You might have encountered the phrases ‘robotics’ and ‘automation’ getting used interchangeably, however there are some vital variations between the phrases and what they imply. On this article we’ll take a look at these variations and discover a number of the methods by which collaborative robots have reworked the worlds of conventional robotics and manufacturing.
What’s the distinction between robotics and automation?
In conventional phrases, automation is a really broad class that refers to the usage of software program, machines and units which can be designed to carry out duties often carried out by people. For instance, enterprise course of automation is software program designed to enhance enterprise processes. In the meantime, robotic course of automation (RPA) refers to software program brokers (or software program robots) with AI and machine studying capabilities that may use pc software program like a human would. You might be asking “Who makes use of robotic course of automation?’ RPA is used to automate labor intensive workflow, infrastructure and again workplace processes, making them an important match for big firms with giant scale human assets, IT and finance departments.
You may additionally be asking “Is robotic course of automation AI?” RPA provides good options, however it’s not the identical factor as synthetic intelligence. RPA is a software program robotic that mimics human actions, whereas synthetic intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence utilizing pc software program.
The time period ‘robotics’ particularly pertains to machines that may see, sense, actuate and, with various levels of autonomy, make selections. It is usually a broad class, encompassing drones, service robots and Mars rovers, however within the context of conventional robotics and manufacturing, the machines being referred to listed here are industrial robots. Industrial robots are bodily {hardware} and are used to examine, assemble, bundle and palletize bodily merchandise. Automation is a time period that features software program brokers with no {hardware}, and robotics is finest understood as a sub-category of automation.
What’s automation and robotics engineering?
Automation engineering refers back to the design and improvement of software program, machines and different units used for the needs of performing a job sometimes carried out by people. Robotics engineering refers back to the design and improvement of robots; it incorporates software program, {hardware}, sensors and different units, particularly to be used in robotics functions, reminiscent of high quality inspection, meeting and packaging.
Conventional vs collaborative robots
One other vital distinction to bear in mind is that between conventional industrial robots and ‘collaborative robots (or ‘cobots’). Collaborative robots have reworked conventional understandings of automation, of robotics and of the connection between human labor and robots.
A distinct segment product only a decade in the past, cobots are actually the quickest rising phase of the worldwide industrial robotics market. A latest report from the Worldwide Federation of Robotics discovered that cobot installations grew by 11% in 2019, “in distinction to the general pattern with conventional industrial robots.” Why are cobots rising in recognition?
Benefits of collaborative robots
Cobots differ from conventional industrial automation in a number of vital methods. Whereas conventional automation is characterised by fastened {hardware} designed to deal with one particular product half, cobots are designed to be cell and straightforward to reprogram to run on totally different duties. Because of this producers utilizing cobots can deal with excessive combine/low quantity manufacturing batches with out having to make large adjustments to their automation setup. Conventional robots might carry out beautifully at a particular job, however cobots supply nice flexibility and the potential for widespread redeployment all through your manufacturing facility. It might take weeks or months to vary conventional, static automation simply to accommodate slight product variations; a cobot could be reprogrammed to deal with new elements inside hours. Equally, conventional automation tends to be developed for a single function or utility, whereas cobots can be utilized on several types of functions from meeting to high quality inspection to welding.
Conventional robots are troublesome to program, usually requiring professional coders at nice expense. In contrast, cobots are designed for ease of use. As a result of they’re straightforward to make use of, cobots take away a serious barrier to automation adoption amongst small-to-medium dimension companies. Conventional automation usually requires engineering and/or robotics expertise and may take weeks to finish, whereas finish customers are prepared to make use of cobots from Common Robots after taking a brief on-line coaching course by the Common Robots Academy. For instance, ASSA ABLOY, a New Zealand-based firm that focuses on door and window opening options, evaluated three industrial robotic arms to see how effectively they carried out lock meeting and screwing duties. Ultimately the corporate chosen a UR5 as a result of its “ease of programming was unmatched.”
