AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS

AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS

AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS:

Automation and robotics are two closely related technologies, In an industrial context, we can define automation as a technology that is concern with the use of mechanical, electronic, and computer – based system in operation and control of production.

There are three broad classes of industrial automation.
1) Fixed automation
2) Programmable automation
3) Flexible automation

Fixed automation is used when the volume of production is very high and it is therefore appropriate to design specialized equipment to process the product (or a component of a product) very efficient and at high production rates.

Relationship of fixed automation, programmable automation, flexible automation as function of production volume and product variety

E.g. A good examples of fixed automation can be found in the automobile industry, where highly integrated transfer lines consisting of several dozen workstations are used to perform machining operation on engine and transmission components.

Programmable automation is used when the volume of a production is relatively low and there are a variety of products to be made. The relation of a first two types of automation, as a function of product variety and production volume, is illustrated in fig. There is a third category between fixed automation and programmable automation, which is called ‘flexible automation’. Other terms used in flexible automation includes” flexible manufacturing system” and “computer integrated manufacturing system” Experience for with this type of automation suggest that it most suitable for the mid volume production rang, as shown in fig. As indicated by it position relative to the. Other two types, flexible system posses some of the features of both fixed and programmable automation, which allow a certain amount of integration to occur in the system. Fxible automation system typically consists of a several workstation that are interconnected by a material handling and storage system.
One of the features that distinguish programmable automation from flexible automation is that with programmable automation, the products are made in batches. When one batch is completed, the equipment is reprogrammed ti process the next batch. With flexible automation, different product can be made at the same time on the same manufacturing system. This feature allows a level of versatility that is not available in a pure programmable automation. While the robot themselves are examples of programmable automation they are some time used in flexible automation and even fixed automaton system.


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