Factory automation infrastructure describes the process of incorporating
automation
Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, namely by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machines ...
into the
manufacturing
Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a ...
environment and processing input goods into final products.
Factory automation intends to decrease risks associated with laborious and dangerous work faced by human workers.
The manufacturing environment is defined by its ability to manufacture and/or assemble goods by machines, integrated
assembly lines
An assembly line is a manufacturing process (often called a ''progressive assembly'') in which parts (usually interchangeable parts) are added as the semi-finished assembly moves from workstation to workstation where the parts are added in seq ...
, and
robotic arms. Automated environments are also defined by their coordination with (and usually their systematic integration with) the required automatic equipment to form a complete system.
Automation
Automation has produced sophisticated parts with similar or higher output qualities with minor quality fluctuation. It also can help cut overall manufacturing costs and create safer working environments for workers.
The use of automation in manufacturing started by using technologies such as
pneumatic and
hydraulic systems in applications where their mechanical advantages could be used to raise output quality and efficiency in production. Complex and highly integrated systems have since evolved, composed of procedures with sophisticated operation drivers. These drivers often are running languages that support 6, 7, and 8-axis controls for sophisticated
robotics
Robotics is an interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary branch of computer science and engineering. Robotics involves design, construction, operation, and use of robots. The goal of robotics is to design machines that can help and assist human ...
.
Robotic arm
A robotic arm is a type of mechanical arm, usually programmable, with functions similar to a
human arm
In human anatomy, the arm refers to the upper limb in common usage, although academically the term specifically means the upper arm between the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and the elbow joint. The distal part of the upper limb between ...
; the arm may be the total of the mechanism or may be part of a more complex robot. The links of such a manipulator are connected by joints allowing either
rotational motion
Rotation, or spin, is the circular movement of an object around a ''axis of rotation, central axis''. A two-dimensional rotating object has only one possible central axis and can rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A t ...
(such as in an articulated robot) or transnational (linear) displacement. The links of the manipulator can be considered to form a
kinematic chain
In mechanical engineering, a kinematic chain is an assembly of rigid bodies connected by joints to provide constrained (or desired) motion that is the mathematical model for a mechanical system. Reuleaux, F., 187''The Kinematics of Machine ...
. The terminus of the kinematic chain of the manipulator is called the end effector and is
analogous
Analogy (from Greek ''analogia'', "proportion", from ''ana-'' "upon, according to" lso "against", "anew"+ ''logos'' "ratio" lso "word, speech, reckoning" is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject (th ...
to the human hand.
References
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Industrial automation
Manufacturing