Robotics最新文献

In consideration of the growing importance of the application of ir in Austrian producing enterprises, the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce established a special department in 1982 with a view to:

• 1.

  (a) convince enterpreneurs of the advantages of using high technologies, such as microelectronics, industrial robots, flexible manufacturing systems, cad/cam etc. and

• 2.

  (b) assist and advise respective enterprises in making a decisioin as to whether and where to implement high technical products into their production and — in the affirmative — how to proceed further.

This contribution outlines various methods to ascertain most effectively

• •

  - where robots could be used in a certain enterprise

• •

  - how specific technical problems should be solved and

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  - the estimate of economy.

The paper describes and compares the patterns of diffusion of industrial robots in the oecd countries from the mid 1970s up till 1985. The pattern of application of robots in terms of handling, process and assembly robots, as well as a more specific categories is discussed. It is shown that, in some countries, assembly robots form the most rapidly growing category out of the three main ones mentioned.

The industrial distribution of the use of robots is then addressed. The dominance of the engineering industry (isic 38) is confirmed, but within this industry the pattern of diffusion varies considerably between countries. In some countries transport equipment (isic 384) dominates. In others it is non-electrical machinery (isic 382) and in some it is metal products (isic 381). Electrical machinery (isic 383) seems to be a minor user of robots, except in the case of Japan. With regard to types of user firms, large firms dominate heavily, but there are some signs that also small ones are increasingly investing in robots.

In the short run and in a limited perspective, reduced costs for unskilled and semiskilled labour is the most important reason for most robot investments. The profitability of robots is generally somewhat lower than for average investments in machinery. This is not suprising since many robot investments are made for strategic reasons, and since the benefits from such investments are not realized except in the long run and thereby not reflected in the usual investment calculations. In the long run robot investments should be seen as a part of more comprehensive automation processes. The capital prductivity (e.g. work in progress) can be substantially improved. In some larger companies, robot investments are already part of a capital (and labour) rationalization process.

Sensory feedback control is utilized in order to make a robot intelligent. This paper describes the present status of intelligent robots by introducing robot systems with force and visual sensors developed in Hitachi, Ltd. The force feedback control named “virtual compliance mechanism” can generate the same functions as any other compliance mechanism such as rcc for inserting operation by setting suitable values to the parameters of the software in the control unit. 3-D visual feedback control method is also described in which the slit light method is used to recognize 3-dimensional position and orientation of the object.

The paper reviews the stage reached in, and presents further prospects for, the development of robotics in Czechoslovakia. During the last 15 years, several significant successes have been achieved in the automation of manufacturing technologies in engineering industries (machining, shaping, welding, surface treatment etc.), as well as in that of various metallurgical and chemical processes and in the field of energy.

A wide range of universal and adaptive robots, manipulators and automatic handling and transport systems is at present being produced and implemented in Czechoslovakia. In 1986–1990 - in comparison with the period 1981–1985 - the number of installed robots is expected to increase 4.56 times and the number of implemented robotized technological complexes 2.26 times.

The author describes the main long-term tasks in the development of robotization, which include:

• 1.

  - Modelling of the system structures;

• 2.

  - Development of production integration shcmes;

• 3.

  - Assessment of trends in innovation and use of robots;

• 4.

  - Assessment of social implications related to the process of intensive robotization; and

• 5.

  - Increased cooperation efforts in the promotion and realization of robotics, including international division of labour.

The current robotization development programme adopted in Czechoslovakia makes provision for effective solutions of these problems.