Industrial robots are fixed or mobile, automatically controlled, reprogrammable, and multi-purpose manipulators that can be programmed with three or more axes in industrial automation. They are multi-jointed robotic arms or multi-degree-of-freedom machines designed for industrial applications. In industrial production and processing, they use automatic control to replace humans in performing certain monotonous, frequent, and repetitive long-term tasks.
Industrial robots are machines that rely on their own power and control capabilities to perform various automatic functions. They can be commanded by humans or run according to pre-programmed procedures. Modern industrial robots can also make autonomous decisions and take actions based on principles and guidelines specified by artificial intelligence technology.
An industrial robot consists of three basic parts: the body, the drive system, and the control system.
The main body, namely the base and actuators, includes the hip, wrist, and hand; some robots also have a locomotion mechanism. Most industrial robots have 3-6 degrees of freedom, with the wrist typically having 1-3 degrees of freedom. The drive system includes the power unit and transmission mechanism, with the reducer and servo motor at its core, used to enable the actuators to produce corresponding movements. The control system issues command signals to the drive system and actuators according to the input program and performs control.
It is understood that the world's first industrial robot was created in the United States in 1956, during the production of automotive parts using CNC machine tools. The application market for robots has also evolved alongside the shift in production capacity from the automotive and 3C industries, moving from the United States to Europe, Japan, and finally to China. End-market demand has a significant impact on the technological advancement of robots.
From the perspective of the origin of industrial robots, they can be considered "easy-to-use CNC machine tools". Compared with high-precision CNC machine tools, industrial robots have lower technical barriers, greater versatility, and are easier to operate and maintain, while having essentially the same motion structure.
The main difference between the two lies in their external form: CNC machine tools on a production line generally serve as the main working machines and occupy a central position, while industrial robots are auxiliary equipment and are cheaper. These characteristics greatly expand the scope of application of industrial robots, which can be regarded as "easy-to-use CNC machine tools".
Motion control is the core technology of industrial robots. Precision, speed, and stability are key performance indicators for CNC machine tools and industrial robots, and these indicators are all based on motion control. The three core components of industrial robots (reducer, servo system, and control system) can all be attributed to motion control technology. The degree of mastery of motion control technology determines the heights that a robot can reach.
