teaching programming, offline programming and autonomous programming

Programming is a program design that guides the robot to complete the job. To put it simply, it is to turn our ideas into a language that the robot can understand. Today, this article will introduce you to the three common programming methods of industrial robots: teaching programming, offline programming and language programming.

1 Demonstration programming

Teaching programming, also known as online programming, is a way of programming by manually guiding the robot to complete specific actions and tasks. The core idea is "teaching and reproduction". There are two methods.

The first method is teaching by a trainer. The operator directly controls the robot to perform the required actions using the trainer, which involves manually recording the path, such as moving to a specified position and pressing the record button, or manually guiding the robot to execute specific tasks. The robot control system records these action trajectories and parameters in memory, after which the robot repeats these actions according to the stored program.

The second is drag teaching. This is a direct teaching method, in which the operator manually drags the robot joint or end effector to the target position or along a specific trajectory, records the robot motion trajectory and posture data, so as to realize the programming of the robot program.

Teaching programming is simple and easy to perform, ensuring the correctness of the programmed programs and the safety and reliability of the robot's movements. It is currently the most commonly used programming method for industrial robots, especially suitable for teaching robots in repetitive tasks such as automatic production lines. However, teaching programming requires actual operation at the robot's work site, which takes a long time, and high-precision, complex trajectory movements are also difficult to teach.

2 Offline programming

Offline programming is a method of programming robots using specialized software on a computer, without the need to operate on the actual robot, thus not affecting on-site production. Offline programming not only allows for program creation but also enables offline calculation of motion trajectories and virtual simulation of the robot's environment, allowing for the testing and validation of the program's correctness.

This method generates teaching data through CAD model and simulates in the simulation environment, which improves the use efficiency of the robot and the automation level of the production process. Offline programming technology has the advantages of high programming efficiency and wide application range, which can significantly improve the accuracy and safety of robot programming.

Offline programming can detect the feasibility of the programming results through graphical simulation, and pass the generated code to the robot controller to control the actual operation of the robot. This method reduces the downtime of the robot and improves the intuitiveness and efficiency of programming.

To add, offline programming requires specialized software provided by robot manufacturers. For example, BlanTech uses RobotArt, which is the top-tier software among Chinese brands for offline programming. This software can generate robot motion trajectories based on the topological information of geometric models. Subsequent trajectory simulation, path optimization, and post-processing code are seamlessly integrated. It also combines collision detection, scene rendering, and animation output, enabling the rapid creation of realistic simulation animations.

3 Language programming

When simple demonstrations fail to meet the application requirements, more complex language editing programs come into play. Each brand of industrial robot is like a different country among humans; each country has its own language, and each brand of robots has its own language as well. Unfortunately, there is currently no universal international robot language. Therefore, every time a new robot brand is used, a different robot language must be employed. Fortunately, the languages are quite similar, so we don't need to re-adapt.

Language programming is a more advanced form of teaching. It involves using specific languages or software to write instructions that control the robot's movements, logic, and sensors. Common languages include general-purpose ones like C++ and Python, as well as some proprietary languages developed by brands. The platforms for programming include online teaching pendant programming, offline programming software, or simulation tools.

The above is an introduction to three commonly used programming methods for industrial robots. Teach-back programming is very suitable for beginners and can be used in simple tasks; offline programming is suitable for advanced users who need a certain level of professional knowledge; while language programming is a composite upgrade of teach-back and offline programming, and is a necessary path to mastering advanced programming.