Markt&Technik: What are the current trends in collaborative and non-collaborative industrial robotics?

Christopher Schneider: Current robotics trends are based on the vision of the smart factory, in which physical and digital technologies are increasingly merging to form cyber-physical production systems. The aim of this new manufacturing strategy is to respond to the increasing demands of mass customization in terms of efficiency and productivity. New possibilities for integration, programming, networking and data analysis are required in order to realize variant-rich production down to batch size 1. Collaborating robots and fenceless production concepts with industrial robots enable the direct use of robots in the field without the need for a safety fence, which means less flexibility and a larger footprint.

So classic industrial robots can also be integrated into Industry 4.0 production systems without a safety fence?

Industry 4.0 production systems are characterized by the consistent integration and networking of all production resources. This also means that classic industrial robotics production concepts with safety fences and high productivity will complement workstations without safety fences for highly flexible production processes. It should be noted that industrial robots with external safety technology can also be operated without safety fences.

Under what conditions is this possible?

Christopher Schneider: While an industrial robot stops when the employee enters the workspace, a collaborative robot can work at a reduced speed. The hybrid nature of the Motoman HC10 from Yaskawa enables safe switching between industrial and collaborative speed. Depending on the frequency of interaction between humans and robots, these two variants are correspondingly economical. The lightweight nature of the new robot technology also enables easier linking, for example by installing it on a mobile platform.

To what extent do mobile platforms contribute to flexibilization here?

Christopher Schneider: In conjunction with mobile platforms, robot manipulators can react even more flexibly to highly dynamic capacity fluctuations because a robot works at several workstations and is therefore more fully utilized.

What other trends do you see in the integration of robots in smart factories?

Christopher Schneider: The high component variety requires fast retooling and rapid program adaptation of the robot, which is made possible by simplified programming methods such as direct teaching or the smart frame in the Yaskawa Smart Pendant. Intelligent camera systems, supported by machine learning and artificial intelligence, can also cover a wide range of workpieces and derive appropriate gripping strategies. At plant and production management level, data analytics is used, for example, to evaluate systems using various KPIs or to forecast maintenance intervals (predictive maintenance).

Which wired and wireless data communication technologies are suitable for connecting robots?

Christopher Schneider: Wired fieldbus systems, such as Profinet or EtherNet/IP, are standard in industrial robotics and primarily ensure reliable data communication, also with regard to safety aspects. Wireless systems are usually implemented via WiFi, whereby the focus here is clearly on the exchange of non-safety-critical data.

How is robot control technology developing as we move towards Industry 4.0? Where will it be located in the automation system in the future?

Christopher Schneider: Robot control technology has not yet found a 100% replacement because the kinematic calculation models are complex and this expertise is only available in a robot controller. However, simpler kinematics can already be programmed today with controllers such as the MP3000iec from Yaskawa. Our MotoLogix programming interface, which can be used to program Motoman robots directly via the PLC, has proven to be very practical. The OPC UA data interface, which our latest robots have, also enables connection to Industry 4.0 environments. Whether one or the other controller is in the "lead" in a smart factory will not be as important as the fact that they can all communicate with each other.