Definition of industrial robots Robots are a field that involves a wide range of fields, has numerous applications, and is developing rapidly. Industrial robots, in simple terms, are robots used in the industrial industry to assist in manufacturing. With the development of technology, various countries around the world have successively established their own industry associations, mainly including IFR (International Federation of Robotics), RIA (American Robotics Association), JRA (Japan Robotics Association), and so on.
IFR (International Federation of Robotics) is an authoritative organization in the industrial robotics industry, founded in 1987 and listed as a non-governmental organization by the United Nations. It collects and publishes industry information annually.
IFR, the International Federation of Robotics
RIA (American Robotics Association), established in 1974, is a specialized association in the robotics industry in the United States.
RIA, Robotic Industries Association
JRA (Japan Robotics Association) was first established in March 1971 as the "Industrial Robotics Symposium JIRA" and was renamed JRA in 1994.
Although different institutions have different definitions of industrial robots, they are basically similar, mainly using the definitions of the American Robotics Association RIA and the International Organization for Standardization ISO.
The definition of the American Robotics Association (RIA) is: "Industrial robots are multifunctional robotic arms with programming capabilities that are used to carry materials, parts, tools, and specialized devices, and perform various tasks through programmable actions
The definition of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO8373-2012 is: "A multifunctional mechanical actuator with automated control and repeatable programming, which has three or more joint axes and can handle various industrial automation applications with the help of programmed programs." - This definition is adopted by IFR.
The definition of the Chinese national standard GB/T12643-2013: Industrial robots are a type of "multifunctional, multi degree of freedom operating machine that can automatically position and control, repeatedly program, and handle materials, parts, or tools to complete various tasks.
Type of industrial robot
In history, there have been many types of industrial robots, such as Cartesian coordinate system robots, cylindrical coordinate system robots, and so on. With the passage of time and the development of technology, the types of industrial robot products launched by major manufacturers in the market are mainly joint robots (vertical joint robots), parallel robots, and SCARA robots. Articulated robots are the most mainstream type of industrial robots today, typically having six joint axes, each composed of degrees of freedom for rotation and rotation. It imitates the structure of a human arm: from bottom to top, the lower arm is composed of 1-2 axes, and the upper arm is composed of 3-6 axes. The vast majority of industrial robot products launched by major manufacturers in the market are of this type, as articulated robots have a wide range of operations and flexible movements, making them widely used.
Parallel robots are mainly used for material handling, usually with three, four, or six joint axes. They have the characteristics of simple structure, fast speed, high positioning accuracy, and small footprint. By combining machine vision, conveyor line tracking, and using parallel robots, a highly flexible material handling production line can be created.
SCARA robots are mainly used for material handling and assembly applications, and generally have four joint axes, consisting of three rotating axes and one joint axis that moves up and down. It has the characteristics of flexible action, simple structure, fast speed, and high positioning accuracy.
Components of industrial robots
The vast majority of industrial robots used in modern industrial automation applications are still teaching and reproducing robots, usually composed of two basic parts: a robotic arm and an electrical system.
A Brief History of the Development of Industrial Robots
In 1947, the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States developed a remote operated robotic arm based on the development needs of military and nuclear industries.
In 1948, the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States developed a mechanical master-slave robotic arm.
In 1954, American inventor George Devol applied for a patent for industrial robots and was granted authorization in 1961.
In 1958, Joseph F ` Engelberger, a renowned American robotics expert, established the Unimation Company, and Joseph Engelberger is also known as the "father of robots".
In 1959, the United States company Unimation utilized George Devol's patent to develop the world's first truly industrial robot, the Unimate.
In 1961, General Motors of the United States applied Unimate industrial robots to processes such as stacking die castings.
In 1967, the Robot Research Association was established in Japan.
In 1969, the Swedish company ASEA (ABB) developed the first spraying robot and put it into use in Norway.
In 1970, the first Industrial Robotics Academic Association was held in the United States, promoting the development of robotics related research.
In 1971, the Japanese Industrial Robot Forum JIRA was established.
In 1971, the German company Kuka introduced robots from the American company Unimation into the automated welding production line provided to the public.
In 1972, Kawasaki Corporation of Japan signed a license agreement with Unition Corporation of the United States to develop Japan's first industrial robot, "Kawasaki Unimate2000".
In 1972, FANUC Company was established in Japan.
In 1973, the German company Kuka developed the world's first electromechanical driven 6-axis robot, the Famulus.
In 1974, FANUC Corporation of Japan began developing and manufacturing industrial robots.
In 1974, Sweden's ASEA company (ABB) developed the world's first microcomputer controlled, fully electrically driven 5-axis painting robot IRB6.
In 1974, the American Robotics Association (RIA) was established.
In 1977, Japan's Yaskawa Corporation developed the first fully electrically driven robot MOTOMAN-L10 in Japan.
In 1978, the German company REIS (now a member of KUKA) developed the world's first six axis robot RE15 with an independent control system for disassembling tooling on die-casting production lines.
In 1979, NACHI Corporation of Japan developed the world's first motor driven articulated robot.
In 1983, Unimation Corporation was transferred to Westinghouse Electric Company in the United States.
In 1983, the Japanese OTC company developed the world's first industrial robot with teaching programming function.
In 1984, Adept Company in the United States developed the world's first SCARA robot with direct motor drive, no transmission gears, and hinges.
In 1987, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) was established.
In 1994, the Japan Industrial Robotics Forum was renamed the Japan Robotics Association JRA.
In 2005, Japan's Yaskawa Corporation developed a two handed arm seven axis industrial robot.
In 2006, the sales of industrial robots by Japan's Yaskawa Company exceeded 150000 units.
In 2008, the sales of industrial robots by FANUC and Yaskawa companies in Japan exceeded 200000 units.
In 2009, ABB Switzerland developed the world's highest precision and fastest six axis small robot IRB120.
In 2011, FANUC's industrial robot sales in Japan exceeded 250000 units.
In 2014, German REIS company merged with German KUKA company.
In 2014, ABB Switzerland developed the world's first industrial robot, YuMi, that truly achieves human-machine collaboration.
In 2017, China Midea acquired KUKA from Germany.
Etymology
Robot is derived from the Czech language Robota. Robota first appeared in the 1920 Czech playwright Karel Capek's script 'The Universal Robot of Rosam', meaning 'coolie'.
BB-8 in Star Wars
Robotics comes from Isaac Asimov's "Me, Robotics".
Isaac Asimov is one of the representative characters in American science fiction, with his main works including "The Base Series", "The Galactic Empire Trilogy", and "The Robotics Series".
Isaac Asimov and the "Three Principles of Robotics"
Principle 1: Robots cannot harm humans or cause harm to humans due to their inaction.
Principle 2: Robots must execute human commands unless the commands conflict with the above principles.
Principle 3: Without violating the above principles, robots should protect themselves from harm.
In 1985, Isaac Asimov added principle 0 in his final work "Robots and Empire" in the "Robotics Series", which goes beyond the "Three Principles of Robotics", that robots must protect the overall interests of humanity from harm, and the other three principles must be established on this premise.
