A pick and place robot is an automated machine that picks objects from one location and places them in another, using a robotic arm fitted with an end effector such as a gripper or vacuum cup. Pick and place robotics work by combining a robotic arm, an end effector, sensors for positioning, and a controller … Read more
A robot singularity is a specific arm configuration in which a multi-axis robot loses one or more degrees of freedom and can no longer move smoothly in every direction. It happens when two or more joint axes line up in a way that makes the controller’s math demand infinite joint speed for a tiny end-effector … Read more
A robot work envelope is the three-dimensional space within which a robot’s end effector can reach and perform tasks. I have spent years working alongside automation engineers, and the work envelope is one of the first concepts we discuss before placing any robot on a factory floor. It defines what the machine can physically touch, … Read more
If you have ever watched an industrial robot arm snake into a tight engine bay or weld a seam from an impossible angle, you have seen the value of extra articulation. A 7 axis robot is exactly that: a robotic arm with seven independently controlled degrees of freedom instead of the standard six. That single … Read more
If you have ever watched a car chassis glide through a welding bay or seen a robot delicately assemble a circuit board, you were almost certainly looking at a 6 axis robot in action. It is the workhorse of modern automation and the most widely deployed type of industrial robot on the planet. A 6 … Read more
If you operate, integrate, or specify a robotic workcell, a robot risk assessment is the single document that proves your installation is safe to run. I have walked through dozens of these with safety engineers, and the same pattern keeps repeating: facilities that take the assessment seriously avoid near misses, while those that treat it … Read more
Power and force limiting (PFL) is a collaborative robot safety mode in which embedded sensors detect abnormal forces during contact and automatically stop or reduce the robot’s movement. If you have ever wondered why some industrial robots can work shoulder-to-shoulder with people while others live behind yellow cages, the answer usually comes down to PFL. … Read more
Speed and Separation Monitoring (SSM) is a collaborative robot safety function defined in ISO/TS 15066 and ISO 10218 that allows a robot and a human to share the same workspace. The area around the robot is continuously monitored, and when someone approaches, the robot initially slows down and eventually stops to maintain a minimum safe … Read more
A light curtain in robot safety is an electro-sensitive protective device that uses an array of infrared light beams to detect when a person or object enters a hazardous area around a robot or machine. When any beam is broken, the curtain sends a stop signal within milliseconds, cutting power before the worker reaches the … Read more
A robot safety fence is a physical barrier system that prevents workers from entering hazardous zones around industrial robots. It is required by OSHA, ANSI/RIA R15.06, and ISO 10218 whenever a robotic work cell, automated assembly line, or material handling station could expose personnel to crush, pinch, or impact injuries. In , these barriers remain … Read more