22-10-2016, 12:35 PM
1460511443-15.pdf (Size: 309.88 KB / Downloads: 5)
To determine what influences modern day robot use and application, a large number of
factors can be named
– The historical development of robots
– The direct economic benefit produced by the robot
– The technological design of a robot and its degrees of freedom
– Local rules and restrictions like RIA (USA), JIS (Japan) and CE (Europe)
– Local labor rules, social syndicate agreements
– Process and application restrictions
– Skills and attitude of labor.
1. Literature overview
The various labor theories of value are nothing new, and prevail amongst classical
economists, including A. Smith and D. Ricardo.1 Since then, the concept most often
associated with Marxian economics, while modern mainstream economics replaces it by
the marginal utility approach.2 Understanding importance of robotics at institutions of
higher education FANUC Robotics established formal relationship with Zrínyi Miklós
National Defense University signing a Cooperation Agreement 2 February 2009. The joint
activity and its main points are outlined in Reference 6. Szabolcsi and Mies in Reference 7
dealt with historical aspects of the robotics and showed the way to the modern robotics of
the present time. In Reference 3 gave mathematical models of the parameter uncertainties
and applied them to robust analysis of the control systems being applied in robot systems.
In Reference 4 Szabolcsi presented a new example of robust analysis applied to
investigate behavior of the aircraft stability augmentation system. Szabolcsi in Reference
5 dealt with mathematical modeling of the human operator behavior, gave main transfer
functions and state space models, which can be applied to analysis and design of the robot
systems including both civilian and military applications. In Reference 8 Szabolcsi laid
down method and main steps of the identification process of the air robot system, and
gave guideline to prepare a flight plan for test flight to generate flight parameters’ time
series to identify theirs spatial motion dynamics.
This paper will focus on the role and purpose of robots in human societies and
industry. Their use and applications will also be highlighted as part of the human
society. Robots are a part of our reality, their presence and abilities ever growing, and
transforming our future.
Robot definition
To define the scope of the paper it is rudimentary to define what is understood by a
robot. A robot, by definition, is a man made mechanical device that will automatically
perform certain tasks following a set of decision rules. Operation of the robot can be
controlled by man, introduced earlier by a program, either by a set of general rules,
which are converted into action the robot using artificial intelligence techniques. By this
definition a robot differs from a numerical machine, programmed only for a single task.
Robotics is a science that studies and develops robots. The task of the robot is to replace
humans at more often than not repetitive activities, where the machine can perform
better than humans. The domain of their applications is also at tasks that are dangerous
to humans. First let’s look at their history and origins.
Origin and history
The word “robot” is used and recognized worldwide, and has first been used in the year
1920 by the Czech play writer “Karel Eapek” in his theater play called “Rossum’s
Universal Robots.” In Czech language the word “robota” means to (obligate) work. In
this theatre play, Karel Capek named a slave that could only work a “Robot”. Factually,
the word itself was made up by Karl’s brother Jozef.9 Not by coincidence were the
robots in the play invented by a man called “Rossum” which refers to “wisdom” in
Czech. Even today an acceptable definition of robot is that of an intelligent working
machine. Today most people associate robots with science fiction like the book of Isaac
Asimov, and movies like Star Wars, Terminator, I Robot and Robocop. More than often
the displayed robots have a humanlike metallic shape and posses a high level form of
artificial intelligence. These kinds of robots are classified as humanoids. When it is
unable to distinguish humanoids from humans they are also called androids. The word
‘robot’ in the 21st century has become a generic term. Apart from the real technical
sense it is often being used for marketing purposes to describe any semi-automatic
apparatus that somehow should appeal to the public. Many examples here can be
named: food robot (for grinding food into small pieces), garden robot (for semi
automatic cutting of lawns), and a big category of remote controlled toys.
