Industrial Robotics

Artificial intelligence in industry : This often refers to industrial robots, which have developed into intelligent assistance systems for humans in recent years. The following article explains how industrial robotics works, what it can do better than humans and where it is already being used.

Definition: What are industrial robots?

Robotics is an approach to automation technology . In industrial robotics, manual, repetitive or error-prone activities are learned and automated by robots or bots. According to DIN EN ISO 8373, "manipulating industrial robots" are automatically guided manipulators equipped with programmable axes of motion. To perform activities, they are equipped with so-called "end effectors", i.e. grippers or tools. Industrial robotics can be stationary, but the robots can also be mobile and used in industrial applications.

What capabilities do industrial robots have?

Intelligent robots can perform complex calculations such as an inverted matrix in much less time than any human. In addition, industrial robotics show no signs of fatigue even when performing repetitive or time-intensive tasks, so they can be used day and night.

Industrial robots are not susceptible to clerical errors and can also perform tasks that are energy-sapping or hazardous to health. In addition, they can reach places that are difficult for humans to access. Robots are therefore often ideally suited for assembly.

The fine motor skills of industrial robotics are also growing. Thus, under human supervision, they are increasingly capable of performing even high-precision tasks. As nanobots, robots are already being used in medicine, for example.

Another capability and advantage of industrial robotics is that it reacts very quickly to new information. If the information situation changes, the robot stops the initiated activity and makes a new decision based on the new information – and without personal concerns or reservations. Humans find this step much more difficult.

Despite all the advantages, the limitations of industrial robotics must also be considered. After all, the more complex the task, the more often artificial intelligence makes mistakes when making decisions and drawing conclusions. This is often because robots cannot read "between the lines" and therefore do not take partial aspects into account. In addition, they are inaccessible to emotions. Possibilities to avoid such errors are offered by systems that learn based on experience thanks to artificial neural networks.

What are the different types of industrial robots?

Already today, a variety of robots are used in industry, which have been developed for different tasks. There are therefore different types of robots, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. One defines the robot types by means of so-called "kinematics", which result from the number and arrangement of the axes as well as the axis movement.

The main robotic kinematics used in the industry include the following:

  • Articulated robots: Jointed-arm robots usually have five to seven axes. This means they have all degrees of freedom and have almost unlimited application possibilities. The axes are modeled on the human arm, which is why the robot can perform all tasks that a human can do with his arm.

  • SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) robots: SCARA robots are assembly robots with four axes. While they do not have the ability to turn objects, they can perform high-precision tasks due to their smaller number of axes. Mostly, they are entrusted with fast pick-and-place applications.

  • Delta robots: These robot kinematics also have four axes and are used exclusively for applications in which the robot is mounted on the ceiling and operates from there. Delta robots are designed for comparatively low payloads. They are also mainly used in fast pick-and-place applications.

  • Collaborative robots (cobots): A cobot can work directly with a human through special safety features. Since the cobot is a special version of the other robot kinematics, collaborative robots can be built as SCARA robots as well as articulated arm robots.

Where are industrial robots used?

Industrial robots are used today for a wide range of tasks and thus represent a decisive competitive factor in industrial manufacturing processes. As the heart of automation, robotics has long been the focus of many industrial companies. Many large as well as medium-sized companies are already using robots very successfully in the context of automation.

Especially in the manufacturing industry, collaborative robots are being integrated into existing production steps. Since the models from the various manufacturers usually have a large selection of grippers and tools, they are particularly well suited for the areas of assembly and measurement. Here, they are used primarily for tasks such as spray painting as well as welding, riveting and screwing. Other typical applications include palletizing, machine loading and quality control.

Why are robots important in industry?

Industrial companies benefit from robots because they increase their productivity. They require no rest breaks, can be used around the clock, and ensure consistent quality to boot. Users can program the robots to perform the same activity over and over again.

Some intelligent robots can use sensors to detect defects on their own and install the necessary industrial spare parts.

Production thus becomes faster, more flexible and more agile. Added value is created in terms of availability, quality and performance. The result: companies can manufacture more products in larger quantities and also realize smaller batch sizes. In the long term, this leads to a higher return on investment (ROI). In addition, robots support repetitive work, freeing up human workers for more creative tasks. This reduces the workload for humans in some areas, which can drive other business processes.

In addition, robots can take on "dirty," dangerous or unergonomic work. Examples of this can be found, for example, when working with radioactive materials or chemicals.

Those who want to convert their own production from linear to modular also benefit from industrial robotics. In this way, products can be adapted even better and companies can respond more quickly to changing market situations and requirements.

Good news: even small and medium-sized companies can afford industrial robots. The invention of smaller and easier-to-handle collaborative robots has meant that industrial robots now cost only a fraction of their initial price. Another advantage is that cobots can be used for a wide range of applications.

Conclusion

Industrial robotics represents an exciting and promising field of automation. Robotics is suitable for more than just mass production. There are now low-cost, easy-to-integrate cobots that take on numerous standard tasks, especially in the manufacturing processes of small and medium-sized companies.

The capabilities of robots exceed those of humans in some areas, for example in terms of knowledge storage, precision or complex calculations. Artificial intelligences, on the other hand, lack unconventional thinking and ethical awareness, as well as creativity and empathy.

For the future, industrial robotics must become (even) more intelligent. Only then will it be able to adapt autonomously to unknown situations – for example, in collaboration with humans or uncertainties in the working environment.

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