Methods for Improved Robot Systems

[Bill Egert]

Here’s a research outline for developing guidelines to allow end-users better selection, operation & redeployment of robot systems.

Current Problems: Manufacturers have difficulty specifying and selecting robot systems due to a wide range of criteria and various independent standards groups. Imported robot systems don’t always meet U.S. and Canadian safety/performance standards. Some new automation buyers tend to over focus on price while overlooking important safety, performance & reliability issues.

Subsequent Outcomes: Overall, the above deficiencies result in equipment damage, poor productivity and a lack of overall flexibility with many robot systems. Some of these shortcomings can be directly measured in dollars. For example, at the end of an automation workcell’s lifetime (perhaps 5-7 years) it’s not unusual for a robot, especially gantry-type, to be worth only 5-10% of original cost. The main reason for this drastic reduction in value is lack of flexible mechanics and electrics to allow easy transition to another application. Is it possible to improve robot flexibility and increase chances of re-deployment?

Mission Statement: To develop a set of automation guidelines that will improve robot safety, reliability, performance & lifetime (overall flexibility). The end-result is a measurably higher value robot that can be more easily reused or resold. Motivation for business managers to accept the slightly higher cost of better robots can be found in increased resale value of such robots.

Concerning unique value for SME members: RIA has its robot safety standard, NFPA writes electrical safety standards, OSHA provides building & production regulations, NEMA has motor, drive & power design rules, EIA/IEEE have various computer & electronics standards, and Canada has similar groups with sometimes different standards. How does a manufacturing engineer understand and 'tie’ all of these requirements together? What about areas of concern that are not covered by these groups (e.g., software design)? Are there many design conflicts between these groups and European standards groups? And what similarities exist with CE regulations?

We should provide end-users with a brief summary of current standards, a better method of selecting robots based on these standards and help with understanding rule conflicts and any missing areas of concern. This approach can lead to building a data set that has lasting value for SME members. (Note that this effort can also benefit any machine buyer/user that requires improved safety, performance & flexibility).


Here’s a start to our efforts:

As a controls engineer, I’ll provide several on-going issues that I think hurt robot end-users and are not being addressed by any technical groups. Please provide your own ‘issues’ via a blog post or e-mail and I can summarize an outline for our next conf-call. I look forward to more mechanical issues any MEs reading this document.


TOPICS FOR BETTER ROBOTIC GUIDELINES

1) improved wire & cable identification

2) standard operator pushbutton & indicator colors

3) simplifying various machine interface signals

4) more ‘plug & play’ electric/electronic modules

5) providing standard schematic device symbols

6) common PLC/computer I/O specs (true-on def.)

7) quick-change tooling, electrics & pneumatics

8) easy configuration & start-up procedures (i.e. programs)

9) summary of North American automation standards

10) overview of best-case software design rules

11) improving flexibility of mechanical axis

12) English vs. metric fasteners

[nlowell]

Greetings Robot Tech Group Members:

The last two conf-calls have been on the small side as far as participation, so I’m asking everyone to please raise the priority of these meetings in the future. If you cannot attend a conference call please e-mail me by Friday so I know who to wait for when starting the meeting. If you have a last minute schedule change, please call my cell phone Monday morning (630 338-9554).

We have made a little progress concerning ‘robot guidelines’ and here’s a summary: We’ve identified several different organizations that provide technical guidance concerning automated manufacturing. A few of us have volunteered to study specific groups to see what standards they produce that affect robotics and flexible machinery. For members that have missed the last few conf-calls I took the liberty of making a few assignments for you. If you have a preference to change your assignment let me know. If you want to add any group or organization involved in U.S. or Canadian standards also let me know.


RIA review by Dave Smith

OSHA review by Raul Fernandaz

IEEE review by Peter Tanguy

EIA review by Peter Tanguy

NEMA review by Bill Egert

AMT review by Dave Smith

AWS review by Bob Price

ASME review by Larry Phillips

NFPA review by Bill Egert

JIC review by Travis Armstrong

ISA review by Travis Armstrong

UL review by Bob Price

CSA review by Raul Fernandez

For the organizations you are assigned to review, please determine what technical standards they write that affect the performance, safety & reliability of robot systems (don’t limit your review to robotics, any flexible/automated machinery standards can help us). Most of your initial research can be done via the web. Have your reviews completed and e-mailed to me by May 12th, then I’ll have a week to summarize our findings prior to our next conf-call set for Monday, May 19th.

Some organizations, such as RIA are easy to review, some like IEEE take a little more work. Remember we are ignoring most European and ‘overseas’ national standards to better focus on U.S. and Canadian requirements. I look forward to you input, thanks.

Bill Egert
Chairman of Robotics Tech Group
logicone@att.net

[genroxbro]

Hello everyone,
I must be asking the wrong question.

What is your favorite "robot brain" for your robot projects? By "robot brains" I mean what is the board that runs code, handles all the sensor input, motor output, and such.

I have also read in SERVO about people who build their "robot brains" on bread boards with a PIC and other electronic components around that Example: M-Bot, and PROTObot. That is not exactly what I want to do, least not right now anyway.

I just want to know what people use as their "robot brain".

Aarnat
_____________________________________
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