Online Programming requires the robot to be physically present and connected to a computer during programming.
Advantages include:
Immediate feedback & opportunity for adjustment/improvement of the program
Can be used for tasks that require manual manipulation of the robot's movements
Easier to program complex tasks that require human intuition and decision-making
Disadvantages include:
Requires the robot to be physically present and connected to a computer during programming, resulting in costly system downtime
Requires the operator/programmer to have knowledge/experience/training of proprietary teach pendant interface(s) and robot programming languages
Difficult to program long or repetitive tasks due to operator fatigue
Methods that fall under this category include:
Teach Pendant Programming
Lead-Through Programming
Teleoperation
Traditional/conventional Industrial Robot Teach Pendants
The style of teach pendant used on Industrial Robots for years, this style is highly proprietary and often difficult to use/understand without significant operator experience
Modern, Collaborative Robot Teach Pendants
Newer teach pendant designs have made great strides in UI/UX improvement and are typically easier to program, being similar in fashion to modern touchscreen tablet computers/devices.
Offline Programming does not require the robot to be physically present and connected to a computer during programming. Instead, the programming is done on a computer entirely separate from the robot system.
Advantages include:
Allows for easy modification, testing, & iteration of robot programs without risk of damage to the robot, other systems, or the operator
Reduces programming time and increases efficiency
Programs/applications can be researched, developed, simulated, & "proven-out" for efficiency, speed, ROI, & other metrics before even purchasing the physical robot(s)
If coming up with new programs for an existing robot, these programs can be made while the robot is actively running other programs, resulting in little-to-no downtime of the system
If programming for multiple, duplicate robot applications, you can utilize the same program for all of them
Disadvantages include:
May not account for real-world conditions or variations that can impact the robot's movements
Difficult to program tasks that require human intuition and decision-making
Requires CAD models or other virtual representations of the robot's workspace, that can take time to model accurately
If using software, these can incur addition licensing/costs/hardware separate from & in-addition to the robot system itself
Requires the operator/programmer to have knowledge/experience/training of proprietary software and/or robot programming languages
Methods that fall under this category include:
Robotic CAM
Scripting
Parametric/Modular Programming
Hybrid Programming does not require the robot to be physically present and connected to a computer during the majority of programming. In practice, this typically starts with offline programming and then transitions to online programming for fine-tuning & dealing with unaccounted-for variation.
Advantages include:
Combines the strengths of both online and offline programming methods
Allows for more efficient and comprehensive robot programs
Can reduce operator error and improve safety
Disadvantages include:
More complex and time-consuming than using a single programming method
May require additional hardware or software to facilitate the combination of different programming methods
May require additional training/cross-training between robot operators and programmers
AKA Robot “Arms”
One of the most common & most adaptable/flexible types of robots
Come in many different axis/joint configurations (4, 5, 6, 7, …)
Two different kinds, generally speaking:
Industrial
Collaborative
SCARA = Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm
Extremely fast speeds & acceleration
Excellent for pick-and-place, assembly, & packaging applications, among others
Typically Floor- or Stand-Mounted
Extremely lightweight = fast & accurate
3-, 4-, or 6-axis configurations
Can be mounted in almost any orientation (Floor, Wall, Ceiling, etc.)
Great for Pick-and-Place, Assembly, Inspection, & Additive Manufacturing applications
Sometimes called "Gantry" robots or "Portal" robots
2- & 3-axis configurations
Extremely rigid (good for heavy loads)
Cheap & easy to construct
In early 2025, Siemens unveiled a new type of manufacturing system - Machine Tool Robot (MTR) - in partnership with several companies, including Danobat and Autonox
MTR's - when compared to traditional robots in direct manufacturing applications such as machining, additive, riveting, assembly, etc. - offer up to +300% path accuracy, 20% shorter cycle times, zero backlash, and 5x stiffness/rigidity
You can usually tell what company makes a robot just by the coloring/construction of the robot
However, oftentimes end-users of robots will change the coloring of the robots they buy to match their desired aesthetic or to try to hide which tools they use in their factory
There are many different Robot manufacturers around today, but some of the most common ones used in industry today are:
ABB
YouTube Channel: ABB Robotics
Made in Switzerland
Typically Orange or White in color
FANUC
Website: https://www.kuka.com/en-us
YouTube Channels: FANUC America Corporation & FANUC Europe
Made in Japan
Typically Yellow/Black in color, sometimes White or Green
Kuka
Website: https://www.kuka.com/en-us
YouTube Channel: KUKA - Robots & Automation
Made in Germany
Typically Orange/Black in color, sometimes White/Orange
Omron/Techman
Website: https://automation.omron.com/en/us/products/category/robotics
YouTube Channel: Omron Automation - Americas
Made in Japan
Typically Grey or White in color
Yaskawa (Motoman)
Website: https://www.motoman.com/en-us
YouTube Channel: Yaskawa Motoman Robotics
Made in Japan
Typically Blue in color
Universal Robots (UR)
Website: https://www.universal-robots.com/
YouTube Channel: Universal Robots
Made in Denmark
Typically Silver/Blue in color
Standard Bots
Website: https://standardbots.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StandardBots
Designed & Assembled in the USA
Typically, Black in color
1. Looking at the four different robots shown to the right, what are the likely manufacturers for each robot?
A B C D
2. Looking at the three different robots shown below, how many axes does each robot have?
A
B
C
3. Looking at the two different robot shown below, what general type of robots are they?
A
B