Today, more and more industrial robotics projects are appearing in metalworking and other industries such as automotive, marine and pharmaceuticals. Robotics plays a fundamental role in factory automation, as it introduces new technologies with major benefits for production.
What is Industry 4.0?
Before looking at the various industrial robotics projects, it is essential to talk about Industry 4.0. It is a kind of fourth machine revolution in factories: if the steam engine symbolised the industrial revolution of the eighteenth century, in the twenty-first century it is robots that lead the way. Industry 4.0 has become established thanks to industrial robotics and automation; the two go hand in hand.
Industrial robotics is the study, design and use of robots to carry out industrial processes; automation, for its part, can be defined as a set of elements or IT, mechanical and electromechanical processes carried out with little or no operator intervention. Robots and automation are the pillars of Industry 4.0.
The benefits of Industry 4.0 include not only shorter production times and lower costs (it is ideal for series production of large quantities of parts), but also less operator involvement and greater operator safety, as they no longer carry out complex tasks that may pose a risk. Moreover, because everything is controlled by computer, there is less margin for error and results are more precise.
Industrial robotics projects
The industrial robot
Undoubtedly, one of the most established industrial robotics projects today is the industrial robot. This is a machine that works on three or more axes and can be controlled automatically or programmed and reprogrammed by computer. The history of the industrial robot dates back to 1937, when the first such machine was invented; at the time, the device, known as “the crane”, had five possible axes of movement, including rotation and gripping. Over the years, pioneering robotics companies have invented new robots and adapted them to new technologies.
Today there are five types of industrial robot:
- Manipulators.
- Learning or playback robots.
- Computer-controlled robots.
- Intelligent robots.
- Micro- and nanobots.
The first industrial robots gave rise to the concept of process and task automation; they were also the first to incorporate safety sensors to protect workers and operators from accidents in factories and workshops. Over time, robots were designed with better functions, such as greater mobility, which led to higher production efficiency. Their effectiveness grew further when systems were added that allowed robots to carry out tasks in collaboration with operators.
Collaborative robots or cobots
Today, robots can communicate with each other, and they can also work directly alongside people. These robots are known as cobots or collaborative robots. This not only increases their effectiveness, but also optimises production processes, cuts costs and improves the quality of output. It is one of the most ambitious industrial robotics projects, allowing cobots to run series production lines very quickly, safely and precisely.
Articulated robotic arms
Another major revolution in robotics is undoubtedly the articulated arm. This technology can now be fitted to other machine tools as an accessory, so that operators do not even have to load the workpiece, for example.
Articulated arms can move, palletise and assemble parts and components to form modular assemblies. These machines can be programmed using highly sophisticated software, keeping human intervention to a minimum.
Automation: the challenge of Industry 4.0
The ultimate goal of the many industrial robotics projects is to automate industry. The level of automation depends on the type of industry concerned: metalworking, manufacturing, food, automotive and so on. Today there are three different types of automation.
- Fixed automation, with robots that perform the same task repeatedly. This is used for mass production.
- Programmable automation, which allows the robots’ software to be reprogrammed so that they can carry out multiple tasks. This is the most suitable type for industries that do not make a single product but produce different types of parts.
- Flexible automation, which uses machines that are connected to each other but perform independent tasks. In this type of automation, a central computer controls the other systems so that each performs its own task. This is where cobots can be used.