The number of joints in a robot mechanism that can move independently is called the robot mechanism's degrees of freedom, or simply degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom are typically used as a technical specification for robots, reflecting their flexibility of movement. They can be represented by the number of linear, oscillating, or rotating movements along an axis.
The current control method used for industrial robots is to treat each joint on the robotic arm as an individual servo mechanism, that is, each axis corresponds to a servo, each servo is controlled by a bus, and the controller controls and coordinates the work.
Industrial robots possess automatic control, reprogrammability, and multi-purpose functions. The robot manipulator has three or more programmable axes. In industrial automation applications, the robot's base can be fixed or movable, demonstrating that the number of axes is an important technical indicator for industrial robots.
How many degrees of freedom does an industrial robot typically have?
Most industrial robots have 3 to 6 degrees of freedom, with the wrist typically having 1 to 3 degrees of freedom. The drive system includes a power unit and a transmission mechanism, which are used to enable the actuator to produce corresponding actions. The control system issues command signals to the drive system and actuator according to the input program and performs control.
Is it true that the more degrees of freedom a robot has, the better?
Generally speaking, the more degrees of freedom a robot has, the closer it is to the human hand's motor skills, and the better its versatility. However, the more degrees of freedom a robot has, the more complex its structure becomes, which in turn places higher demands on the robot's overall performance and makes its design and manufacturing more difficult.
While the flexibility of a robot increases with the number of axes, or degrees of freedom, current industrial applications primarily utilize three-axis, four-axis, five-axis dual-arm, and six-axis industrial robots. The choice of axis number typically depends on the specific application. This is because more specific industry applications often do not require robots with high flexibility, and three-axis and four-axis robots offer greater cost-effectiveness and speed advantages.
