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Industrial robot system
What should you know about industrial robots and their systems? Depends on why you are looking for this information. In this article, we will try to cover the most common questions regarding robots used in an industrial environment.
Not every mechanical device used in an industrial environment can be considered a robot. As defined by ISO ( international organization according to standardization), an industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable multi-purpose manipulator, programmable with three or more axes.
This is a largely accepted definition that is used when talking about industrial robots. However, being a bit of a philosopher, I would like to add a few thoughts to it. As you can read on the home page of this site, the question of what can and cannot be considered a robot is not so simple. Industrial robotics has managed to avoid this confusion until recently.
People like brilliant engineers and entrepreneurs are finding more and more more ways how robotics can help streamline workflow in an industrial environment. With advances in battery and wireless technology, the long-established robotic tool should pave the way for newcomers like swarm AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) used in warehousing.
Control systems for industrial robots
A typical industrial robot consists of a tool, an industrial robot arm, a control cabinet, a control panel, a training pendant, and other peripheral equipment.
A tool (also called an end effector) is a device designed for a specific task, such as welding or painting. Basically it is a robot that moves the tool. Carefully! It is important to understand that not every industrial robot is like a hand. There are different types of different robot structures.
The control cabinet resembles the brain of a robot. The control panel and the learning pendant make up the user environment. These parts are usually combined.
The control panel is designed to be used by the operator to perform some common tasks. For example, changing programs or managing peripherals. While the training pendant is usually used only during programming, although it can be connected to the control cabinet if additional memory is required to execute the program.
Application of industrial robots
Ideally, the application of industrial robots should be a win-win situation. You know there are jobs that no one wants to do. These are those repetitive, tedious jobs that require a lot of monotonous action on the part of the worker, such as picking something up from one conveyor to another.
If it's always the same task, you can use an automated solution specially designed for your needs. What if it's not? The situation where the factory must be more and more flexible is becoming more and more common. In these cases, a reprogrammable robot that can be used for various tasks may be the right solution.
Also, you should consider a "robot worker" for those tasks that are dangerous for a human worker. For example, surface treatment with hazardous chemicals and work in hazardous environment. In many cases, like the ones mentioned, it is smarter and cheaper in the long run to use a robot than to hire a worker.
And of course, there are jobs that people really need. Like lifting very heavy weights or working in conditions unsuitable for human life. Again, in many of these cases, ad-hoc automated solutions can be applied. However, if flexibility is required, a robot should be considered.
Here is a list of the most commonly seen robot apps:
- arc welding,
- assembly,
- coating,
- deburring,
- Injection molding,
- molding,
- Material handling,
- gathering,
- palletizing,
- package,
- spot welding,
- Transport,
- warehousing.
Structure of industrial robots and manipulators
Exist various ways creating a robot. In some cases, it does not resemble a hand at all. In this article, I will cover only the most common types of robot structures that are used in industrial robotics.
So there is:
- Cartesian,
- cylindrical,
- spherical,
- scara,
- articulating shoulder,
- parallel construction.
Why is it important? As you already know (or guessed), each of these types of structures has its own strengths and weak sides. Some are more accurate, some can lift heavy weights, and some are cheaper.
Namely, you must evaluate what task will be assigned to the robot. At first this may seem silly. You probably already know that you need an arc welding robot, for example. However, you may want to think more deeply.
Maybe there is a possibility of expansion? If yes, perhaps later there may be other or slightly different tasks that can be assigned to the same robot? Maybe the same industrial robotic arm can be used with different tools at different times?
You should consider such opportunities as it can save you (or your employer) a lot of money.
Technical support. Is there a dealer nearby? You will probably need to instruct employees, get software updates, warranty service, etc. The dealer should be located as close to you as possible. The further away your robot dealer is, the longer your downtime will be if required Maintenance and the higher the cost of staff training.
