Many companies still have concerns about overheating in industrial robots. Currently, robotic equipment manufacturers are working hard to integrate components in order to solve this issue.
In fact, the solution was discovered years ago.
A research team from Saarland University conducted research on an early detection system for industrial assembly, handling and packaging processes in order to monitor and perform an analysis on the equipment.
Let’s delve deeper to understand the causes, effects, and potential solutions of robotic overheating.
Why Do Robots Overheat?
If a component fails, the robots on a production line can’t complete their assigned task. For example, if the linear actuator is used to precisely position the vehicle’s body, the robot arm will no longer be able to position the door with the same precision as usual. This results in a misalignment of the door.
To quote another example, a sudden failure of machine parts due to material fatigue is likely to cause the production line to shut down completely.
Professor Andreas Schütze, a sensor systems expert from the University of Saarland and the Center for Mechatronics and Automation Technology, said
“Our system allows us to continuously visualize the current status of the plant machinery and provide an advance warning of possible damage. To do this, we install sensors inside the machines and these sensors can interact with each other and with existing process sensors. And even the smallest changes can be recorded.”
Method and Findings of the Research
The researchers took advantage of a phenomenon in which technical equipment began to emit different sounds, vibrations or overheating long before shutting down.
The method is to incorporate intelligent sensors to gather a wide variety of information from constant measurements to compare signal patterns with their usual operational capacity. If the system detects a non-conformity in the patterns that indicates a failure, it immediately communicates it to the equipment operator and indicates appropriate corrective measures.
The researchers explained that the robot’s process sensors should show warning signs before the robot’s temperature becomes too high. The sensor collects baseline data, warning operators of pressing problems such as when a robot needs an emergency shutdown due to overheating. It also provides information to managers so they can understand robotic processes and the reasons why there could be failures.
Research Findings’ Implications
The maintenance alarm warns operators if the robot deviates from the normal process for one or more reasons or due to overheating. You can also use it to run a predictive analysis to plan the next maintenance.
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