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The purpose of this paper is to reduce the strain and vibration during robotic machining.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reduce the strain and vibration during robotic machining.
Design/methodology/approach
An intelligent approach based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and adaptive iteration algorithms is proposed to optimize the PD control parameters in accordance with robotic machining state.
Findings
The proposed intelligent approach can significantly reduce robotic machining strain and vibration.
Originality value
The relationship between robotic machining parameters is studied and the dynamics model of robotic machining is established. In view of the complexity of robotic machining process, the PSO and adaptive iteration algorithms are used to optimize the PD control parameters in accordance with robotic machining state. The PSO is used to optimize the PD control parameters during stable-machining state, and the adaptive iteration algorithm is used to optimize the PD control parameters during cut-into state.
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Laurent Sabourin, Kévin Subrin, Richard Cousturier, Grigoré Gogu and Youcef Mezouar
The robot offers interesting capabilities, but suffers from a lack of stiffness. The proposed solution is to introduce redundancies for the overall improvement of different…
Abstract
Purpose
The robot offers interesting capabilities, but suffers from a lack of stiffness. The proposed solution is to introduce redundancies for the overall improvement of different capabilities. The management of redundancy associated with the definition of a set of kinematic, mechanical and stiffness criteria enables path planning to be optimized.
Design/methodology/approach
The resolution method is based on the projection onto the kernel of the Jacobian matrix of the gradient of an objective function constructed by aggregating kinematic, mechanical and stiffness weighted criteria. Optimized redundancy management is applied to the 11-DoF (degrees of freedom) cells to provide an efficient placement of turntable and track. The final part presents the improvement of the various criteria applied to both 9-DoF and 11-DoF robotic cells.
Findings
The first application concerns the optimized placement of a turntable and a linear track using 11-DoF architecture. Improved criteria for two 9-DoF robotic cells, a robot with parallelogram closed loop and a Tricept are also presented. Simulation results present the contributions of redundancies and the leading role of the track.
Research limitations/implications
The redundancy-based optimization presented and the associated simulation approach must be completed by the experimental determination of the optimization criteria to take into account each machining strategy.
Practical implications
This work in robotics machining relates to milling operations for automotive and aerospace equipment. The study is carried out within the framework of the RobotEx Equipment of Excellence programme.
Originality/value
The resolution method to optimized path planning is applied to 9- and 11-DoF robotic cells, including a hybrid robot with a parallelogram closed loop and a Tricept PKM.
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Feng-Xia He, Li Dai, Qisen Chen, Yu Liu and Zhong Luo
Since robot’s structural stiffness is usually less than 1 N/µm, mode coupling chatter occurs frequently during robotic milling process, and chatter frequency is close to the…
Abstract
Purpose
Since robot’s structural stiffness is usually less than 1 N/µm, mode coupling chatter occurs frequently during robotic milling process, and chatter frequency is close to the natural frequency of the robot itself. Chatter not only affects the surface quality but also damages the robot and reduces the positioning accuracy. Therefore, it is necessary to predict chatter in robotic machining process.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-dimensional dynamic model for robot’s spatial milling plane is established, and a corresponding stability criterion is obtained. First, the cutting force in milling plane is transformed into the coordinate system of the robot principal stiffness direction based on homogeneous transformation matrix. Then the three-dimensional stability criterion under milling process can be obtained by using system stability analysis. Furthermore, the circle diagram of mode coupling chatter stability is drawn. Each feeding direction’s stability under the two processing forms, referred as spindle vertical milling and spindle horizontal milling, is analyzed.
Findings
The experimental results verify that the three-dimensional stability criterion can avoid chatter by selecting machining feed direction in stable area.
Originality/value
This paper established a three-dimensional dynamic model in robot’s spatial milling plane and proposed a three-dimensional stability criterion according to the Routh criterion. The work is also expected to be an efficient tool in the development of robotic milling technology.
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Alei Fan, Luorong (Laurie) Wu and Anna S. Mattila
To enhance customer experiences, firms are increasingly adding human-like features to their self-service technology (SST) machines. To that end, the purpose of the present study…
Abstract
Purpose
To enhance customer experiences, firms are increasingly adding human-like features to their self-service technology (SST) machines. To that end, the purpose of the present study is to examine customer interactions with an anthropomorphic machine in a service failure context. Specifically, the authors investigate the joint effects of machine voice, an individual’s sense of power and the presence of other customers in influencing customers’ switching intentions following an SST failure.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors used a quasi-experimental design in which they manipulated voice type (anthropomorphic vs robotic) and the presence of other customers (present vs absent) in video-based scenarios while measuring customers’ sense of power. The scenarios reflected a service failure experience with a self-service kiosk at an airport. The authors tested the hypotheses using PROCESS analyses with the Johnson–Neyman technique.
