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Industrial Robotics

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Springer Handbook of Robotics

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Abstract

Much of the technology that makes robots reliable, human friendly, and adaptable for numerous applications has emerged from manufacturers of industrial robots. With an estimated installation base in 2014 of about 1.5 million units, some 171000 new installations in that year and an annual turnover of the robotics industry estimated to be US$ 32 billion, industrial robots are by far the largest commercial application of robotics technology today.

The foundations for robot motion planning and control were initially developed with industrial applications in mind. These applications deserve special attention in order to understand the origin of robotics science and to appreciate the many unsolved problems that still prevent the wider use of robots in today’s agile manufacturing environments. In this chapter, we present a brief history and descriptions of typical industrial robotics applications and at the same time we address current critical state-of-the-art technological developments. We show how robots with different mechanisms fit different applications and how applications are further enabled by latest technologies, often adopted from technological fields outside manufacturing automation.

We will first present a brief historical introduction to industrial robotics with a selection of contemporary application examples which at the same time refer to a critical key technology. Then, the basic principles that are used in industrial robotics and a review of programming methods will be outlined. We will also introduce the topic of system integration particularly from a data integration point of view. The chapter will be closed with an outlook based on a presentation of some unsolved problems that currently inhibit wider use of industrial robots.

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Abbreviations

2-D:

two-dimensional

3-D:

three-dimensional

6-D:

six-dimensional

AGV:

automated guided vehicle

CAD:

computer-aided design

CAM:

computer-aided manufacturing

CD:

committee draft

CF:

carbon fiber

CNC:

computer numerical control

CP:

continuous path

CPS:

cyber physical system

DC:

direct current

DFA:

design for assembly

DH:

Denavit–Hartenberg

DLR:

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt

DOF:

degree of freedom

FMS:

flexible manufacturing system

FSW:

friction stir welding

GMAW:

gas-shielded metal arc welding

I/O:

input/output

IFR:

International Federation of Robotics

ISO:

International Organization for Standardization

IT:

information technology

LCC:

life-cycle-costing

MORO:

mobile robot

MTBF:

mean time between failures

NC:

numerical control

OLP:

offline programming

PC:

personal computer

PKM:

parallel kinematic machine

parallel kinematics machine

PLC:

programmable logic controller

POI:

point of interest

PUMA:

programmable universal machine for assembly

R&D:

research and development

RC:

robot controller

SCARA:

selective compliance assembly robot arm

SKM:

serial kinematic machines

VCR:

video cassette recorder

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robot Systems, Fraunhofer IPA, Nobelstrasse 12, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Martin Hägele

  2. Department of Computer Science, Lund Institute of Technology, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden

    Klas Nilsson

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Palácio dos Grilos, Rua da Ilha, 3000-214, Coimbra, Portugal

    J. Norberto Pires

  4. Technology Development, KUKA Roboter GmbH, Zugspitzstrasse 140, 86165, Augsburg, Germany

    Rainer Bischoff

Authors
  1. Martin Hägele
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  2. Klas Nilsson
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  3. J. Norberto Pires
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  4. Rainer Bischoff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Hägele .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125, Naples, Italy

    Bruno Siciliano

  2. Department of Computer Sciences, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, CA 94305, Stanford, USA

    Oussama Khatib

Video-References

Video-References

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SMErobotics project video available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/260

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SMErobot video coffee break (English) available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/261

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SMErobot final project video available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/262

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SMErobot – New parallel kinematic with unique concepts for demanding handling and process applications available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/265

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SMErobot D4 The woodworking assistant available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/266

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SMErobotics demonstrator D1 assembly with dual-arm industrial manipulators available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/380

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SMErobotics demonstrator D2 human–robot cooperation in wooden house production available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/381

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SMErobotics demonstrator D3 assembly with sensitive compliant robot arms available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/382

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SMErobotics demonstrator D4 welding robot assistant available from http://handbookofrobotics.org/view-chapter/54/videodetails/383

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Hägele, M., Nilsson, K., Pires, J.N., Bischoff, R. (2016). Industrial Robotics. In: Siciliano, B., Khatib, O. (eds) Springer Handbook of Robotics. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32552-1_54

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