The history of robotics and automation however has its roots much deeper in
civilization. Around 1600 to 1400 BC the Egyptians and Babylonians invented the
water driven clocks. Most probably the first human attempts to automation. These
ingenious instruments were of the type of constant outflow. Small holes in water tanks
dripped at a constant rate, measuring time by the decreasing water level inside the tanks.
There was presence of different tanks for the different months.10 In consecutive years
these developments were greatly enhanced by the Greeks and the Romans.
Mechanization was added, as well as dials and indicators. It was the ancient Greeks that
came up with the word AUTOMATA, to describe water clocks, tools and toys and
derivative machines that would operate automatically. Robotics is also often described
as “flexible automation”, referencing to the early beginning. A name to recognize here
is that of an inventor from Alexandria called Heron, who designed a automated cart,
water engines and siphons among other things.11 Using strings and dead weights Heron
made it possible, as with current robots, to move a 3-wheel cart forward, backward and
stop, based on a predetermined programming.
Another major noteworthy breakthrough in robotics and automation came from the
Arabic world. In the year 850 AC a publication was issued by three brothers from Persia,
also known as Banu Musa (Ahmad, Muhammad and Hasan bin Musa ibn Shakir). Their
book called “Book of Ingenious Devices” described a hundred or so automated devices.12
Although some of their inventions were based on Heron’s work, many were theirs and
involved delay systems and conical valves, pneumatics and the use of non moving gases.
They invented various fountains and also the first mechanical music instrument; a waterdriven
organ to reproduce music sets mechanically. It would take till the 19th century
before major improvements were made on the Banu Musa’s design.13
It was Blaise Pascal that made progress on mechanical calculators from 1642
onwards. These calculators, he made more than a 50 variations over 10 years were the
forerunners of computer engineering, the intellectual backbone of modern robotics.14
In the 18th century sir Richard Arkwright can be credited as being the forerunner of
the now known industrial revolution. It was Arkwright who invented and developed the
automatic weave and spinning machines and employing them in his in own factories,
first using water power, later steam engines.15
Later, in the 19th century it was the English Charles Babbage that invented an
Analytical Engine, following the work of Pascal. His invention could use loops,
independent programming via punch cards and had I/O. Although his machines never
left the prototype stage, 20th century models based on his design showed results up to
31 digits accurately. The first mechanical computer was born.16 Another English
scholar, the mathematician George Boole laid the basis of modern digital computer logic. Modern day robotics, if seen as a mere result of all developments during the
Industrial Revolution, has next to the logic/computing side also a mechanical/drive side.
The modern drive systems have their roots founded by a Serbian mechanical and
electrical engineer named Nikola Tesla, born in the year 1856. It was Tesla that
invented the induction motor, the first electrical motor to run on alternating current. His
work also contributed to the development of radar, remote control of vessels and
nuclear physics. Electric motors now take up the vast majority of actuators in robots, ac
servo for industrial robots and DC in portable robots. Servo motors use negative
feedback loops or control systems.
Categorizing robots
Given the definition of robots, their broad history and even broader scale of application,
it is mandatory to classify robots. Below table provides an exhaustive overview of the
various categories and subsets of modern day robots.
Table 1. Robot Categories
– Industrial robots
– Personal/Domestic Robots
Robots for domestic tasks
Robot butler/companion/assistants/humanoids
Vacuuming, floor cleaning
Lawn mowing
Pool cleaning
Window cleaning
– Entertainment robots
Toy/hobby robots
Robot rides
– Education and training
– Handicap assistance
Robotized wheelchairs
Personal rehabilitation
Other assistance functions
– Personal transportation (AGV for persons)
– Home security & surveillance
– Professional Service Robots
– Field robotics
Agriculture Milking robots
Forestry
Mining systems
Space robots
– Professional cleaning
Floor cleaning
Robot definition
The definition of an industrial robot has been worldwide agreed upon via ISO, the
International Organization of Standards. The Industrial robot as defined by ISO 837317
is 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. For completeness sake it is necessary to sub
define the various elements of the ISO8373 definition:
– Reprogrammable: whose programmed motions or auxiliary functions may be
changed without physical alterations;
– Multipurpose: capable of being adapted to a different application with physical
alterations;
– Physical alterations: alteration of the mechanical structure or control system
except for changes of programming cassettes, ROMs, etc.
