Robot implementation and safety

Interfacing in implementation
Interface is the communication link between the robots controller and its peripherals components These communication links are devices such as programmable controllers, safety fences or indexing tables Each communication link gives the controller information it needs for the normal operation of the robotic system The signals transmitted are standard digital signals that operate on 24 volts dc supply

Three basics types of interfacing in robots

1) Electrical interfacing between the controller, the robot and peripheral devices 2) Program control of interfacing 3) Physical connections for interfacing

Electrical interfacing
Is accomplished through digital waveforms that are developed within and outside the controller .These digital signals identify the program, the positional information and the commands for the robots operation

Mechanical interfacing
Is the connection of the end effects to the hoist flange of the manipulator or the connection of the end arm tooling to the hoist flange. These connections are generally made with bolts

Robot safety
The application of industrial robots removes the need for humans to perform certain dangerous and harmful operations. However robots themselves can also create dangerous conditions and threaten human safety .Accidents and eve n human fatalities reported overseas have proven that industrial robots can be hazardous if no safeguard or emergency stopping mechanism which operate automatically in case of danger to minimize harm to operators and to reduce human life loss

Types of accidents

Robotic incidents can be grouped in four categories

1) Impact or collision accident unpredicted movements, components malfunctions or unpredicted program changes related to the robots arm or peripherals equipment which can result in direct contact accidents 2) Crushing and trapping accidents An operator limb or any other body part can be trapped between a robot arm and other peripherals or the individual may be physically be driven into and crushed by other peripherals equipment 3) Mechanical part accidents The breakdown of the robot drive components, tooling or end effects, peripheral equipments or its power source is a mechanical accident .The realize of parts, failure of gripper mechanisms or the failure of end effects power tools for instance grinding wheel, baffling wheels, deburning tools are few types of mechanical failures 4) Other accidents Other accidents can result from working with robots .equipment that supplies robot power and control presents potential electrical and pressurized fluids hazardous

Source of hazardous
The expected hazardous of machine to humans can be expected with several variations as Follows 1) Human errors Inherent prior programming ,interfacing activated peripherals equipment or connecting live input output sensors to the micro processor or a peripherals can cause dangerous unpredicted movement or action by the robot from human error .The incorrect activation of the teach pedant or control panel is frequent human error . The greatest problem, however is over familiarly with the robot redundant motions so that an individual places himself in a hazardous position while programming the robot or performing routine maintenance on the robot 2) Control errors Intrinsic faults within the control system of the robots, errors in software, electromagnetic interface and radio frequency interface are control errors. In addition these errors can occur due to faults in the hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical sub controls associated with the robot or robot control programming system 3) Unauthorised access Entry into a robots safeguard area is hazardous because the person involved may not be familiar with the safeguards in place or their activation status 4) Environment sources Electromagnetic or radio frequency interface (transient signal) should be considered to exert an undesirable influence on robotic operation and increase the potential for injury to any person working in the area. Solutions to the environment hazards should be documented prior to start up 5) Power system Pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical power sources that have malfunctioning control or transmission elements in the robot power