Industrial Robotics: Understanding Robotic Cells

12 Questions

To automate a process

The operation is done by a human

It acts as a user interface for programming the robot

End-of-arm tools like grippers or welding torches

The addition of other components

Sensors like force-torque sensors and vision systems

Robot arm, controller, and teach pendant

Bolting the robotic cell to a surface

High cost

Robots deal with both digital and physical worlds

A team with robotics skills, project management skills, and knowledge of the manufacturing process

Lean robotics methodology

Study Notes

A robotic cell consists of hardware (robot arm, controller, teach pendant) and software (program for the robot).
Installation of a robotic cell includes bolting it to a surface and adding additional hardware like part-feeding mechanisms and safeguards.
The deployment process of a robotic cell involves design, integration, and operation phases.
When purchasing a robot, the buyer typically receives the arm, controller, and teach pendant, and may need to acquire additional hardware and software from the robotics company or external sources.
Robotic cells can range from simple setups to complex systems with multiple robots.
The high cost of robotic cell deployment is a significant barrier, with a typical project costing around $250,000.
Four reasons for the complexity of robotic cell deployment:
- Historical development for high-volume, low-mix applications.
- Lack of standards in the robotics industry.
- Robots deal with both digital and physical worlds, making standardization difficult.
- Skills gap, with many manufacturers lacking in-house robotics expertise.
To successfully deploy a robotic cell, a team with robotics skills, project management skills, and knowledge of the manufacturing process is required.
Lean robotics methodology can help clarify the deployment process, define a common vocabulary, and pinpoint necessary technical robotics skills for a specific business context.