– Axis: direction used to specify the robot motion in a linear or rotary mode
Major robot types by mechanical structure
Industrial robot arms and their kinematics can be divided into four major categories:
• Cartesian Robots,
• SCARA (selective compliance assembly robot arm),
• Articulated Robots, and
• Delta/parallel link Robots.
Cartesian Robots
As the name describes, Cartesian robots typically move in a Cartesian frame. They
posses 3 axes, linked in a linear way at right angles. It is Cartesian because it allows xy-z
positioning. Three linear joints provide the three axes of motion and define the x, y
and z planes. The Cartesian kinematic solution is highly configurable, given the
simplicity of this kinematic, adjusting strokes or lengths and configuration is relatively
easy when compared to other robots. Cartesian solutions have numerous applications
within the industry. They can be applied to both small and large workspaces. Cartesian
robots are typically called upon to serve applications where the gripper or product
remains in the same plane. Being the subassembly of individual axis the Cartesian robot
can be tailor-made for its job, often working at high speeds. It is obviously the most
basic form of an industrial robot, on the bottom scale of the definition. These robots are
also called Gantry robots.
SCARA robots
SCARA is an acronym and stands for Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm
(SCARA). The SCARA robot is a non-typical 4-axis robot and offers a cylindrical work
envelope and this category of robot typically provides higher speeds for picking,
placing and handling processes when compared to Cartesian and articulated robotic
solutions. They are as termed in industry ‘slightly compliant’ in the XY range but rigid
in the Z, hence their name. SCARA robots were developed in 1978, in the laboratory of
Professor Hiroshi Makino, at Yamanashi University in Japan18 and deliver greater
repeatability by offering positional capabilities that are superior in many cases than
those of articulated arms. SCARA robots are usually used for lighter payloads in the
sub-10kg category for applications such as assembly, packaging and material handling.
Their main application therefore is Pick and Place. In various industrial processes,
SCARA robots are used for high speed and high repeatability handling of cells in
smaller workspaces. Where the workspace is constrained sufficiently, the SCARA is an
excellent selection. SCARA robots are similar to the human arm being a jointed twolink
arm. That is why they are often found in applications like pick and place, replacing
human repetitive work by SCARA’s, at higher speed and precision of course. As they
are relatively small in size, they can be integrated in many machines and production
lines; however their use is limited because of their XYZ range, induced by using only 4
axis. Without capabilities of turning its wrist, re-orientation of a product after pick-up is
virtually impossible by a SCARA robot.
Articulated robots have a spherical work envelope. Each axis is serial linked with the
next one. Today industrial articulated robots carry up to 7 axes, all serial linked. The
majority however of robots in this category are equipped with 6 independent joints,
giving it six degrees of freedom. These robot arms offer the greatest level of flexibility
due to their serial articulation and increased numbers of degrees of freedom. This type
of robot allows for an arbitrarily placing of a work piece in space using six parameters;
three for the specification of the location (x, y, z) and three for the specification of the
orientation (yaw, roll, pitch). Because of this ability it is the largest segment of robots
available on the market and therefore offers a very wide range of solutions from
tabletops to very large 1300 kg plus solutions. Articulated robots are frequently applied
to process intensive applications where they can utilize their full articulation and
dexterity for applications such as spot and arc welding, painting, dispensing, loading
and unloading, assembly and material handling.
When articulated robots are today being applied to a wide variety of applications,
their first usage was in the car industry. This first practical mass use of articulated
robots was driven by the ever growing output volume in the car industry and the need
for cost reduction. Big names like GM, Renault etc had their own divisions for robotics.
