With the continuous advancement of technology, industrial robots have played an increasingly important role in the manufacturing industry. However, many people may find that although industrial robots have functions similar to humans in many operations, their appearance is very different from humans. This phenomenon is not accidental, but rather because the design concept of industrial robots has determined their external characteristics from the beginning.
Robot components
The structure of industrial robots is the foundation of their functions, and their design usually takes into account operational efficiency, precision, and adaptability to the working environment. Robots typically consist of several main components: body structure, end effector, wrist, arm, waist, and base.
1. Body structure:
The robot body is the core part of the entire robot, usually composed of multiple joints and arm segments. The design of the robot body will be optimized according to different application scenarios and task requirements. In most industrial robots, the robotic arm often adopts a joint structure and has multiple degrees of freedom (usually 4 to 6 degrees of freedom). Degree of freedom refers to the number of components that can move independently and affect the position and direction of the robot's end effector.
2. End effector:
The end effector is the "hand" of a robot, which directly contacts external objects and performs operational tasks. For example, tools such as welding guns, suction cups, wrenches, spray guns, and clamps are usually installed on end effectors to perform welding, gripping, assembly, and other operations. The design of the end effector of the robot varies according to the different process requirements of the application to ensure that it can effectively complete the work.
3. Wrist and arm:
The wrist and arm of the robot are responsible for performing various precise actions, and the wrist is generally equipped with multiple joints to control the direction of movement of the end effector. The arm supports the entire robot, allowing it to perform complex operations such as rotation, tilting, or stretching.
4. Waist and base:
The Waist of a robot is usually used to connect the robot's body and base, allowing the robot to perform more complex actions. The base is an important component that supports the entire robot and is fixed on the work platform.
Why are industrial robots not like humans?
Although robots have similar abilities to humans when performing tasks, their appearance and design concepts are vastly different from humans. This is because the original intention of designing industrial robots is not to imitate human appearance, but to focus on the efficiency and accuracy of performing specific tasks.
1. Task-oriented design:
Industrial robots are designed to adapt to specific work tasks, such as welding, assembly, and handling. Therefore, their design focuses more on functionality and flexibility rather than imitating the shape of the human body. For example, the "hand" end effector of industrial robots may be equipped with tools such as suction cups, grippers, or spray guns according to task requirements, rather than having the flexibility of five fingers like humans.
2. Multi-degree of freedom design:
Industrial robots typically require multiple degrees of freedom (the higher the degrees of freedom, the more complex the actions and poses they can perform), which allows them to operate accurately in three-dimensional space. Compared to human limbs, industrial robots do not need to mimic human joint structures, but rather design the number and distribution of joints based on job requirements.
3. Stability and safety:
The exterior design of industrial robots places more emphasis on stability and safety. Robots must be able to work stably, especially during high loads or rapid movements. Unlike humans, the joint and arm design of industrial robots focuses on earthquake resistance and structural stability, reducing the possibility of inaccurate or erroneous operations due to unsuitable shapes.
4. Cost and manufacturing considerations:
Creating a robot with a "humanoid" appearance is not only more expensive but also more complex to maintain. Industrial robots do not need to have surface features similar to humans, and their design focuses more on how to efficiently complete work tasks rather than imitating human appearance.
Industrial robots are not like humans, which reflects the original intention of their design: to efficiently perform tasks, possess flexibility and precision, rather than imitating human appearance.
The structure of industrial robots, from end effectors to various joint components, is optimized to meet work requirements and improve production efficiency. With the advancement of technology, future robots may become more flexible in interacting with humans, but their appearance will still serve functional needs rather than simply imitating human form.