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Conceptual Understanding: Designers should consider the benefits of increased efficiency and consistency when using robots in production and be able to explore the latest advances in technology to ensure the optimum manufacturing process is used. However, a good designer will also understand their responsibility to consider the moral and ethical issues surrounding increased use of automation, and the historical impact of lost jobs.
A robot is defined as an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications. The introduction of robots to an assembly line has had a major impact on the labour force, often making skilled workers redundant in favour of a technician who can maintain and equip a large number of robots. Consider the primary characteristics of robots: work envelope and load capacity.
Single-task robots: Robots that can perform one task only within a work envelope. These distances are determined by the length of a robot's arm and the design of its axes. Each axis contributes its own range of motion. A robot can only perform within the confines of this work envelope. Still, many of the robots are designed with considerable flexibility. Some have the ability to reach behind themselves. Gantry robots defy traditional constraints of work envelopes. They move along track systems to create large work spaces.
Many of these single-task robots are first generation robots: First-generation robots are a simple mechanical arm that has the ability to make precise motions at high speed. They need constant supervision by a human operator.
The operation of these machines must be constantly supervised, because if they get out of alignment and are allowed to keep working, the result can be a series of bad production units.
Multi-task robots: A type of robot that can perform more than one task in a manufacturing environment.
Many of these multi-task robots are second generation robots: Second-generation robots are equipped with sensors that can provide information about their surroundings. They can synchronise with each other and do not require constant supervision by a human; however, they are controlled by an external control unit.
Second-generation robots can stay synchronised with each other, without having to be overseen constantly by a human operator. Of course, periodic checking is needed with any machine, because things can always go wrong; the more complex the system, the more ways it can malfunction.
Machine to machine (M2M): These are a team of robots that have either wired or wireless communication between similar devices.
Many of these M2M are third generation robots: Autonomous robots that can operate largely without supervision from a human. They have their own central control unit. Swarms of smaller autonomous robots also fit in this category. For example, for more precise guidance, robots often contain machine vision sub-systems acting as their "eyes", linked to powerful computers or controllers. Artificial intelligence or what passes for it, is becoming an increasingly important factor in the modern industrial robot.
Advantages of using robotic systems in production.
Improve health and safety of the workforce.
High accuracy of work – reduced errors and waste ($$$). Quality of the final product is up.
Perform repetitive and dangerous tasks
Work in confined spaces.
Perform functions 24/7 leading to higher production
Reprogrammability or flexible
Disadvantages of using robotic systems in production
Expertise needed to operate such systems.
Training of workers required in both operation and maintenance.
High initial capital cost
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