Types of force control in robotics
Different applications require different approaches to managing forces and interactions.
Let’s take a look at the main types dominating the industry:
- Impedance control: This method models the robot's behavior like a spring-damper system. It adjusts the robot's position based on external forces, allowing for smooth and natural interactions. Impedance control is great for jobs that need a gentle touch, like assembly or human-robot collaboration.
- Admittance control: This method measures external forces and adjusts the robot's motion by changing its velocity or acceleration to maintain a stable interaction with the environment. This approach is especially useful for tasks requiring precise force application, such as surgical operations or polishing tasks.
- Hybrid control: As the name suggests, hybrid control combines elements of position and force control. It allows robots to follow a desired trajectory while simultaneously managing contact forces. This versatile approach is more common in complex manipulation tasks or when interacting with unpredictable environments.
Applications of force control in industrial robotics
Force control in robotics has found its way into quite a few industrial applications.
Let’s take a closer look:
- Manufacturing and assembly: Force control shines in manufacturing and assembly lines. It allows robots to handle delicate components with just the right touch, reducing damage and improving overall product quality. You'll see these systems expertly fitting parts together, tightening screws, and even performing quality checks — all with a level of finesse that rivals or sometimes exceeds human hands.
- Polishing and grinding: Force control is a huge leap forward in surface finishing. Robots equipped with this technology can apply consistent pressure while polishing or grinding, resulting in smoother, more uniform surfaces. This is especially useful in industries like automotive manufacturing, where a flawless finish is most necessary.
- Robotic surgery: In the medical field, force control in robotics is literally changing (and saving) lives. Surgical robots use force control technology, among other advanced methods, to perform incredibly precise movements during operations. This allows for finer control over pressure and movements, which helps minimize tissue damage.
Summing up
Force control in robotics is a huge step forward for the precision and ultimate delicate touch of robots.
You've now got the lowdown on what it is, how it works, and why it matters.
As robots continue their relentless forward march, force control will play an increasingly major role in making them more versatile and user-friendly.
Next steps
Are you looking to power up your business’s efficiency and productivity? RO1 by Standard Bots is your answer. This adaptable, affordable, and easy-to-use six-axis cobot arm is built to redefine how your operations run.
- Unmatched value: RO1 achieves top-tier performance at half the cost of other robots. It delivers results without straining your finances.
- More productivity: With an 18 kg payload capacity and exceptional speed and precision, RO1 will greatly improve your output, keeping you ahead of the competition.
- Simplified automation: There will be no more complex coding. RO1's user-friendly no-code interface and advanced AI (comparable to GPT-4) make setup and programming straightforward.
- Safety prioritized: Your team’s safety matters. RO1’s integrated safety features, such as sensors and collision detection, maintain a secure working environment.
Take advantage of our risk-free 30-day trial and see how RO1 can transform your shop floor’s productivity. Contact our team today.