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| Industrial Robots |
A robot is defined as, “a reprogrammable, multi-functional manipulator designed to move materials, tools, parts or specialized devices through variable programmed motions for performing a variety of tasks.”
Industrial robots are the robots that are programmed to automatically perform specific tasks related to that industry.
Table of Contents
Generation of Industrial Robots
First generation of robots (dump robots)
These robots strictly work in a fixed sequence. They do not have any sensors which can take corrective action in case of deviations.
The second generation of robots (clever robots)
These clever robots come with a number of sensors that can take corrective action in case of deviations. They are capable of making logical decisions.
The third generation of robots (Intelligent robots)
These types of robots are still in the design stage. They can take strategic and important decisions. They are designed by using the concept of artificial intelligence.
Advantages of Robots
- Robots improve the quality and consistency of work.
- Robots increase the productivity, safety, and efficiency of processes.
- They work continuously without experiencing fatigue or boredom, unlike humans.
- They need no environmental comfort, such as lighting, air conditioning, ventilation, and noise protection.
- Robots can operate with a high degree of accuracy
- They have repeatable precision at all times.
- They can have capabilities beyond that of humans.
- Robots can process multiple tasks simultaneously.
Limitations of Robots
- Robots replace human workers creating economic problems, such as lost salaries and social problems such as dissatisfaction and resentment among workers.
- Robots lack the capability to respond to unpredictable emergencies.
- Robots have limited capabilities in degrees of freedom, sensors, dexterity, vision system, and real-time response.
- Robots are costly due to high initial investment, installation cost, peripheral costs, training cost, and programming cost.
