Robot Joints
Robot Joints
explained
Automated robots can already do so much that we tend to take them for granted.
But how is it that they’re able to move, manipulate items, and complete tasks with
such precision?
The answer is robot joints. In this article, we’ll show you the different types of robotic
joints that make these robots so tremendously skilled.
We’ll cover:
These joints allow robots to complete tasks with various levels of flexibility and
dexterity. The most advanced versions can even allow bots to operate
at superhuman levels.
1) Rotary joints: Movement around an axis
Rotary joints, as the name suggests, enable rotational movement around an
axis. These joints allow robots to twist and turn, which is essential for mobility and
manipulation.
Single-axis rotation (revolute joints). The most common type is the revolute
joint, which provides rotation around a single axis. Robotic arms typically have more
than one revolute joint, allowing them to bend at the elbow and move from side to
side.
Multi-directional mobility (spherical joints). For more complex movement,
spherical joints provide rotation in multiple directions. These joints have three
perpendicular axes of rotation, similar to a ball and socket in your shoulder. Spherical
joints are useful for robotic hands, which allows them to maneuver objects with skill.
Combined rotation and sliding (cylindrical joints). Cylindrical joints enable
both rotation around an axis and sliding along that axis. They’re useful when rotation
alone is not enough, such as in robotic fingers or legs. The combination of revolute
and prismatic joints in cylinders allows for grasping, walking, and other coordinated
movements that require controlled sliding and rotation.
We’ll get into each of these types of robotic joints in more detail below.
Twisting joints, known as revolute joints, allow for rotation around a single
axis. They’re one of the simplest yet most useful types of robot joints.
The joint is powered by an actuator, like an electric motor, which provides the force
needed for rotation.
Applications of twisting joints
Twisting joints are all around us in robotics and automation.
They’re often found in robotic arms and hands, and are a perfect fit for tasks
that involve:
Here are some specific examples of real-world robots and their use cases:
So, one link remains stationary, while the other rotates around the pin. Also, revolute
joints can rotate through a full 360 degrees, although the rotation is often limited for
specific applications.
Spherical joints are one of the most versatile types of robot joints. They open
up movement in multiple directions at once — rotation, swiveling, and pivoting. These
highly mobile joints provide robots with super-high levels of skill.
How they work
Spherical joints use ball and socket mechanisms that allow the joint to spin,
swivel, and pivot freely in any direction. The ball, attached to one link, rotates
within a socket, which is attached to the adjacent link. This construction gives
spherical joints their signature multi-axial movement abilities.
Applications
Industrial robot arms: Many industrial robot arms integrate spherical joints in
their shoulders, elbows, and wrists for:
Robotic grippers and hands Spherical joints are frequently found in robotic
grippers and hands, providing:
Humanoid robots: Some humanoid robots utilize spherical joints to achieve highly
articulated movements mimicking human joints:
Ball-and-socket joints like those in the hips and shoulders provide a more
natural and fluid range of motion.
Examples
A cylindrical joint allows motion in two degrees of freedom, linear motion along
an axis and rotation around that same axis.
Think of it as a revolute joint that can slide up and down. This combination of rotation
and translation allows for more complex movements and a greater range of motion.
Applications
There are some of the applications where these robot joints excel:
Summing up
And those are the 6 key types of robot joints that enable robot arms to move —
and groove.
So, the next time you see a robot in action, take a moment to appreciate
the ingenious joints that allow it to function just like us — or better!