Integration of industrial robotic solutions

Like a man's arm, a industrial robot is most often composed of 6 axes:

• 3 main axes used for arm positioning
• 3 secondary axes which are used to orient the working tool at the end of the arm (like the hand)

There are a multitude of applications for industrial robots, but they are often grouped into three categories:

• Welding and painting robots, primarily used in the automotive industry
• Assembly robots, widely used in industry
• Mobile and autonomous robots, often used for inspection, are employed when human intervention presents risks (chemical, mechanical, nuclear, etc.).

Three main components can be distinguished to characterize a robot:

• The mechanical structure, the arm: it varies in size, speed, power, precision…
• The control cabinet (or computer): this is the robot's brain and allows the received instructions to be converted into precise movements.
• The programming language: this is the basic interface that allows the user to convert instructions (generally Cartesian commands) into data usable by the motors, hydraulic cylinders, and other components of the robot.

Most robots simply execute instructions, but a growing number of tools enable them to learn about their environment and optimize the precision of industrial robots. For example, combining a robot with 2D/3D vision allows it to very precisely determine the position of a part, resulting in greater accuracy.

The latest generations of industrial robots incorporate technologies from artificial intelligence that allow a learning mode, thus improving the accuracy of the operation over time.