www.AUNewsBlog.

net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

EC6003 ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION

UNIT I – FOUNDATION FOR BEGINNERS

1. Define Automation?

Automation is a technology that is concerned with the use of electronic,

mechanical and computer based system in the operation control and production.

The definition of automation is the use of machines and technology to make

processes run on their own without manpower.

2. What are the different types of Automation?

Automation of production systems can be classified into three basic
types:
A. Fixed automation (Hard Automation)
B. Programmable automation (Soft Automation)
C. Flexible automation.

3. Explain the various types of automation?

A. Fixed automation (Hard automation): Fixed automation refers to the use
of special purpose equipment to automate a fixed sequence of processing
or assembly operations. Each of the operation in the sequence is usually
simple, involving perhaps a plain linear or rotational motion or an
uncomplicated combination of two. It is relatively difficult to
accommodate changes in the product design. This is called hard
automation.

Advantages:

 Low unit cost

 Automated material handling
 High production rate.

Disadvantages:

 High initial Investment

 Relatively inflexible in accommodating product
changes.
B. Programmable automation (Soft automation): In programmable
automation, the production equipment is designed with the capability to
change the sequence of operations to accommodate different product
configurations. The operation sequence is controlled by a program, which
is a set of instructions coded. So that they can be read and interpreted by
the system. New programs can be prepared and entered into the
SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 1
www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 2

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

equipment to produce new products. Example: Numerical controlled

machine tools, industrial robots and programmable logic controller.

Advantages:

 Flexible to deal with design variations.

 Suitable for batch production.

Disadvantages:

 High investment in general purpose equipment

 Lower production rate than fixed automation.
C. Flexible Automation: Flexible automation is an extension of
programmable automation. A flexible automation system is capable of
producing a variety of parts with virtually no time lost for changeovers
from one part style to the next. There is no lost production time while
reprogramming the system and altering the physical set up.

Advantages:

 Continuous production of variable mixtures of

product.
 Flexible to deal with product design variation.

Disadvantages:

 Medium production rate

 High investment.
 High „unit cost‟ relative to fixed automation.
4. Write the Benefits of industrial automation? (Apr 2014)
 Improved product quality
 Improved safety
 Increased manufacturing flexibility
 Improved operation reliability
 Improved decision making

5. Define Robotics?
Robotics is the art, knowledge base, and the know-how of designing,
applying, and using robots in human endeavors.

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 3

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019
6. Who coined the term robotics?
The term robotics was coined in the year 1920 by science fiction writer
Isaac Asimov.

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 4

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

7. Write Asimov’s laws of robotics?(Nov 2013,Apr 2015)

Three rules written by science fiction author Isaac Asimov and later
expanded upon. These rules are built in to almost all positronic robots
appearing in his fiction and cannot be bypassed. The rules are introduced in
his 1942 short story Runaround.
The Three Laws of Robotics are as follows:
I. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a
human being to come to harm.
II. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except
where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
III. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection
does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
8. Define a Robot? (Apr/May 2014)
Robotics institute of America defines a robot as a “programmable,
multifunction manipulator designed to Move materials, parts, tools or
special devices through variable programmed motions for the
performance of the variety of task”.
9. Why a robot used?
a. To reduce production cost
 Fast
 Accurate
 Difficulties in human nature
b. To avoid 4-D jobs
 Dull (repetitive)
 Dirty
 Dangerous
 Difficult

10. What are the Advantages and disadvantages of robot?

Advantages:
 Robots increase productivity, safety, efficiency, quality, and
consistency of products.
 Robots can work in hazardous environments without the need.
 Robots need no environmental comfort.
 Robots work continuously without experiencing fatigue of problem.
 Robots have repeatable precision at all times.
 Robots can be much more accurate than human.
 Robots can process multiple stimuli or tasks simultaneously.
Disadvantages:
SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 5
www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

 Robots replace human workers creating economic problems

 Robots lack capability to respond in emergencies.
3

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 6

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

 Robots, although superior in certain senses, have limited

capabilities in Degree of freedom,Dexterity, Sensors, Vision
system, real time response.
 Robots are costly, due to Initial cost of equipment, Installation
costs, Need for Peripherals, Need for training, Need for
programming.
11. What are the limitations of robot?
The limitations of robot are
 Assembly dexterity does not match that of human
beings, particularly where eye-hand coordination
required.
 Payload to robot weight ratio is poor, often less than 5%
 Robot structural configurations often constrain joint limits
and thus the work volume
 Work volume can be constrained even further when
parts of substantial size are picked up when
tooling/sensors added to the robot
 The robot repeatability and/or accuracy can constrain the
range of potential application