Of course, there may be exceptions. Perhaps you have a specific task and the only ones that could provide the required robot are far away. Otherwise, you should really choose the robot integrator closest to you.
your factory. You really should not forget to check if all the necessary facilities are available to run a particular robot in your factory. Where will you place it? Are all necessary connections available on the robot's future site? They may include electricity, IO, Ethernet, Serial, etc.
The same thing that I mentioned in the task part should also be considered when considering technical support and your factory - try to evaluate future possibilities.
Manufacturers of industrial robots in Russia and in the world
Here is a list of the most prominent manufacturers of industrial robots include:
- Adept Technology,
- Asyst Technologies,
- Brooks Automation,
- DENSO Robotics,
- epson robots,
- FANUC Robotics,
- Intelitek,
- Heavy Industry Kawasaki,
- KUKA Robotics,
- Yaskawa Motoman,
- Nachi Robotic Systems,
- Reis Robotics,
- Toshiba Machine,
- Steubli.
The domestic robotics market can currently be called free niche. The production of industrial robots in Russia is still very far from the level where supply will exceed demand. Many industrial companies enter into contracts with foreign companies, wanting to get a higher percentage of profits and increase market share through the modernization of production. Lack of state programs for the reorientation of domestic business to domestic market significantly complicates and slows down the process of development of innovative spheres of production. But even in such a situation, worthy players appear. Russian market robotics. Ucan is one of the leading manufacturers of commercial robotic units. In the arsenal of the enterprise a number modern solutions and a large staff of qualified software engineers. The combination of all factors indicates the high potential of the brand and its prospects.
How profitable is the production of robots in Russia
All currently existing robots used in industry can be classified according to such criteria as:- application area;
- location method;
- management principle;
- appearance;
- degree of autonomy.
- miniature (insect-sized) models with a radio module and sensors;
- large-scale complexes with several manipulators and a single control center;
- devices resembling familiar cars, planes or ships;
- stand-alone compact complexes (terminals, photo booths, etc.);
- anthropomorphic mobile or stationary systems.
What functions can Russian-made robots perform?
Depending on the type of device, robots can have different functionality, including performing the following types of work: - assembly and installation of industrial components and parts (welding, stamping, riveting, sorting, etc.);
- tracking and alerting;
- maintenance of generating and processing complexes;
- advising clients, providing background information and analytical activities;
- conduct of hostilities;
- providing two-way communication using audiovisual and tactile nodes.
The sale of robots in Russia contributes to the modernization of production and business, offering functionality implemented through the installation of modern units for analyzing speech, visual and wave information in the equipment. A robotic complex or a separate machine receives information and processes it based on the embedded program code. Domestic robots are endowed with all the necessary components and work according to the classical principles used by the world's largest manufacturers. With the help of products offered by Ucan, you can create a fully automated complex that works without days off and breaks, does not require wages and even bringing a good profit. An excellent example is the model of the Couch series - which performs the functions of a coach, used during trainings, corporate training courses, seminars, etc. The production of industrial robots in Russia, as well as the organization of the rental of functional autonomous systems, can become profitable business with the right approach and organization. Ucan invites representatives for cooperation big business and individuals leading entrepreneurial activity. You can find out the details by visiting the official website of the company or by calling the phone that serves robot secretary capable of providing all the necessary information. Russian manufacturers of industrial robots
, Novosibirsk, Russia
Development, own production and sale of linear robots of own production. Active sales dozens of robots in 2018-2019. The size of the production area - 1200 sq.m.
Android technology
collaborative robot. Embeddings are unknown.
Aripix Robotics
Six axis robotic arm
, Russia, Kazan
Developer and manufacturer of 3-7 axis industrial robots ARKODIM of console type, linear architecture. In 2016, there are a number of sales and implementations in commercial practice.
(Bitrobotics, LLC "Bitrobotics"), Russia
Bitrobotics is a manufacturer of robotic systems based on robots of its own design and production. The company aims to automate the technological processes of production, stacking and packaging of consumer goods. The Bitrobotics robotics platform allows you to quickly assemble a solution from unified elements.