Findings
Consumer reactions to SST failures vary depending on the degree of anthropomorphism associated with an SST machine, an individual’s sense of power and the presence of other customers.
Research limitations/implications
Field inquiry and an investigation in other SST contexts or of other anthropomorphic features are needed to generalize the findings.
Practical implications
Service providers targeting powerful consumers should consider the social presence of others when incorporating anthropomorphic features into their SST facilities.
Originality/value
This study is the first to examine consumer responses to service failures in an anthropomorphic SST context.
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Examines the potential for introducing automation processes includingrobots into the construction industry. Outlines some of the problems to betackled including the technical and…
Abstract
Examines the potential for introducing automation processes including robots into the construction industry. Outlines some of the problems to be tackled including the technical and organisational problems of site layouts and the role of automation and robotics in construction. Looks at the advantages of using task‐specific robots and the development of mechatronics. Emphasizes the need for the development of CAD in architecture and construction as autonomous robotic machines require appropriate design description of a building to make available the necessary information about the developing building geometry on the construction site.
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Yanxi Zhu, Jinzhu Shen, Jianping Wang, Fan Zhang and Xiaofeng Yao
To reduce the difficulty of the sewing process and promote the automation process of fabric sewing, a soft finger-assisted feeding method is proposed to investigate the effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
To reduce the difficulty of the sewing process and promote the automation process of fabric sewing, a soft finger-assisted feeding method is proposed to investigate the effect of sewing process parameters on the quality of automatic sewing.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking cotton woven fabrics as an example, the causes of sewing deviation are firstly investigated from three aspects: fabric properties, sewing speed and sewing edge position. By simulating the sewing action of human hands, the method of reducing sewing deviation by using soft fingers to press and feed the fabric is proposed. Then, four sewing process factors, namely, robot arm end pressure, sewing machine speed, sewing needle gauge and stitch density, were selected, and three levels were set for each factor to design orthogonal sewing experiments. The sewing deviation of 1# sample under different sewing processes was measured, and the optimal parameter matching for automatic sewing of this specimen was derived.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that, while sewing cloth automatically, the sewing deviation is significantly influenced by the robotic arm's end pressure, sewing speed, and stitch density, whereas the sewing deviation is not significantly impacted by the needle number.
Originality/value
The findings offer fundamental information for the development of an automated sewing procedure using soft fingers, which has theoretical and real-world application value to speed up the intelligent modernization and transformation of the apparel industry.
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This paper aims to trace the technological and commercial developments in robotics over the last 50 years, from 1973, the year in which this journal was founded, to the present…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to trace the technological and commercial developments in robotics over the last 50 years, from 1973, the year in which this journal was founded, to the present day.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this identifies key robot developments on a decade-by-decade basis and considers research, products, applications and corporate activity and also highlights many of the enabling technologies. Brief conclusions are draw.
Findings
The robot industry has changed beyond all recognition during the last half century. Enabled by developments in microelectronics, computing, sensors, imaging technologies, data communication and power sources, today robots satisfy a multitude of applications and play a role in almost every sphere of human activity.
Originality/value
This provides a detailed review of robotic developments during the last 50 years.
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Describes one of the first robotic installations in a brickworks in Europe, now operating in the UK at the Warnham factory of Ibstock Building Products in Horsham. Explains how…
Abstract
Describes one of the first robotic installations in a brickworks in Europe, now operating in the UK at the Warnham factory of Ibstock Building Products in Horsham. Explains how the ten Fanuc robots form part of a major investment in new machinery supplied to the UK plant by French company, Ceric, which specializes in equipment for brick and tile manufacture. Outlines the main benefits of the robots, which are used for setting and unloading operations.
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Abstract
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A review of the MACH machine tool exhibition held at the NEC, Birmingham, and specifically on the robotic exhibits. Although the number of stands demonstrating robots was down on…
Abstract
A review of the MACH machine tool exhibition held at the NEC, Birmingham, and specifically on the robotic exhibits. Although the number of stands demonstrating robots was down on the last MACH in 2002, there were some new product releases from Rexroth Bosch, Fanuc and ABB. Two of the first applications of the new Rexroth Bosch articulate arm robot are described, as is a machine tool tending project at UK aerospace manufacturer, Centrax. One of the more popular applications at the show was press brake tending and exhibits by Amada and Edward Pearson are highlighted.