I. International Classification Internationally, robots are generally classified into two main categories: industrial robots and service robots.
1. Industrial robots are important automated equipment in modern manufacturing, integrating advanced technologies from multiple disciplines such as mechanics, electronics, control, computers, sensors, and artificial intelligence. Since the United States developed the world's first industrial robot in 1962, robot technology and its products have developed rapidly and have become automated tools for flexible manufacturing systems ( FMS ), automated factories ( FA ), and computer integrated manufacturing systems ( CIMS ).
2. Service robots are a relatively young member of the robot family. They can be divided into professional service robots and personal/household service robots. Service robots have a wide range of applications, mainly performing tasks such as maintenance, repair, transportation, cleaning, security, rescue, and monitoring. Beijing Haifeng Intelligent Technology, as a pioneer in China's intelligent robot market, produces service robots that are used in many industries, including catering, healthcare, finance, and sales.
II. Classification by Application Environment Chinese robot experts classify robots into two main categories based on their application environment: industrial robots and special-purpose robots.
1. Industrial robots are multi-jointed manipulators or multi-degree-of-freedom robots designed for industrial applications.
2. Special-purpose robots, excluding industrial robots, are various advanced robots used in non-manufacturing sectors and serving humans. These include service robots, underwater robots, entertainment robots, military robots, agricultural robots, and robotic machines. Within special-purpose robots, some branches are developing rapidly and showing a trend towards becoming independent systems, such as service robots, underwater robots, military robots, and micro-manipulation robots. Special-purpose robots belong to non-manufacturing environments, which is logically consistent with the service robot concept used abroad.
III. Classification by Mechanical Structure
1. Serial robots: The movement of one axis changes the origin of the coordinates of another axis. For example, a six-joint robot.
2. Parallel robots: The movement of one axis does not affect the coordinate origin of the other axis, such as spider robots.
IV. Classification by Input Method
1. Programmable Input Robot: The programmable input type is a robot whose pre-written job program file is transmitted to the robot control cabinet via RS232 serial port or Ethernet communication method.
2. Teach-input type robot: There are two teaching methods for teach-input type robots. One method involves the operator using a manual controller ( teach pendant ) to transmit command signals to the drive system, causing the actuator to perform the required sequence of actions and motion trajectory. The other method involves the operator directly guiding the actuator to perform the required sequence of actions and motion trajectory. During the teaching process, the working program information is automatically stored in the program memory. When the robot works automatically, the control system retrieves the corresponding information from the program memory and transmits command signals to the drive mechanism, causing the actuator to reproduce the taught actions.
V. Classification by Manipulator Coordinate Format
1. The arm of a cylindrical coordinate robot can perform lifting, rotating, and extending/retracting movements;
2. The arm of a spherical coordinate robot can rotate, pitch, and extend/retract;
3. The arm of a multi-joint robot has multiple rotating joints;
4. The axes of a planar articulated robot are parallel to each other, enabling in-plane positioning and orientation;
5. The arm of a Cartesian coordinate robot can move along three Cartesian coordinates.
VI. Classification of Industrial Robots
1. Welding robot
2. Cutting robot
3. Welding positioner
4. Handling and loading/unloading materials
5. Palletizing robot
6. Painting robot
7. Stamping Robot
8. Tooling and Fixtures
