Robotics in Manufacturing

Idea of robots is very old. Puppets and mechanical toys have been found in 5000 year before at Indus Valley Civilization. German astronomer Johann Muller made an eagle that flew before the Emperor Maximillian when he entered Numbery (Deb 1994). The first use of the word robot appeared in 1921 in the play Rossum s Universal Robots (RUR) written by the Czech playwright Karel Capeck (1890-1938). The Czech word robota means forced labor. In 1940, Isacc Asimov 

Asimov also added zeroth law that states that neither a robot must harm humanity nor should allow humanity to come to harm. Fuller wrote the fourth law in his book, A robot may take a human being s job, but it should not leave the person jobless.  

Atkins, A. G. (2003). Modelling metal cutting using modem ductile fracture mechanics quantitative explanations for some longstanding problems. Intemational Journal of Mechanical Science, 43, 373-396. 

Astakhov, V. P. (2004). The assessment of cutting tool wear. Intemational Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 44, 637-647. 

Astakhov, V. P. (2006). An opening historical note. Intemational Journal of Machining and Machinability cf Materials, 1, 3-11. 

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Automated manufacturing is the general term for computer-controlled machine tools and robots in manufacturing. 

Any decision to establish automated or robotic systems must carefully consider prerequisites such as the annual numbers of samples to be processed to achieve an acceptable cost-to-benefit ratio. Late phase development stability studies may benefit from fully automated systems based on the enormous numbers of samples to be analyzed for each stability time point. The use of automated systems in manufacturing quality control is now required due to the sheer number of samples to be... 

Recently, the miniaturization procedures of bioanalytical studies have become an important research area with particular focus on modem concept of lab-on-a-chip technology [48], with a reduction in manufacturing costs, easy transport, minimal space and minimal maintenance requirements (and costs) in the laboratory and in the fields, even if this progress require a long design and implementation time, non-stable robotic operation, and limited error recovery abilities. 

In the past, laboratories have justified the initial investment in dedicated automation on the basis of the large number of identical, repetitive operations carried out. Fixed or dedicated automation is utihzed for large quantities of standard procedures, such as those found in manufacturing environments or in clinical laboratories. Fixed automation follows a predetermined sequence of steps to perform a defined procedure although efficient, it can only perform one repetitive procedure. Robotics, however, can provide flexible automation to meet the changing needs typical of quality control and research laboratories. Flexible automation is programmed by individual users to perform multiple procedures, and can be quickly reprogrammed to accommodate new or revised procedures. In these situations, a careful assessment of the software overhead must be made before a decision to purchase is made. 

The current technology for robotics is mature, and a significant amount of research and development is being done by private companies to support advances in manufacturing processes.12 Much of this technology is applicable to the development of robotic systems for use on large CWM burial sites.13... 

There are clear precedents for the use of robots In the laboratory. So far there have been great advances In the development and manufacture of robots for industrial purposes, and these will ultimately facilitate the Incorporation of mlnlrobots Into the laboratory. On the other hand, the most represents-... 

Since MIT demonstrated the first numerically controlled machine tool in 1952, information technologies have revolutionized and automated the manufacturing processes. See Chapter 12 for physical automation techniques such as robots. In general, physical automation technology can be applied in three areas processing, transportation/storage, and inspection. Representative examples of automated equipment are ... 

Schraft, R. D., Spingler, J., and Wossner, J. R, Automated High-Frequency Sealing in Measuring Instruments, Robotic and Manufacturing Systems, pp. 705-710, 1996. 

In the AFP process, multi-headed robot machinery lays down multiple strands of prepregged fibre on either flat tools, curved mandrels or complete cylindrical mandrels or drums (as applied in manufacture of fuselage sections of the Boeing 787). The process is shown in Figure 3.4. The ATL variant of the process lays down tapes of unidirectional prepreg up to 300 mm wide across the mandrel. The AFP process uses smaller width ribbons of prepreg a few millimetres wide and can... 

Moreover, loading, unloading, and transferring of workpieces in manufacturing facilities can be carried out reliably and repeatedly by industrial robots. 

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