Introduction To Robotics
Introduction To Robotics
AS A INDIVIDUAL,
INDIVIDUAL prepare a
detailed response for the following
Readiness Assessment test
What type of Robot Configuration does the
ABB 140 Robot have?
Can you find out its Work
Space?
WRIST
• typically has 3 degrees of freedom
– Roll involves rotating the wrist about the arm
axis
– Pitch up-down rotation of the wrist
– Yaw left-right rotation of the wrist
• End effector is mounted on the wrist
WRIST MOTIONS
CONTROL METHODS
• Non Servo Control
– implemented by setting limits or mechanical
stops for each joint and sequencing the
actuation of each joint to accomplish the cycle
– end point robot, limited sequence robot, bang-
bang robot
– No control over the motion at the intermediate
points, only end points are known
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• Programming accomplished by
– setting desired sequence of moves
– adjusting end stops for each axis accordingly
– the sequence of moves is controlled by a
“squencer”, which uses feedback received from
the end stops to index to next step in the program
• Low cost and easy to maintain, reliable
• relatively high speed
• repeatability of up to 0.01 inch
• limited flexibility
• typically hydraulic, pneumatic drives
• Servo Control
– Point to point Control
– Continuous Path Control
• Closed Loop control used to monitor
position, velocity (other variables) of
each joint
Point-to-Point Control
• Only the end points are programmed, the
path used to connect the end points are
computed by the controller
• user can control velocity, and may permit
linear or piece wise linear motion
• Feedback control is used during motion to
ascertain that individual joints have
achieved desired location
• Often used hydraulic drives, recent trend
towards servomotors
• loads up to 500lb and large reach
• Applications
– pick and place type operations
– palletizing
– machine loading
Continuous Path Controlled
• in addition to the control over the
endpoints, the path taken by the end
effector can be controlled
• Path is controlled by manipulating the
joints throughout the entire motion, via
closed loop control
• Applications:
– spray painting, polishing, grinding, arc welding
ROBOT PROGRAMMING
• Typically performed using one of the
following
– On line
• teach pendant
• lead through programming
– Off line
• robot programming languages
• task level programming
Use of Teach Pendant
• hand held device with switches used to
control the robot motions
• End points are recorded in controller
memory
• sequentially played back to execute robot
actions
• trajectory determined by robot controller
• suited for point to point control applications
• Easy to use, no special programming skills
required
• Useful when programming robots for wide
range of repetitive tasks for long
production runs
• RAPID
Lead Through Programming
• lead the robot physically through the
required sequence of motions
• trajectory and endpoints are recorded,
using a sampling routine which records
points at 60-80 times a second
• when played back results in a smooth
continuous motion
• large memory requirements
Programming Languages
• Motivation
– need to interface robot control system to
external sensors, to provide “real time”
changes based on sensory equipment
– computing based on geometry of environment
– ability to interface with CAD/CAM systems
– meaningful task descriptions
– off-line programming capability
• Large number of robot languages
available
– AML, VAL, AL, RAIL, RobotStudio, etc. (200+)
• Each robot manufacturer has their own
robot programming language
• No standards exist
• Portability of programs virtually non-
existent
In-class Exercise
• As a group, discuss an activity that you
think could be automated by using a robot.
• Define the tasks that the robot will
perform.
• What kind of special tooling is required?
Sketch if you will use any.
• Can the activity be justified economically?
Show your development – do not simply
say yes or no.