Robotics Primer

By Robert A. Ullrich and Robert Ulrich

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0137821360
• ISBN13: 9780137821365
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 121 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Shortages in labor and the arrival of robots prevent greater inflation

Most inventions have origins in ancient fantasies and dreams. The dream of the mechanized laborer will create the greatest industrial revolution since the computer mainly the emergence of the robot. The greater the degree of freedom, the more versatile the robot and the less expensive robots have fewer degrees of freedom and are used for less complex tasks. More factories will choose to completely automate their factories by using robots. The Yamazaki Machinery Works factory requires few workers and robots operate independently in the evening with only a security guard supervising security and the company operates on its own assembling component parts for machine tools. Teaching a robot to work can be much simpler to train than a human. For example, a welding robot can be shown by a master welder a manual technique procedure and the robot can repeat the technique perfectly after with. Robots can learn skills that take humans years to learn. One of the earliest substitutes of robots for humans was in metal die cast operation, where robots logged over 1 million hours. Also, robots have been used to operate injection molding. In 1980, 4,500 robots were sold and reaped $100 million. Robots purchases have struggled for 20 years. "High interest rates, uncertainty concerning future tax regulations, and other government controlled or influenced factors inhibit American business from making capital investments in equipment such as robots". Capital investments are not keeping pace with labor costs; there is not enough money. In 1981, sales rose to $155 million with the projected sales of $5 billion by 1992. The majority of robots purchased in 1990 will be assigned to material handling. The 10 year labor cost increased 250% whereas the cost of manufacturing of a robot only increased 50%. Robots have become more economical. Robot costs will decrease as robots build robots. Fujitsu Franue facility, in Japan, have a company where robots that build robots. As robots begin to use CAD/CAM too solve problems reserved to humans more robust robot designs will emerge and production cost drop. Computer "micro chip" control, of robotic movement has greatly simplified the task of programming robots. Multiple tasks can be programmed and downloaded into the robot and the tasks are very reliable because robots do not vary in they way they work once programmed. Down time for a robot must be less than 2%. Therefore, robots must have less human intervention too keep operation; software and programming fixes must be remotely downloadable; robots must be connected to central computers that monitor the status of the machine and the robot must have self-diagnosis and the possibility of self-correction. If a robot diagnosis a problem starting too emerge with one of its component, it can broadcast the problem to the central computer and the central computer can have another robot deliver the failing component, replace it, and continue operations. A