications.

 

• Articulated robots

The articulated robot is one of the most common types of industrial robots that acts like a human arm in its mechanical configuration. The arm is attached to the base by a joint. The number of rotating joints that connect the links in the arm can usually be from two to ten joints, and each joint creates a degree of freedom for the robot. Connections can be parallel or orthogonal. Articulated robots have six degrees of freedom from the most common industrial robots because this design offers optimal flexibility.

 

• Cartesian robots

Cartesian or Cartesian robots have a rectangular configuration. These types of industrial robots have three prismatic connections for linear motion in the direction of three perpendicular axes (Y, X, and Z). This type of robot may also have a rotating joint in the end-effector to perform the rotational motion. Cartesian robots are used in most industrial applications because they offer flexibility in their configuration that makes their application suitable for specific needs.

 

• Oscar robots

SCARA robots have two degrees of rotational freedom that are parallel to each other. The third degree of freedom is usually prismatic or rotational. The rotating shafts are located vertically and the end-effector is attached to the end of the arm. SCARA robots are very suitable for plate movements and are mostly used for assembly applications. SCARA robots can move faster and have a simpler structure than cylindrical and Cartesian robots.

 

• Delta Robots

Delta robots are a type of parallel robot because they have several links connected in parallel to a common base. Due to the direct impact of each joint on the end effect point, the effective position can be easily controlled with its arms, which leads to high-speed work. Delta robots have a dome workspace. These robots are commonly used for fast transfer tasks and product selection or transfer. Delta robots are not capable of withstanding much force.

 

• Polar or spherical robots

Polar robots have a revolute joint that connects the arm to the base, and the next joints are two rotary joints and a linear joint, respectively. This type of robot is also called a spherical robot. The reason is that these robots have a spherical workspace. The structure of polar robots takes up a lot of space, but arm access has a lot of flexibility in its workspace.

 

• Cylindrical robots

Cylindrical robots have at least one rotating connection at the base and at least one prismatic joint that connects the members. These robots have a cylindrical workspace in which the last member moves vertically or slides. Thus, robots with a cylindrical configuration produce vertical and horizontal linear motion with rotational motion on the vertical axis. The compact design of the end of the arm allows the robot to reach specific locations within its workspace without any loss of speed or repetition. These robots are mostly used in simple applications in which materials are collected, rotated, and placed in a special place.

 

According to the definition of an industrial robot and its types, people should choose the right type of robot for their business. Before choosing a robot, manufacturers consider factors such as load, orientation, speed, accuracy, time cycle of each movement, and environment, which will result in efficiency and profitability. Leading robotics companies are offering automation and robotics solutions to meet the specific needs of their customers.