12. What are the applications of robot?

 Machine loading

 Pick and place operations

 Welding

 Painting

 Sampling

 Assembly operation

 Manufacturing

 Surveillance

 Medical applications

 Assisting disabled individuals

 Hazardous environments

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 7

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

 Underwater, space, and remote locations

13. What are the types of robot?

There are 2 types: industrial and non-industrial robots.
Industrial robot:
Industrial robot is designed to be a perfect and tireless worker, to help
human workers but not to replace them.
It is always to be mixed-up the term automation, remote-controlled,
and numerical control.
The Robotics Institute of America (RIA) defines a robot as
reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move
material, parts, and tools or specialized devices through variable
programmed motions, for the performance of variety of tasks.
They have arms with gripper attached which are like fingers to grip or
pick up various objects.
These robots can be programmed and
computerized. They are used to pick and place.
The various types of industrial robots are
 Sequence
robot
 Playback
robot
 Intelligent
robot
 Repeating
robot
Sequence robots
 A manipulator which progresses successively through the various
stages of an operation according to the predetermined sequence.
Playback robots

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 8

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

 The playback robots are capable of performing a task by

teaching the positions. These positions are stored in the memory,
and done frequently by the robot. It can be divided into two
important types, namely:
 Point to Point control
robots  Continuous Path
control robots
Intelligent robot
 A robot which can determine its own behaviour/conduct
through its functions of sense and recognition
Repeating robot
 A manipulator performing an operation repeatedly according
to a rememorized work programme

Non-industrial robot
types  Military
robots  Medical
robots
 Domestic or personal
robots  Educational
robots  Show or
promotional robots
 Hobbyist robots
 Space robots
 Explorer
robots
 Laboratory
robots

Military Robots
 Any machine that can be operated without a person. These
encompasses mostly remote-controlled devices.

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 9

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

 Example: remote-control tanks, radio-controlled airplanes, sensor-

guided missiles using Global Position System, spy satellites.
 Although many of these robots are semiautonomous, the trend is
toward complete autonomy.

Medical Robots
 Include all robot like devices that either give medical aid or
substitute for or restore functions that a disabled person lacks.
 Industrial robots are used as lab assistants to handle dangerous
fluids, material handling operations in drug tests and drug-discovery
research.  Bionic arms, hands, legs are just now reaching the useful
stage. Artificial
hearing and vision are under development.
 Tele robots for surgical tasks are now beginning to be used in
joint replacement.
 Emerging technologies will enable the development of very tiny
robots the size of beetles or even ants that can be fit into blood
stream as for monitoring devices.

Domestic or personal robot

 Personal robot applications enable people to make themselves
more productive at home and at work.
 Many domestic robot available in markets are focusing in
task of household chores.
 Examples: Robot Vacuums, Robot Floor Cleaners, Robot
Window Cleaners, Robotic Lawn Mowers, Robot Pet Care and
also Companion Robots.

Educational Robots
 Devices that can be used to teach the principles of robotics. They
have the ability to simulate learned behaviour.
 According to The NextGen Education Robotics Summit
powered by Robotics Trends, forecasts show that robotics

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 10

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

education will soon become commonplace in pre-college and

college classrooms throughout the industrialized world.
 Example: SCORBOT-ER generation – come with manipulator,
controller and power supply.

Show or Promotion Robots

 Their tasks as company‟s ambassadors – move about in the aisles,
mingle with many visitors, and appear to converse with them.
 Using a discreet radio control system these performers can
move the robot around an audience, interacting with everyone on a
personal basis.
 The appearance of these robot will creatively communicate your
message  be a magnet at your event
 showcase your product in an unforgettable way

Hobbyist Robots
 most are mobile and operate by rolling around on wheels
propelled by electric motors controlled by microprocessor
 equipped with speech synthesis and speech recognition
systems  they have arms which resemble a person in
appearance
Space robots
 This type would include robots used on the International Space
Station, Canadarm that was used in Shuttles, as well as Mars
rovers and other robots used in space.
Explorer robots
 The majority of these robots are completely self-reliant due to
their sensory systems, however they may also be controlled by
humans giving orders through computer commands.
 The other types of explorer robots are underground mine
exploring robots, seeing and walking undersea robots, and even
bomb defusing robots used by police

Laboratory robots
 Laboratory robotics is the act of using robots in biology or
chemistry labs.
 For example, pharmaceutical companies employ robots to
move biological or chemical samples around to synthesize
novel chemical entities or to test pharmaceutical value of existing
chemical matter.