Bitrobotics is a resident of the SEZ "Technopolis "Moscow" and in the 3rd quarter of 2020 will put into operation a new high-tech production.
VMZ (LLC "VMZ", Volzhsky Machine building plant), Russia
Developer and manufacturer of industrial robots. The company has been operating since 2011. For 2016 - under liquidation this direction. The closure at the VAZ is associated with the lack of orders for robots.
NIIP-NZiK (NPO NIIP-NZiK, Comintern), Russia, Novosibirsk
plans for the creation of industrial robots to equip injection molding machines. There is no production for 2018. Robots are not of their own design, this is an attempt to localize Chinese robots.
Six axis robotic arm.
Record Engineering (Record-Engineering LLC), Russia, Yekaterinburg
Design and production of industrial robotic manipulators, production of analogues of imported industrial robotic manipulators. There are sales.
http://www.rekord-eng.com/avtomatizaciya/promyshlenennye_roboty/
see Aripix Robotics
BID Technologies
Eidos Robotics (Eidos Medicine)
see Eidos-Robotics
See AvangardPLAST
Robotech Systems
See Robotech Systems
ROZUM Robotics, Belarus
Development of collaborative robots.
Saga Robotics (ProDivision)
Six-axis robot used for robotic welding
Foreign manufacturers of industrial robots
Represented in Russia
- , Switzerland
- Bosch
- Comau
- Epson, Japan
- , Japan
- HIWIN, Taiwan
- igm Robotersystems AG, Austria
- , Japan
- , China (originally - Germany)
- Mitsubishi Electric, Japan
- Omron, Japan
- OTC (Daihen Inc.)
- Panasonic, Japan
- , Denmark
- , Japan
The largest and most visible in the world market
Electroimpact, USA (giant AFP machines for 3D printing from composite materials)
Epson, Japan
Developer-manufacturers of industrial robots of various types. SCARA, 6-axis.
Product examples: LS3-B; LS6-B, LS10-B, LS20-B; VT6L.
Developer and manufacturer of collaborative industrial robots. Notable Models- Baxter first and second generations.
Sepro Group, France
The largest manufacturer of industrial robotics in France - Sepro Group. In May 2017, the company announced a decision to expand its business in France and the United States. Planned investments - $11 million euros. The area of the head office in La Roche-sur-Yon, France will grow to 20,000 sq. m. m, a training center will open nearby. Commissioning is scheduled for summer 2018. In the US, the Warrendale facility will be expanded, with robot assembly starting in 4Q2017. The company's sales volume of robots has been growing for the past four years - from 1.3 thousand in 2012 to more than 2.7 thousand in 2017. Company website: http://www.sepro-group.com/products_archive/
Developer and manufacturer of industrial robots and components for their production.
Xinsong, China
Located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Designing and manufacturing industrial robots since 1993. In 2001, the company's sales volume of robots was 100 million yuan. In 2011, the company accounted for up to a third of the Chinese robot market. It also produces mobile industrial robots, which are in demand not only in China, but also, for example, in the USA and Canada.
Industrial robots, automation and robotization of production, Industry 4.0 - we hear and read all these phrases in various variations almost every day. But who in the world today is engaged in the development and production of such machines that are needed in industry? We have compiled an overview of these companies for you.
Of course, there are many more companies - we have identified only the most significant of them, as well as those that are developing industrial robots in Russia and the CIS countries. If you think that we unfairly forgot about someone - write in the comments.
FANUC was founded in 1956 by Seihuemon Inaba, Ph.D. Starting in the late 1950s with the automation of individual pieces of equipment, a few decades later, FANUC was already involved in the automation of entire production lines. And the basis for such innovative growth was the invention of Dr. Inaba: he created the first electric stepper motor, applied numerical program control and installed this engine in the machine.
Constantly pushing the boundaries of automation, improving product quality and productivity, and cutting costs, Dr. Inaba and his team have designed machine loading robots.
