As time passes by, technology is getting more and more advanced. In fact, there is a growth in the number of robotics and artificial intelligence companies that helps in bringing efficient and accurate service to other industries.The use of assembly line robots has helped many manufactures to increase productivity almost fivefold and reduce rejects to a near zero. Also known as production line robots, assembly line robots are ideal for tasks that require both accuracy and speed. These types of robots are increasingly being used to handle dangerous, difficult or monotonous tasks that are part of the production process.
In addition, assembly line robots are especially beneficial if your working environment demands immaculate cleanliness such as medical device assembly or pharmaceuticals. Remember, robots neither suffer from debilitating injuries nor tire, this makes them a valuable investment for businesses involved in a wide range of manufacturing processes. Here is how assembly line robots from Universal Robots are solving the challenges encountered in production line.
Safe collaboration with human beings
Collaborative robots used in assembly line enable them to work alongside human beings without the fence or cage that is usually required with traditional industrial robots. These robots are collaborative since they feature a built-in safety system that enables them to immediately halt all operations as soon as they encounter people or objects in their route.
The safety features on assembly line robots simplify a lot in regards to making your company’s most valuable assets which are the human workers feel more secure and comfortable working around them.
Five-fold efficiency benefit
Assembly line robots are often built with force and vision sensing specifications that enable them to pick up parts from a conveyor belt before inserting them into the appropriate part of the incomplete product. Such features not only allow these robots work safely alongside humans but also perform their tasks with utmost precision and efficiency. Some assembly line robots are self-taught jacks-of-all trades while others have the ability of mimicking the hand of a human operator and executing the job in the exact same style.
This function gives room for five-fold efficiency because the chances of a robot committing an error is almost zero. Unlike humans, assembly line robots don’t suffer from ergonomic issues resulting from taking on monotonous tasks for hours. For this reason they can work continuously without rest thus eliminating idleness.
Quick robot integration
Universal robots understand that quick deployment of assembly line robots is paramount. Therefore, it takes a short time from when your robotics purchase is delivered, installed and programmed. Assembly line robots need to adopt to their new working environments very quickly. For this reason, a collaborative robotic arm can be put in free-drive mode and teach it to perform the required task by physically moving it through the path of your production line process.
By doing so, you don’t need to pre-program or create hundreds of way points for the robot. Similarly, it is also easy to modify to existing programs.
Robot monitoring through smartphone
Some assembly line robots are built with a smartphone interface that is designed to enable you to monitor the performance of your robot and receive ongoing technical support as well. If you want quick insight into precise production numbers, you can stream performance data from your robot as events unfold and monitor it through an app that features real-time charts.In addition, web cameras can also show you what’s happening in your production line thus you a chance to monitor all activities at any given time.
Increased mobile visibility into the production process is a concept that was conceived by industry 4.0 in an effort to increase productivity. By gathering information on the number of units your robot can produce in a specific period of time, you can combine the data you need to come up with realistic and accurate forecast for your production needs.
As assembly line robots become more accessible and less costly, they should help counter the challenges manufacturers face in the production line. By reducing the costs of labor through automation, most high-wage countries will be have a same level playing field with low-wage countries such as China.