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 11

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019
7

14. Discuss the origin of robot. (8) (Dec.

2012) Origin of Robot:
– The acclaimed Czech playwright Karel Capek (1890-1938)
made the first use of the word „robot‟, from the Czech word
for forced labor or serf.
The use of the word Robot was introduced into his play R.U.R.
(Rossum's Universal Robots) which opened in Prague in January
1921. In R.U.R., Capek poses a paradise, where the machines
initially bring so many benefits but in the end bring an equal amount
of plight in the form of unemployment and social unrest.

History of Robots:
 1921 – Premier of Karel Capek‟s play R.U.R.
 1942 – Asimov coins the word „robotics‟ and gives his three
laws of robotics.
 1946 – George Devol developed a playback device.
Eckert and Muachley – built the ENIAC, the first electronic
computer, developed at the University of Pennsylvania.
 1947 – First electric powered tele-operated robot at MIT.
 1948 – Book on feedback control, Cybernetics, written by Prof.
Norbert Weiner of MIT.
 1952 –first NC machine was built at MIT.
 1954 – First programmable robot patented and designed by Devol.
 1955 – Paper by J. Denavit and R. S. Hartenberg (1955)
provides a
convention to describe links and joints in a manipulator-
developed homogenous transformation matrices.
 1959 – Unimation Inc. founded by Engelberger; CNC lathe
demonstrated at MIT.
The first programmable robot is designed by George Devol, who
coins the term Universal Automation. He later shortens this to
Unimation, which becomes the name of the first robot company
(1962).
 1961 – General Motors buys and installs the first Unimate at a
plant in New Jersey to tend a die casting machine.

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 12

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

 1968 – Shakey, first mobile robot with vision capability, is

made at Stanford Research Institute International. It contained
a television camera, range finder, on-board logic, bump sensors,
camera control unit, and an antenna for a radio link. Shakey was
controlled by a computer in a different room
 1970 – The Stanford Arm designed with electrical actuators
and controlled by a computer.
 1973 – Cincinnati Milacron‟s introduced T3 model robot
electrically actuated, mini-computer controlled industrial robot.

 1978 – The Puma (Programmable Universal Machine for

Assembly) robot is developed by Unimation with a General Motors
design support  1981 – Robot Manipulators by R. Paul, one of
the first textbooks on
robotics.
 1982 – First educational robots by Microbot and Rhino.
 1983 – Adept Technology, maker of SCARA(Selective
compliance assembly robot arm) robot was invented.
 1995 – Intuitive Surgical formed to design and market surgical
robots.  1997 – Sojourner robot sends back pictures of Mars;
the Honda P3
humanoid robot, started in 1986, unveiled.
 2000 – Honda demonstrates Asimo humanoid robot capable of
walking.  2001 – Sony releases second generation Aibo robot dog.
 2004 – Spirit and Opportunity explore Mars surface and detect
evidence of past existence of water.
 2007 – Humanoid robot Aiko capable of “feeling” pain.
 2009 – Micro-robots and emerging field of nano-robots marrying
biology with engineering.

15. Explain how the robots are classified?

The robots are classified based on configuration, robot control,
drive, movement, application, degrees of freedom and sensory system.
Physical configuration
a. Cartesian co-ordinate
configuration b. Cylindrical
c. Polar

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 13

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019

d. Jointed arm
configuration e.
SCARA
Robot Control
a. Point-to-point (PTP) control
robot b. Continuous-path (CP)
control robot c. Controlled-path
robot
d. Stop-
to-Stop
Movement
a. Fixed
robot b.
Mobile
robot
c. Walking or legged
robot Drives
a. Pneumatic
drive b.
Hydraulic
drive c.
Electric drive
Applications
a.
Manufacturi
ng b.
Handling
c.
Testing
Degrees of
freedom
a. Single degree of
freedom b. Two
degree of freedom c.
Three degree of
freedom d. Six degree
of freedom

10

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 14

www.AUNewsBlog.net
 www.AUNewsBlog.net
SNSCE / ECE 2019
Sensory systems
a. Simple and blind
robot b. Vision
robot
c. Intelligent robot

SANGEETHA.K/ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION Page 15

www.AUNewsBlog.net