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Industrial Technology

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Technical Factors

Emerging Technologies - Robotics

Suggested answers

Activity 1

Describe what is meant by the term Cybernetics.

Cybernetics is a theory of the communication and control of regulatory feedback . The term cybernetics stems from the Greek (kybernetes - meaning steersman, governor, pilot, or rudder). Cybernetics is the discipline that studies communication and control in living beings or machines.

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Activity 2.

What is a robot?

In practical usage, a robot is a mechanical device which performs its tasks either according to direct human control, partial control with human supervision, or completely autonomously.

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Activity 3

What areas of technology are generally applied to working robot design?

• Electronics
  
• Mechanics
  
• Computing
  
• Kinematics
  
• Pneumatics
  
• Hydraulics

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Activity 4

Identify a number of key reasons for using robots in manufacturing?

Robots are used to do tasks that are too dull, dirty, or dangerous for humans. Industrial robots used in manufacturing lines used to be the most common form of robots, but that has recently been replaced by consumer robots cleaning floors and mowing lawns. Other applications include toxic waste cleanup, underwater and space exploration, surgery, mining, search and rescue, and searching for land mines. Robots are also finding their way into entertainment and home health care.

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Activity 5

What are the main applications for industrial robots?

• assemble products
• handle dangerous materials
• spray finishes on
• inspect parts, produce, and even livestock
• cut and polish products

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Activity 6

What are the main advantages of using robots in Industry?

The advantages of Industrial Robots are:

1. Quality:
   Robots have rhe capacity to dramatically improve product quality. Applications are performed with precision and big repeatability every time. This level of consistency can be hard to achieve any other way.
2. Production:
   With robots, throughput speeds increase, which directly impacts production. Because robots have the ability to work at a constant speed without pausing for breaks, sleep, vacations, they have the potential to produce more than a human worker.
3. Safety:
   Robot increase workplace safety. Workers are moved to supervisory roles, so they no longer have to perform dangerous applications in hazardous settings.
4. Savings:
   Greater worker safery leads to financial savings. There are fewer healthcare and insurance concerns for employers. Robots also offer untiring performance which saves valuable time. Their movements are always exact, so less material is wasted.

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Activity 7

Identify and explain disadvantages of using robotic systems?

1. Expense:
   The initial investment of robots is significant, especially when business owners are limiting their purchases to new robotic equipment. The cost of automation should be calculated in light of a business' greater financial budget. Regular maintenance needs can have a financial toll as well.
2. ROI
   Incorporating industrial robots does not guarantee results. Without planning, companies can have difficulty achieving their goals.
3. Expertise:
   Employees will require training in programming and interacting with the new robotic equipment. This normally takes time and financial output/
4. Safety:
   Robots may protect worker from some hazards, but in the meantime, their very presence can create other safety problems. These new dangers must be taken into consideration.

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Activity 8

Suggest some of the emerging applications for robotics in your focus area industry (automotive industries, timber products and furniture industries, metals and engineering industries/graphics industries, building and construction industries, electronics industries, multimedia industries, or plastics industries).

Your suggestions could address materials handling, assembly, finishing etc.

For Timber Products and Furniture Industries: CAD/CAM where cutting instructions are carried out by a robotic arm.

For Metal and Engineering Industries: repetitive spot welding of components, machining centres or powder coating.

For Graphics industries: plotting of complex computer generated images.

For Building and Construction industries: assembly of large trusses.

For Electronics industries: assembly of electronic components into printed circuit boards prior to soldering.

For Plastics Industries: automated fibreglass lay-up.

For Automotive Industries: spot welding assembly of car bodies.

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