Automation

Hard automation:

This kind of automation cannot handle product design variations, mass production for example; conventional machinery, packaging, sewing and manufacturing small parts. Adjustability is possible, but it can only handle specific tasks with no possibility of changing its own task. These machines can be seen in our homes (washing machines, dish washers, etc).

Programmable Automation:

This form of automation began with the arrival of the computer. People began programming machines to do a variety of tasks. It is flexible because of a computer control, can handle variations, batch product, and product design.

Autonomous (Independent):

Endowed with a decision-making capability through the use of sensors. A robot belongs to this kind of automation and it is a combination of microprocessor and conventional automation systems which can provide a very powerful system. Its high-level machinery capabilities combined with fault recognition and correction abilities provided by highly evolved computer systems. This means it can carry out work traditionally carried out by humans. Examples of existing autonomous systems are animals and human beings.

Animals when they see food they move toward it using sense of smell or they escape when they react against danger due to senses of fear (sensors).

Human beings are the highest level of autonomous systems because they think, and they can change plan at any moment due to their high intelligence.

Robots cannot reach the same high level as humans because they are programmed to do certain tasks according to certain factors which are completely programmed by human beings, but they have no possibilities to change plan like humans or plan new things unless the programmer programs them to change the plan. Because of high development of machines, sensors, actuator, digital electronics and microprocessor technology it became possible to create a robot which is autonomous (Teijo Lahtinen, Lecture at Lahti University of Applied Sciences 2009).

Robot applications in our lives

Welding

Considered as a dangerous task for a human because of toxic gases emissions.

                             Welding robot examples in car factory

The welding job is quite difficult for a person who is required to weld two pipes from different sides and angles and to sit in a difficult position for a long time. It can be hard on ones physic and can cause health problems for the worker. The difficulty for a human is to see all the sides of welded devices when he needs to weld around a pipe as he can only see one side of the pipe.

Painting has similar problems to welding due to the use of toxic chemical products. Below is an example picture 2.2 of a factory robot painting a car as it moves slowly along a conveyer.

                     Painting robot examples in car factory

Assembly operation: When we assemble a chip we need to be very precise because of very fine wires which require very precise and accurate tasks which a human cannot handle but, on the other hand, is easy for a robot.

Consistent quality at high standards can be achieved by a robot. A robot can easily be re- programmed many times to reach the highest possible quality which a human cannot often achieve.

Safety is especially important when a robot handles chemicals, bio chemicals, toxic and nuclear products. They can be handled very safely and smoothly, saving humans from carrying out high risk, stress inducing work.

Robots can carefully handle fragile and tiny parts, such as glass, small chips and wires.

Inspection and maintenance tasks in dangerous areas: for example handling explosives, exploring the deep sea, space and other planets. One example is the shipwrecked Titanic. A robot was used to discover the ships content as it lay so deep under the ocean it was beyond human reach.

Space missions: to gather samples from other planets and to analyse them from remote distances.