Important Questions and Answers: Implementation And Robot Economics

1.  Different types of material handling operation.

Manually operated devices—hand trucks, powered trucks, cranes, monorails and hoists.

Automated systems—conveyors,   AGV‘s.

Miscellaneous systems—industrial robots, transfer mechanisms, elevators, pipelines, containers, dial indexing tables, etc.

2.  Define Gantry Robot?

Cartesian coordinate robots with the horizontal member supported at both ends are sometimes called Gantry robots.

3.  Give four Applications of AGV.

Driverless train operations

Storage distribution system

Assembly line operation

FMS

4.  Types of AGV vehicles.

Towing vehicles

Unit load vehicles

Pallet trucks

Fork trucks

Light load Vehicles

Assembly line vehicles.

5.  Differentiate palletizing and depalletizing.

A palletizer or palletiser is a machine which provides automatic means for stacking cases of goods or products on to a pallet.

A depalletizer machine is any machine that can break down a pallet. Usually, a robot is used for this task, although there are some other forms of depalletizer that can also break down pallets and move products from one place to another using simple push bars and conveyor belts.

6.  What are the steps to be followed by the company in order to implement robot programs in its operations?  

Initial familiarization with the technology

Plant survey to identify potential applications

Selection of the application

Selection of the robot

Detailed economic analysis and capital authorization

Planning and engineering the installation

Installation

7.  Typical technical features required for material transfer.

Number of axes: 3to 5

Control system: limited sequence or point-to-point playback

Drive system: pneumatic or hydraulic

Programming: manual, powered lead through

8.  Different methods of economic analysis.

Payback method

Equivalent uniform annual cost (EUAC) method

Return on investment (ROI) method

9.  Define ROI method.

The return on investment method determines the rate of return for the proposed project based on the estimated cost and revenues.

10. What is EUAC method?

Equivalent uniform annual cost (EUAC) method converts all of the present and future investments and cash flows into their equivalent uniform cash flows over the anticipated life of the project.

11. Define Deadman switch.

A dead man switch is a useful control feature during lead through programming. It is a trigger or toggle switch device generally located on the teach pendant which requires active pressure to be applied tom the devices in order to drive the manipulator.

12.     What are the general characteristics that make potential robot application technically practical and economically feasible?

1)      Hazardous or uncomfortable working conditions

2)      Repetitive operations

3)      Difficult handling jobs

4)      Multicast operation