A Comprehensive Guide to Industrial Robots: Understand It in Seconds!
2020-07-16
1. Main Body
The main body of a robot consists of the base and the actuators—including the upper arm, lower arm, wrist, and hand—forming a multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical system. Industrial robots typically have 6 degrees of freedom or more, while the wrist usually has 1 to 3 degrees of freedom.
2. Drive System
The drive systems of industrial robots are classified into three major categories based on their power sources: hydraulic, pneumatic, and electric. Depending on requirements, these three types can also be combined to form hybrid drive systems. Alternatively, indirect drive can be achieved through mechanical transmission mechanisms such as synchronous belts, pulley systems, and gears. The drive system consists of a power unit and a transmission mechanism, which are used to generate corresponding movements in the actuators. Each of these three fundamental drive system types has its own characteristics; currently, electric drive systems are the mainstream choice.
3. Control System
The robot control system serves as the robot's “brain” and is the primary factor determining the robot's capabilities and functions. The control system issues command signals to the drive system and actuators based on the input program and performs the necessary control. The primary task of industrial robot control technology is to control the robot's range of motion, posture, trajectory, and timing of movements within its workspace. It features simple programming, software menu-based operation, a user-friendly human-machine interface, online operation prompts, and ease of use.
4. Perception System
This system consists of internal and external sensor modules that acquire meaningful information about the internal and external environmental conditions.
Internal Sensors: Sensors used to detect the robot's own state (such as the angle between its arms), most of which measure position and angle. Specific examples include position sensors, angle sensors, and others.
External Sensors: Sensors used to detect the robot's environment (such as identifying objects and measuring distance to them) and conditions (such as detecting whether a grasped object has slipped). Specific examples include distance sensors, vision sensors, force sensors, and others.
The use of intelligent sensor systems enhances a robot's mobility, practicality, and level of intelligence. While the human sensory system provides agile perception of the external world, sensors are more effective than human systems for detecting certain specific types of information.
5. End-Effector
An end-effector is a component attached to a joint of a robotic arm. It is generally used to grasp objects, connect with other mechanisms, and perform required tasks. In industrial robot manufacturing, end-effectors are typically not designed or sold separately; in most cases, only a simple gripper is provided. End-effectors are usually mounted on the flange of a 6-axis robot to perform tasks in a given environment, such as welding, painting, applying adhesive, and loading/unloading parts—all of which are tasks typically carried out by industrial robots.