When top-notch products such as ROBOCUT, ROBODRILL and ROBOSHOT came into production in the 1970s and 80s, FANUC offered optimized solutions for a variety of applications to meet the requirements of different customers. In Japan, FANUC has become the first company to build and operate an automatic plant with CNC machines and robots.
FANUC, founded 60 years ago, is the world's leading manufacturer of factory automation equipment, with over 3.6 million CNC controllers and 400,000 robots installed worldwide.
The range of FANUC industrial robots is very wide. The company offers a whole series of robots with different characteristics, capable of performing a wide variety of production tasks: delta robots, robots for painting, welding, palletizing, top-mounting, articulated robots, among which the record holder today in terms of load capacity is 2300 kg! As well as recently introduced collaborative robots that can work side by side with a person.
A Japanese corporation headquartered in the cities of Kobe and Tokyo (Minato), established by Kawasaki Shozo in 1896; one of the world's largest industrial concerns. Initially, the company was engaged in shipbuilding, but at the moment the main products produced are industrial robots, jet skis, tractors, trains, engines, weapons, light aircraft and helicopters, as well as parts for Boeing, Embraer and Bombardier Aerospace aircraft. Kawasaki's products also include motorcycles and ATVs (a division of Consumer Products and Machinery). But we are interested in industrial robots, which the company has been dealing with since 1969.
Kawasaki robots can be used in a variety of areas: assembling small parts weighing only a few grams, moving massive workpieces weighing up to 1.5 tons, various welding methods, painting, palletizing. In addition, Kawasaki's line of robots includes medical and cleanroom robots, as well as a collaborative two-armed robot.
The Yaskawa Electric Group was founded in 1915 and consists of 78 subsidiaries and 21 partnerships with Yaskawa Electric as the parent company. The group has approximately 8,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Kitakyushu, Japan. In addition to robotics, YASKAWA is also active in systems development, motion control and information technologies and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of servo motors, amplifiers, inverters and controllers for the automation and drive industries, offering both standard products and customized solutions. YASKAWA independently produces all the main components and technologies for its robots and uses the latest technology in a one-of-a-kind factory in Japan where robots produce robots.
Each year, Yaskawa Electric Corporation produces 1.6 million inverters, 800,000 servo drives and 22,000 MOTOMAN industrial robots, which find their way into a wide variety of industries around the world. To date, more than 270,000 units of MOTOMAN robotics have been installed in the world, including robots for painting, welding, palletizing, loading, working in clean rooms, etc.
NACHI robots are manufactured in Japan by parent company NACHI-Fujikoshi Corp. The main products of NACHI Corporation are electronic equipment, robotic systems, precision machinery, cutting tools, bearings, hydraulic equipment, automotive parts, special steels and coatings. Currently, the NACHI group includes 47 companies, 26 of them are located in Japan, 21 - outside of it. The company's turnover last year exceeded 1 billion 100 million US dollars.
Nachi Fujikoshi is a leading manufacturer of industrial robots that are used by many well-known manufacturers around the world. The line of robots is divided into two: standard, which includes robots of light, medium and heavy classes, as well as for working with a press, and special robots for working in clean rooms.
OTC-DAIHEN Corporation in Osaka (Japan), founded in 1918, occupies a leading position in the world in the production of high-tech welding equipment and robotics. It is not for nothing that 80% of factories in Japan, trusting in the experience and professionalism of OTC-DAIHEN in the field of welding production, have given their preference to cooperation with this company, which is a leader in its field. Among them are such giants of the Japanese industry as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and others.
Daihen's first generation of OTC arc welding robots was developed in the late 1970s. Since that time, the company has been actively improving and developing the direction of robotic welding and developing a specialized line of robots. OTC Daihen welding robots are used for arc and resistance welding and plasma cutting.
DENSO Corporation was founded in 1949. When the first industrial robots appeared in the 1960s, DENSO began to develop and apply new technologies in its own production processes, which allowed her to constantly improve and upgrade hardware and software. The company's first industrial aluminum robot was developed in 1970.
