The world of industrial manufacturing has seen significant transformations as a result of the invention of robots. Humans used to work in extremely hazardous and unhealthy tasks in the early part of the century, but in 1956, George Devol and Joseph F. Engelberger’s business, Unimation, created the first robot. These were initially utilised in fields like spot welding, die casting, and forging where it was necessary to eliminate the risks associated with the workforce. Gradually, they were also used in fields needing more strength and accuracy than humans.
industrial robots are automatic machines that replicate human behaviour, or more precisely, human activities, to some level. The science of automation depends heavily on robots. Automation entails using equipment and computers that have the ability to learn and carry out a variety of tasks. The word “robot” comes from the Czech word “robota,” which means forced labour. Robots are employed in a variety of industrial tasks, including material handling, spot welding, spray painting, die casting, ironing, forging, assembly work, palletizing, dispensing, testing, water jet cutting, selecting and placing large objects, etc.
Robots come in a variety of forms and sizes, and generally speaking, their ability to carry a burden depends on both their strength and size. An average human-sized robot can move a load at a speed of +/-0.006 inches while carrying a load that weighs more than 100 pounds. Their ability to operate constantly for days or even years at a time without experiencing any problems is one of their main features. Robots are quickly turning into an essential component of many industrial setups because of their consistent accuracy. These robots are most frequently employed for repeated tasks including picking up and inserting objects into machinery as well as repetitive welding and painting.
Industrial robots can be taught to perform just one task at once, and they can only do that task until they are reprogrammed. A robot doesn’t cost a lot, but typically the programming costs are so high that manufacturers believe it would be more cost-effective to purchase a new robot for the new task. In plainer language, we may state that the cost of the robot is typically only a small portion of the cost of programming it.
Robots are constructed using readily available components. Robotic arms and bases are frequently made of steel, cast iron, and aluminium. Rubber tyres are installed on mobile robots to ensure a smooth and silent operation. Robots can be controlled by radio, laser, or electronic means. Flexible neoprene sheaths and bellows surround the robot’s exposed areas.
Robots are becoming an increasingly significant component of modern industry, and their significance is growing daily. There are so many things that robots have made possible that were not even imaginable six decades ago. They have replaced manual labour, particularly in industries like welding, die casting, and forging where workers were exposed to extreme danger. They have radically altered the landscape of industrial manufacturing. A study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe found that the global purchasing of robots is growing at a rate of about 19% annually.
