The Future of Robotics and Automation in Manufacturing

Factory robotic automation is the process of using industrial machinery to perform routine tasks in manufacturing such as welding, material handling and assembly, freeing up the human workforce for more complex requests. There are different types of automation: fixed, programmable and flexible. Robotics is fundamental to flexible automation, which exhibits some form of &#;flexibility&#; when supporting manufacturing because it is capable of producing a variety of part types or unit batches in a short time frame. Fixed and programmable automation both require manual input to produce a different type of product. In this article, we will look at how robotics is driving automation in manufacturing, and how this could help you improve efficiency and quality on your production line.

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Types of Robots Used in Manufacturing

There are several different types of industrial robots that are reshaping the manufacturing process. Here are a few examples:

• Collaborative Robots. These are specially designed to work alongside people in factories. Their primary function is to carry out tasks that require human supervision, where using typical manufacturing robots would be too dangerous or impractical. Examples of applications include using mechanical arms to move pieces from storage to the workplace. Due to collaborative robots working so closely with humans, they possess unique safety features such as sensors that can detect if a person is in the way and trigger an emergency stop.
• Autonomous Mobile Robots (ARMs). ARMs are factory robots that can move through work environments without any human input. They use artificial intelligence to &#;see&#; their surroundings to avoid obstacles and workers&#; movement. They&#;re fundamentally used for moving items, often being programmed to move heavy loads that would usually require multiple workers or heavy-duty equipment to shift.
• Industrial Robot Arms. Robot arms are one of the most common types of flexible automation because they can be programmed to perform several different tasks on an assembly line, for example screwing bolts, welding, or painting. They&#;re commonly used in factories that manufacture large goods, like vehicles. They&#;re also commonly used to move heavy items from one plant to another or hold up products for inspection. They use a system that generates compressed air and sends it to an actuator, or motor, to control the arm&#;s motion.
• Robotic Blacksmithing. Robotic blacksmithing is a new form of automation that could be a replacement for other production methods like traditional machining or 3D printing. It uses special tools, robotic arms and sensors to shape metals and other material. The sensors help the robot detect the shape, and the lasers are used to reshape the entire component. The main benefit of using robotic blacksmithing is that it is more sustainable and resource efficient.
• Robots with Machine Vision. Machine vision technology enables other types of robots to perform routine inspections. Quality control can be one of the most tedious steps in the manufacturing process, and robots with machine vision such as quality control robots can help automate this task. Quality control robots use AI to detect issues and inspect parts, freeing up the human workforce for more complex issues.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Industrial Robots

As a business, if you&#;re considering implementing industrial robots into your manufacturing processes, it&#;s important to know the advantages and disadvantages. In this section we will talk about the pros and cons of factory automation and robotics.

There are typically two types of applications for which manufacturers use robots: repetitive and adaptive or flexible applications. Some manufacturers use robotics to automate repetitive, menial tasks such as material handling and assembly. Industrial robots can typically complete these tasks faster and improve repeatability and quality. Common use cases of repetitive or fixed automation include:

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• Material handling
• Pick-and-place
• Material dispensing
• Material removal
• Palletization and de-palletizing
• Welding
• Assembly 

The second common use case is adaptive or flexible automation. As robotics and automation become more advanced, automated robots' assigned tasks can be more flexible and adaptive. Instead of programming a robot to make the same motion over and over, some robots paired with other technologies can adapt to different parts and products with limited shutdown and reprogramming time. Manufacturers may pair flexible automation with remote monitoring and remote programming options so they can view and make changes off-site.

In today&#;s manufacturing collaborative robots now allow operators to safely work within close proximity. Collaborative robots have enabled facilities to optimize workforces by using these robots to handle more of the mundane tasks previously done by operators. 

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