What is an industrial robot?

It is a programmable machine, usually an arm with several joints, that carries out physical tasks under computer control and can be reprogrammed for a different job.

What is an end effector?

It is the tool fitted at the end of a robot arm for the job in hand, such as a gripper, a welding head, a paint gun or a screwdriver.

What is meant by the degrees of freedom of a robot arm?

It is the number of independent ways the arm can move, which determines the positions and orientations the end effector can be placed in.

What does an actuator do in a robotic system?

It produces the movement, being a component such as an electric motor or a hydraulic cylinder that responds to a signal from the controller.

WJEC A-Level Computer Science 601-5345-3

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Types of Software System

Robotics in industry

3 things to know
AS Unit 1

Overview

Industrial robot, end effector and degrees of freedom of a robot arm.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Describe the role of sensors in a robotic system.

Key term

Explain how feedback makes robot movement accurate.

Evaluation

Give three advantages of using robots on a production line.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is an industrial robot?
Model answer
It is a programmable machine, usually an arm with several joints, that carries out physical tasks under computer control and can be reprogrammed for a different job.
2
What is an end effector?
Model answer
It is the tool fitted at the end of a robot arm for the job in hand, such as a gripper, a welding head, a paint gun or a screwdriver.
3
What is meant by the degrees of freedom of a robot arm?
Model answer
It is the number of independent ways the arm can move, which determines the positions and orientations the end effector can be placed in.
4
Describe the role of sensors in a robotic system.
Model answer
Sensors report the actual state of the robot and its surroundings, such as joint position, force applied or the presence of a part, so the controller can compare what is happening with what was intended.
5
What does an actuator do in a robotic system?
Model answer
It produces the movement, being a component such as an electric motor or a hydraulic cylinder that responds to a signal from the controller.
6
Explain how feedback makes robot movement accurate.
Model answer
Position sensors continuously report where the joint actually is, the controller compares this with the target position and adjusts the drive until the difference is removed.

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