by A Brief History of Industrial Robotics
Industrial robots have come a long way since being introduced in the 1950s. Some of the earliest industrial robots were simple single axis robots used for pick and place tasks on assembly lines. In the 1960s, multiaxis robots started being used for welding and other more complex tasks. It was during this time that the term “robotics” was coined to describe this emerging field of automated machines.
In the 1970s, industrial robots began to gain more widespread use in factories around the world. Applications expanded beyond assembly lines to include jobs like painting, packaging, palletizing and more. This was also when computer control of robots increased their precision, repeatability and ability to perform tasks autonomously. The first major industrial robot companies like Adept, Hyundai and ABB were also formed during this decade.
Major Developments in Robotic Technology
Over the past few decades, industrial robots have continued to advance in capabilities thanks to new technologies. Advances in sensors allowed for force control which enabled robots to handle a wider variety of parts without damaging them. vision systems gave robots the ability to identify and manipulate different objects. New electric and hydraulic actuators improved robot speed, accuracy and payload capacity.
One of the biggest recent changes has been the introduction of collaborative robots or “cobots”. Cobots are designed to safely interact and work alongside human operators without the need for protective fencing. Using sensors, vision and safe speeds/forces, collaborative robots can perform tasks like assembly, material handling, quality inspection right beside workers. This has opened up many new applications for robotics in packaging, materials sorting and other labor-intensive industries.
Artificial intelligence is also starting to be implemented in industrial robots. Machine vision combined with AI can enable robots to visually inspect products, detect defects and make pass/fail decisions without human oversight. AI is also powering robots with new levels of situational awareness to operate safely around humans. As AI capabilities continue developing, it will change the way industrial robots are programmed and integrated on factory floors.
Applications of Industrial Robotics Across Industries
Today, industrial robots can be found in nearly every manufacturing industry from automotive to food processing. Some of the major applications of robotics are:
Automotive – Over 1 million industrial robots are used in vehicle and auto component manufacturing today. They perform welding, painting, assembly and material handling tasks throughout the production process.
Electronics – Robots play a key role in electronics manufacturing, particularly for tasks like pick and place, soldering, inspection and testing. Their precision and repeatability is well suited to the electronics industry.
Plastics/Rubber – Material handling, molding, cutting and packaging of plastics and rubber parts sees extensive use of robots. Their ability to handle hot materials safely increases output.
Metal Fabrication – Welding, cutting, grinding and handling of metal components depends heavily on robots in industries like shipbuilding, machinery and heavy equipment manufacturing.
Food Processing – From picking and sorting fresh produce to packaging snacks, robotics reduces risk of contamination while boosting production rates in food and beverage industries.
Pharmaceuticals – Robots conduct assembly, filling, inspection and packaging operations for medications, thereby increasing quality and safety standards required for consumables.
Key Benefits of Robotics for Manufacturers
The broad implementations of industrial robots across sectors stems from the numerous advantages it provides manufacturers. Some of the top benefits include:
Increased Productivity – Robots can work 24/7 without breaks which improves total output volumes. They can also perform repetitive, hazardous tasks quicker than humans.
Consistency & Quality – Robots ensure repetitive tasks are completed with perfect consistency and attention to detail which elevates product quality. They eliminate variability from human factors.
Safety – Robots take over dangerous jobs involving heat, chemicals, heavy lifting that put worker safety at risk. They also minimize risks like accidents, errors and wasted materials.
Labor Shortages – Automation helps manufacturers overcome challenges around labor force availability and attrition by supplementing human workforce as required.
Cost Savings – While upfront costs are high, robots deliver significant operating cost reductions through elimination of salaries, benefits and other human resource expenses over time. Payback periods are shortening.
Predictable Investment – Unlike fluctuating salary structures, the total cost of ownership for robotics assets can be readily planned and budgeted for as part of capital investments.
Challenges and Considerations for Adopting Robotics
While the advantages of industrial robots are undeniable, there are also challenges faced by manufacturers evaluating and implementing robotic automation. Some of the key factors to consider include:
High Capital Costs – Robotics equipment, engineering, installation and programming requires significant upfront investment that not all companies can readily afford. Payback periods need careful analysis.
Skill Development – Setting up and maintaining robotics cells requires specialized engineering, programming and integration skills that may need to be developed internally or outsourced depending on in-house expertise.
Programmability – Not all manufacturing tasks are conducive to robotics due to complexity, frequent product changes or other factors that make programming difficult or unfeasible. Simplified interfacing is needed.
Human Factors – Integration of robots among existing human workforce requires carefully designed safety precautions, retraining initiatives and change management to avoid adverse impacts on productivity or morale.
Technology Obsolescence – Unlike other machinery, robotics is advancing rapidly with new generations of hardware/software constantly being introduced. This accelerates technology refresh needs. Spare parts support also needs attention.
In summary, while robots clearly offer productivity, quality and safety boosts critical for manufacturers today, their adoption demands strategic planning, change management and ongoing skills/capabilities development to fully unlock the benefits. A methodical approach factoring challenges and total cost of ownership yield the highest ROI.
*Note:
- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