Modern car factories can use up to 1000 articulated robots whilst having only 5000
workers, a ratio of 1 to 5! In car factories the main application for these types of robots
is spot welding, arc welding and handling of car body and parts. Later more advanced
applications like underbody sealing and laser welding were introduced using articulated
robots, and more often than not using vision systems. Robots improve the productivity
of these expensive production lines by ensuring that manufacturing operations move at
a constant pace with minimal machine idle time. A robot is a mere component of any
production line, albeit a highly flexible and reliable one. Hard automation might fulfil a
dedicated function, but comes at a high price: the grouping of various valves, cylinders,
sensors, motors and controls come not even close to the reliability of a robot, with uptimes
of 99.99%! Robots allow faster and easier set-up when change-over occur at the
line. And it is not only the big automakers that use robots. Robots have been in factories
since 1962 and are a mature technology. Companies with <500 employees now have the
highest robot adoption rate.
Second reason why robots can help business is higher quality and lower scrap.
Articulated robots provide higher quality and yield because of more controllable,
predictable and repeatable process consistencies. Imagine for your production process if
you would only have half of the currently rework/scrap costs. Or likewise, what is your
current number of customer returns/rejects? Could this be reduces drastically if robots
were used? Lessons learned in the automobile industry are now being deployed in the
food industry, from cutting raw meat with robots (increasing the quality of the cut hence
the price/kg) to handling of salads and fruits (time to market is faster, putting fresher
produce on the supermarket’s shelves).
Of course can labor costs be reduced by applying articulated robots. Robots reduce
direct manufacturing labor needs and improve labor deployment. Also important to
mention are the improved ergonomics and worker safety. By using robots human can be
removed from hazardous and unhealthy processes. Examples like exposure to gases,
acids, extreme temperatures, lifting weights, or avoiding strenuous repetitive motions
that provoke injuries can be mentioned here. It is a myth however that robots will
eliminate all production labor costs. In reality we can state that robots are not panaceas;
there will always be some jobs for which people are better than robots. Think also about
employee training and turnover. There is a substantial reduction in HR related costs
when using robots in your production line instead of human labor: less cost for hiring,
training, safety clothes and equipment etc.
These hidden costs are often forgotten while calculating the ROI on robot related
investments. With the crisis at hand and the rising pressure from low cost countries
many small company owners think that robots are too expensive to set up and to
maintain. We see that as with personal computers, prices have declined over the past
decades while ease of use and performance has improved. Robots are considered
commodities. And thanks to the powerful evolution of CPU’s the programming of
robots is surprisingly easy. Line operators take ownership of these flexible automation
solutions and improve their performance thanks to their knowledge of the underlying
process. And it is not only high production runs that can justify robot costs. Robots can
perform different tasks for different parts while hard automation usually is limited and
often needs more time for change over.
What’s more, integrated vision in articulated robots are allowing the robot to see.
Capturing images and processing the data into information for the robot and by the
robot. No more need for costly and unreliable PC driven systems and interfaces. And
what is not there cannot break down and stop the line! It also greatly enhances the
reliability and thus throughput of the line. The recent years have shown an enormous
interest and growth in handling primary food: robots handling the raw/fresh product.
The driving question here was: how to cut back on the rising labor costs while
maintaining line flexibility? For articulated robots to actually work in the food
production and thus be in direct contact with any kind of food implies a compliance
with local conditions in the food sector. Food can be characterized as a non-uniform
product, not having clear standards, hence a show-stopper for robots. Second is the
hygienic component; are industrial articulated robots suitable for use in primary
processes? And lastly the environment within the primary processes is harsh: how are
robots withstanding the various cleaning and disinfection processes? In addition to the
possible presence of salts, alkaline, acids etc, just the simple fact of hosing down a robot
with water under pressure will definitely put it out of business. Extreme high and/or low
temperatures or fluctuations also play their part. FANUC, being the world’s largest
robot manufacturer, came up with a new way of looking at robot design. It resulted in
robots with smooth surfaces, adapted sealing, white body color and epoxy paint, plastic
covers instead of steel, and food grade grease in the mechanical unit. These robots, also
known as food pickers and available as recently as 2008 comply with above mentioned
conditions and reshape the current industry. These food pickers, with 5 degrees of
freedom can now be found in large numbers handling cookies, dough, chocolates,
frozen fish and many other primary food products.
