Industrial robots access AI via
the cloud
M
itsubishi Electric has developed
a cloud-based solution for
pro-active maintenance based
on the AI platform within IBM Watson,
which enables the smart analysis of
operational data to predict and highlight
future maintenance requirements.
The theory is that sometimes service
schedule requirements for robots are
inadvertently missed which, despite
the extended duty-cycles and the
general reliability of modern robots, is
not a healthy situation for continuous
plant operation. By using an innovative
predictive maintenance method however,
users are engaged with their robots,
receive operational and maintenance
data and thereby keep them healthy
via planned maintenance schedules,
reducing operational costs, increasing
asset productivity and improving process
efficiency.
Putting predictive maintenance on the
digital agenda
Today many companies are still caught
by surprise when machine failures
occur. They tend to fix problems during
enforced downtime, or implement
preventative maintenance based on set
schedules or numbers of operational
hours. However, using predictive
maintenance techniques production
problems can be highlighted long before
they result in unplanned downtime or
impact on yield. Maintenance personnel
can take corrective action before
failure or before degraded machine
performance results in sub-standard
products being manufactured.
The additional benefit of predictive
maintenance is that by potentially
avoiding some fixed-schedule
maintenance tasks you don’t service
equipment when it isn’t required, rather
on-demand, therefore saving time and
expenditure.
This latest solution from
Mitsubishi Electric offering predictive
maintenance for robots utilises the AI
platform within IBM Watson to assess
30
actual maintenance requirements
and then suggest actions to take in
an efficient and timely manner. The
platform uses predictive maintenance
models, digital simulation and
extrapolation of trends to provide
maintenance information based on
actual usage and wear characteristics.
This is particularly pertinent to robots,
where users don’t always appreciate that
periodic maintenance is a mandatory
requirement.
There are a number of moving parts
within SCARA and articulated arm
robots, depending on the type and
model they include servo motors, gears,
ball-screws, belts, bearings and seals.
Items will experience wear over time
and require eventual replacement while
others will need fresh lubrication and
a service check on belt tensions etc.
Considerations such as duty cycles,
operating environment and loading
can all play a part in dictating service
requirements, so being able to visualise
components with a live status and then
receive considered advice tailored to that
particular machine will match servicing
closely to requirement.
Voice commands for industrial robots
The system also demonstrates how the
speed and efficiency of any necessary
maintenance activities taking place can
be enhanced using voice commands. An
augmented reality platform is used to
create a visual overlay which provides
live information in real-time interactive
screen graphics. Siri for example can
then be used to issue simple commands
based on the knowledge gleaned from
the screen. Increased visibility of live
status information is expected to provide
opportunities for significant reductions
in downtime.
Augmented reality provides additional
support for maintenance
Using this, system maintenance activities
can also be optimised through the use
of smart glasses, where the operator
receives guidance on what tasks need
to be performed. The glasses can show
CAD drawings of the various robot parts,
superimposed over the robot itself. The
glasses can also show the maintenance
manual and individual instructions.
This type of next generation human /
machine interaction works well with
the latest safety solutions that can do-
away with the traditional interlocked
cage in many instances, relying on
smart proximity sensors and Mitsubishi
Electric’s MELFA SafePlus feature to
manage robot movement safely in the
presence of humans.
www.gb3a.mitsubishielectric.com