Today, DENSO Robotics is the world leader in small industrial robots and continues to set the tone for reliability, flexibility and functionality. The company has installed more than 60,000 robots worldwide, of which it uses 16,000 in its own production facilities.
Seiko Epson Corporation better known as Epson - structural subdivision Japanese diversified concern Seiko Group. One of largest manufacturers inkjet, matrix and laser printers, scanners, desktop computers, projectors, as well as robots for mounting small parts.
Epson robots first appeared on the world market back in 1984. Originally designed to meet the needs of internal automation, Epson's robots have quickly become popular in many well-known manufacturing sites around the world. Over the past 30 years, Epson Robots has become a leader in the small parts assembly robotics industry and has brought many innovations, including PC-based control, compact scara robots, and more. To date, more than 55,000 Epson robots have been installed in factories around the world. Many of the leading manufacturing companies rely on these robots every day to reduce production costs, improve product quality, and increase productivity.
Comau is an Italian multinational company based in Turin and part of the FCA Group. Comau is an integrated company specializing in industrial automation with an international network of 35 operating centers, 15 manufacturing enterprises and 5 innovation centers around the world. The company offers complete complex solutions, services, products and technologies with competencies ranging from metal cutting to fully robotic manufacturing systems to meet specific manufacturing needs in industries ranging from automotive, rail and heavy industries to renewable energy and other industries.
Comau releases various models industrial robots with a load capacity of up to 800 kg.
The applicability of Comau robots is standard for any robots with anthropomorphic kinematics: welding technologies, palletizing, machining, application of compositions: painting, primer, adhesives, sealants.
Panasonic is not only a world-famous Japanese engineering corporation with almost a century of history (the company was founded in 1928), which produces household appliances and electronic goods, but also one of the market leaders in industrial robotics and welding equipment.
Panasonic Robots is a division of the global Panasonic Corporation, which specializes in the development, production and sale of industrial robots for various purposes. In particular, Panasonic's welding robot is an all-in-one technology, with no additional interface between the robot and the welding source. Today, sales of Panasonic welding robots have reached 40,000 units. The company also produces universal manipulators for many types of production tasks.
Panasonic robots are highly reliable, long term service and relatively low cost. Currently, they are successfully used in the automotive, petrochemical, mechanical engineering, and logistics (cargo handling) industries.
Adept Technology Inc. is a multinational corporation headquartered in California. The company specializes in industrial automation and robotics, including software. Adept was founded in 1983. It all started when company founders Bruce Shimano and Brian Carlyle, both graduate students at Stanford University, started working with Viktor Sheinman at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab.
Today the company is active in various industries requiring high speed, processing accuracy, including processing food products, consumer goods and electronics, packaging, automotive, medical and laboratory automation, as well as emerging markets such as solar panels.
Universal Robots is a Danish manufacturer of small flexible production collaborative robots, the so-called. collaborative. The company was founded in 2005 by three Danish engineers. In the course of joint research, they came to the conclusion that at that time the robotics market was dominated by heavy, expensive and bulky robots. As a consequence, they developed the idea of making robotics accessible to small and medium enterprises. In 2008 the first UR5 cobots were introduced to the Danish and German market. In 2012, the second robot, UR10, was launched. At automatica 2014 in Munich, the company launched a completely revised version of its collaborative robot. A year later, in the spring of 2015, the new UR3 robot was introduced.
BIT Robotics creates new equipment for new technological processes. BIT Robotics is the creator of the first Russian industrial delta robot. The robot created by delta is not inferior to the most modern and high-speed foreign analogues in terms of characteristics. The most advanced materials, including composite ones, are used in its design.
The company's capabilities and competencies allow creating any robotic systems, widely using servo systems and technical vision. The company's engineers have rich experience. Most of them are from the space and aviation industries. The company has the most modern production, equipped with CNC machines, foundry, electroplating shop, polymer materials production, etc.
