CONTROL & AUTOMATION IDENTIFICATION & INTEGRATION
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
Want a robot but don ’ t know where to start ?
Industrial or collaborative ? This is the question everyone is asking . We all want to get the most out of our production , however the demarcation line between the two options is not as clear as you might think . It all depends on the setting in which the machine operates , how operators need to interact with the robot and its main functions .
Barry Weller , Solutions Marketing Manager – OEM at Mitsubishi Electric , looks at how to identify what type of robot best suits your application and how to integrate it .
The first question that companies interested in automating their processes should ask is : what do we want to achieve ? The answer to this will determine the role and type of robot needed . Consequently , conducting a comprehensive risk assessment will shed light on the safety requirements .
For example , if speeding up operations is the main objective behind deploying a robotic solution , conventional industrial robots , such as Mitsubishi Electric ’ s MELFA RV articulated arm and RH series SCARA robots , are quite likely to be the most suitable option . As the application will dictate , these robots move at high speed which means they are suitable for applications where workspace is to be shared with human operators only by adopting additional safety provisions . The options to integrate them are to construct physical safety perimeter guards or implement systems that allow automated speed control when humans approach the robot working area .
Conversely , if the main goal is assisting employees in their activities , for example by passing or holding parts , the application would be considered collaborative . As a result , any conventional physical separation between humans and robots would obstruct the application . In this case , the ISO / TS 15066:2016 standard supports the development of suitable safety measures , as highlighted by the risk assessment . An example of a robot designed for collaborative applications is Mitsubishi Electric ’ s MELFA RV series Assista articulated arm robot .
The guidelines indicate different types of collaborative applications which include safety-rated monitored stop , speed and separation monitoring , hand guiding as well as power and force limiting .
This is where the grey area between the two types of robot starts to appear . With the increase in safety options now available , industrial robots can also achieve many of the requirements needed in a collaborative application .
Designed to work alongside humans , collaborative robots or ‘ cobots ’, can provide a safe solution . Source : Mitsubishi Electric Corporation , Japan
44 PECM Issue 51