Robotics

On this page I will describe some generic ABB Robotics technology.

QuickMove & TrueMove

QuickMove and TrueMove are ABB Robotics most important differentiators.

QuickMove:

  • Provides always and automatic the shortest possible cycle time

TrueMove:

  •  What you program is what you get
  • Path is speed independent

And this when the load of the robot is given in correctly.

The motion planner takes care about the changing static and dynamic forces.

See the ABB Robotics Fanta Can Challenge movie with further explanation.

Asymmetric Corner Zones

Regular circular corner zones are taken by the ABB robot when the programmed radius of the zone is smaller than the half of the shortest distance between two movements (ref. p1 -> p2 -> p3). When the radius is taken larger an asymmetric corner zone is created. The maximum result is achieved when a radius of at least half of the biggest distance is programmed (ref. p2 -> p3 -> p4).

Benefits of an asymmetric corner zone:

  • Smoother movements
  • Shorter cycle times

Brake on path

In an uncontrolled stop situation (cat. 0), for instance at power failure,  a robot will deviate from its path.

But in a controlled stop situation (cat. 1) deviation from path can get minimalized. Is called brake on path.

Stopping distances can for both situations get simulated in RobotStudio.

Power failure

The robot controller contains a ultracap solution which gives the main computer enough time to shut down in a controlled way when a power failure occurs. This will make robot program execution continuation easy after re-start.

The drive system of the robots is not connected to the ultracap.

Singularity avoidance

When the centerline of axis 4 and axis 6 are coming on one line, so when axis 5 reaches 0 degrees position, singularity can occur when moving the robot in a straight line.

Singularity means that the robot reaches an uncontrollable state and will give an error. This is a mathematical issue also occurring when the robot is moved in manual mode.

ABB has solved this issue when executing a RAPID program by means of the following instructions:

  • SingArea\LockAxis4
  • SingArea\Off

So the function can get turned on and off anywhere in the program.