The density of robotization in Russia is almost 70 times lower than the world average, the National Association of Robotics Market Participants (NAURR) found out. If in the world there were on average 69 industrial robots per 10,000 workers in 2015, then in Russia there is only one, according to the NAURR study (see chart). The leader of the ranking is South Korea, where there were 531 industrial robots per 10,000 industrial workers, Singapore (398) and Japan (305). An industrial robot is a programmed manipulator, explains NAURR President Vitaly Nedelsky.
The average annual sales of industrial robots in Russia are 500-600 units (550 were sold in 2015), which is about 0.25% of the world market, according to the NAURR study. By the beginning of 2016, a total of about 8,000 industrial robots were operating in Russia, while there are about 1.6 million of them in the world, follows from the document. The world leader in the number of industrial robots purchased in 2015 is China, whose enterprises purchased 69,000 devices, enterprises South Korea purchased 38,300 and Japan 35,000. They are followed by the US and Germany, which purchased 27,000 and 20,105 robots last year, respectively.
Low demand in Russia is explained by the poor awareness of the technical management of enterprises about the capabilities of robots and the inertia of their thinking, Nedelsky is sure. After all, buying a robot always results in the replacement of workers and updating technological process. And the fact that most of the large industrial enterprises, which are usually the main consumers of robots, is in state hands, only increases inertia, continues Nedelsky.
There are few technologically advanced industrial enterprises in Russia, explains the low demand, the head of the Skolkovo robotic center, Albert Efimov. At the same time, robots appear at the enterprise almost last, when it has already solved all the problems with energy-saving production, organized labor, he continues. In addition, in Russia, a robot is much more expensive than labor, Efimov believes.
Robot solves mass personnel problems enterprises, Nedelsky is sure. He is able to work in three shifts, he can turn off the light and stop heating the room. Now the old workers are leaving, but the young ones are not coming in their place, and in the wake of the upcoming shortage of personnel in the industry, the management of enterprises is beginning to show interest in robots, says Nedelsky.
A few years ago, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) announced that it would develop a robotization program for the economy, recalls Olga Uskova, President of Cognitive Technologies. However, neither the ASI, nor the Ministry of Industry and Trade or the Ministry of Economics got the program. ASI is not prepared for such work, she believes: since the agency deals with strategic issues, it has a rather complicated and lengthy decision-making procedure, and the issue of robotization of the Russian economy has already gone from the category of strategic and moved to a tactical level, Uskova believes. According to her, this issue should be returned to the sphere of responsibility of the ministries.
According to the NAURR, in the world, robots are mostly employed in the automotive industry (38%), the production of electrical and electronics (25%) and mechanical engineering (12%). In Russia, 40% of robots are also used to create cars.
« Kamaz“Since the beginning of 2015, I have bought 26 robots and brought their total number at the enterprise to a hundred,” says plant representative Oleg Afanasyev. And by 2019, Kamaz will buy another 578 units, he promises. They are needed for the release of a new model range"Kamazov", says Afanasiev.
More than 600 robots are now working at the Gorky Automobile Plant of the GAZ group, engaged in stamping, welding, painting and casting, a representative of the enterprise said. 100 of them were purchased in the last two years. At the same time, the economic feasibility of using robots is not the only criterion, he points out, sometimes only a robot can act with the required accuracy and quality, a GAZ representative explains.
From 2005 to 2015, sales of industrial robots in Russia grew annually by 27%, but since 2016, the average sales growth should grow to 50%, NAURR believes. The association explains the acceleration of growth by attention from the state, the modernization of industrial processes large enterprises and raising awareness technical leaders companies. Own production there are no industrial robots in Russia, the NAURR report says, but there are four Russian companies engaged in the development of such production. According to Efimov, in 2017 such a development should appear in Skolkovo.
With service robots serving a person in medicine, education, etc., things are much better in Russia, Efimov says. He explains this by the fact that the Russian economy is much closer to the service model than to the industrial one. In addition, service robots are much more demanding on software than industrial ones that perform a limited set of actions. And in Russia they know how to write software, he notes.
