Industrial Robots and Automation
On Behalf of Mouser Electronics
Ever since industrial robotic systems were first introduced, they have faced numerous challenges. The first robotic platforms date as far back as the 1960s and initially experienced issues with high prices and complex hardware. Older robotic platforms were also reliant on a network of infrastructure (e.g., rails, tracks, magnets, and strips) that seriously limited such platforms.
Another major challenge faced by early mobile robotic systems was the lack of high-density energy storage solutions. As cables cannot be used to power mobile robotics, batteries are needed, which means the range and capabilities of the robot depend on the weight of the battery and its energy capacity.
Fast forward to 2022, and the problems faced by mobile robotic systems have changed dramatically. To start, industrial processes are often cost-sensitive, and the use of robotics in such applications means optimization is essential. However, this can be extraordinarily difficult where mobile robots and humans share spaces, as either party can make mistakes, and robotic systems must often give way to humans (or vice versa), which can disrupt tasks.
Another problem faced by modern robotic systems is the need for coordination. While robotic systems from a single manufacturer will come with software solutions, trying to coordinate across different manufacturers can be challenging, as numerous application programming interfaces will be needed (which may even require the use of custom software).
Finally, modern robotic systems face difficulties when being modified to perform different tasks. The ability to customize hardware on modern robotic platforms (e.g., different types of arms, grabbers, and detection systems) makes them highly adaptable, but making such changes requires extensive code updates, planning, and experimentation to perfect the process.
Emerging technological developments in hardware, software, and advanced analytics could address these challenges and better support modern robotic systems by improving interactions both among robots and between humans and robots, increasing productivity, and reducing costs.
What Technologies Have Helped Develop Robotics?
To help improve robotics in the field of industrial and commercial environments, robotic systems have deployed numerous technologies in both the hardware and the software used to support them.
The first major technology that robotics has begun to leverage is the Robot Operating System (ROS). The ROS is an open-source project that aims to provide engineers with common libraries, tools, and drivers to create robotic systems that use common interfaces and programming methods. As such, engineers can develop the first prototype of a robot for a specific task quickly without starting from scratch. Once the prototype is done, the project team can focus on the challenges around scalability, quality, and cross-compatibility with other robotic systems.
