Robotic Arm

Guest: Obdulio Ochoa

Department: MANE

Topic: Robotics

Summary of the Experience:

            During this demonstration the presenter showed how a robotic arm could be programmed  to do a specific task in a manufacturing environment. Commands are given to the robot using code in a computer and can be immediately employed to instruct the robot to serve a function. The actions programmed in this case included moving to a certain location, lifting objects using a suction tool, and subsequently placing the object in a predetermined location.

Social Value:

            This presentation demonstrated the practicality of robotics regarding manufacturing. Industrial automation allows goods to be made faster and cheaper which makes them more available to the public.

Economics:

            The processes introduced in this presentation are heavily influenced by economics due to the vital role finance plays in manufacturing. It was illustrated that the use of robotics increases the rate of manufacturing which in turn optimizes profit made by a company.  Robots rely on economies of scale. It would be pointless to purchase a robot to make one item, but when thousands and millions of  items are being manufactured, robots become very cost effective.

Concepts/Terms:

• ·         Fixed Automation- used for quick, high rate of output
• ·         Programmable Automation- used when a lower rate of output is required
• ·         Flexible Automation- combination of fixed and programmable automation
• ·         Types of robotic movement- arm/body, wrist
• ·         Degrees of Freedom- x, y, z, rotation in 3 directions; a direction of independent motion. A human arm has 7 degrees of freedom: wrist and shoulder each have pitch, yaw, and roll; elbow has pitch
• ·         Pitch, yaw, and roll: pitch is rotation around side to side axis, yaw around vertical axis,  and roll around front to back axis
• ·         The more degrees of freedom a robot as, the more complex it is to control, but the more things it can do.
• ·         Types of joints- linear, twisting, rotational, revolving
• ·         Precision vs accuracy: Accuracy is how close to a desired or actual measurement (e.g. does the robot arm go where we really want it to go). Precision is how a repeated movement compares to itself each time (e.g, does the robot arm go to the same exact place every time.)
• ·         Precision of Movement- measures the performance of the robot
• ·         Hydraulic System- uses liquid, bulky
• ·         Electrical System- electricity, small, precise
• ·         Pneumatics- air powered, used for “pick and place” movements
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