The difference between robotic arms and industrial robots

Manipulator is a kind of mechanical device, which can be either active or man-controlled; industrial robot is a kind of automated equipment, manipulator is a type of industrial robot, and industrial robots also have other methods. So even though the two have different meanings, they refer to overlapping parts.

So in short, there are many ways of industrial robots, and the robotic arm is only one of them.

Industrial robotic arm

An industrial robotic arm is "a fixed or mobile machine. Its structure is usually composed of a series of interlinked or relatively sliding parts for grabbing or moving objects. It can complete active control, repeatable programming, and multiple degrees of freedom. (Axis). The work method is mainly through linear motion along the X, Y, and Z axes to reach the target position."

Industrial robot

According to the definition of ISO 8373, an industrial robot is a machine device that actively performs tasks. It is a machine that performs various functions by its own power and control capabilities. It can withstand the command of human beings, and can also operate in accordance with pre-arranged programs. Modern industrial robots can also act in accordance with guidelines and guidelines established by artificial intelligence technology.

The difference between robots and robotic arms

Manipulator is a widely used mechanical device in the field of robots, which is widely used in industry, medical, military, and space. Manipulators are divided into four axes, five axes, six axes, multi-axis, 3D/2D robots, independent manipulators, hydraulic manipulators, etc. Although there are many types, they have one thing in common is that they can receive instructions and accurately locate three-dimensional (or two-dimensional) ) Point in space for operations.

The difference between a robot and a mechanical arm is that the robot can not only receive instructions from humans, but also perform tasks in accordance with human pre-programmed programs, and can also act according to guidelines specified by artificial intelligence. In the future, robots will assist or replace more human operations, especially some repetitive operations and risky operations.

The definitions of robots in European and American countries and Japan are different:

European and American countries believe that the robot should be controlled by a computer, and programmed to make the robot a multi-function active machine; Japan thinks that the robot is a high-end active machine, so the robotic arm is included in the definition of the robot. European and American countries believe that a robot with 6 axes and above can be called a robot, and a robot with 5 axes and below can only be called a robot; Japan defines a 3-axis robot as a robot.

At present, the concept of robots in the world has basically become the same, and they all think that robots are an automated machine that performs various functions on its own power and control capabilities.

The difference between robot and manipulator in the scope of application:

Robotic arms are widely used in the industry. The primary technology it contains is drive and control. Robotic arms are generally in series.

Robots are mainly divided into series structure and parallel structure: Parallel robots (PM) are mostly used in occasions that require high rigidity, high precision, high speed and no large space. They are used in detail in sorting, handling, imitating motion, parallel machine tools, and metal cutting. , Robot joints, spacecraft interfaces, etc.; series robots and parallel robots form a complementary relationship in application. The series robots have a large working space and can prevent the coupling effect between the drive shafts. However, each axis of the mechanism must be controlled independently, and encoders and sensors are needed to improve the accuracy of the movement.