Delta robots
Delta robots, also known as Parallel Link Robots are the last category of modern day
robotics. This kinematic solution provides a conical or cylindrical work envelope and is
most frequently applied to applications where the product again remains in the same
plane from pick to place, XYZ. Its design utilizes a parallelogram and produces three
purely translational degrees of freedom driving the requirement to work within the same
plane. Base mounted motors and low mass links allow for exceptionally fast
accelerations and therefore greater throughput when compared to other robots. The
robot is an overhead mounted solution which maximizes its access but also minimizes
footprint. Delta robots are designed for high-speed handling of lightweight products and
offer lower maintenance due to the elimination of cable harnesses and absent of
multiple axis.
Parallel robots are deployed into many food processing steps. Again they offer highspeed
transfer food stuffs, primary (unpacked) or secondary (packaged) through
manufacturer lines and a multitude of processes. Delta type robots are relatively easy to
design and manufacture, given the fact that they only drive three motors in parallel,
whilst the fourth axis drives the rotation of the gripper. In 2010 more than 30 different
manufacturers can be found in the industrial market place. The Quattro parallel linked
product from Adept Technology, Inc. recently achieved 300 cycles per minute
illustrating the capabilities for this class of machine to handle products at high rates.
Economics of Industrial Robots
An important data is the stock of robots, installed in factories and sites worldwide. In
terms of units, it is estimated that the worldwide stock of operational industrial robots
will increase from about 1,020,700 units at the end of 2009 to 1,119,800 at the end of 2013. In 2010, the stock will increase by 10%. In the traditional markets: North
America, Japan, and Western Europe, the stock is stagnating or decreasing while it is
surging in the emerging markets.
Different to military purpose robots, their industrial counterparts are more sensitive
to the economic trends. This is clearly to be seen over the last 3 to 5 years. The
troublesome years of 2009, when the worldwide economic and financial crisis, which
started late 2008, caused substantial decreases in industrial output worldwide, 2009 also
saw a significant slump in the sales of industrial robots. If volume figures are to be
compared with 2008, which many considered one of the most successful years, 2009
had a decline of close to 50% (in absolute terms 60,000 units). Since 1994 this level has
not been seen before. Robot installations had never decreased so heavily. Now, ending
2010, the recovery is visible again; the sales of industrial robots doubled the first three
quarters compared to 2009!
The monetary value of the industrial robot market decreased to a sill staggering
figure of $3.8 billion last year. This figure cited above does not include the cost of
software, peripherals and systems engineering. Hence the actual robotic systems market
value will be about two or three times as large. The world market for robot systems in
2009 is therefore estimated to be $12 billion.
Growth of robotics
A strong recovery of worldwide robot installations in 2010 will result in an increase of
about 27% to about 76,000 units. The main impulses are coming from China, the
Republic of Korea and other South-east Asian countries. But the robot supplies to Japan
and North America will also substantially increase. In Japan robot sales were decreasing
since 2006. In North America sales already declined in 2008. In Europe, the recovery
has a slow pace and is mostly based on the exports. The domestic demand is still weak
although major investments in capacities and modernization took place between 2005
and 2008. Robot sales continuously increased between 2005 and 2008.
The main driver of the recovery is the automotive industry which has restarted to
invest in new technologies, further capacities and renovation of production sites. Base
business or general industry – which contains all other industries, except automotive –
already increased its robot investments between 2005 and 2008. This will continue
between 2010 and 2013.