A Second Skin For Robots
We don’t think of robots in human terms very often, and that can be a mistake. Robots may not be flesh and blood, but they do have circuitry and wiring that can be every bit as susceptible to environmental damage as a human.
In a recent Machine Design article, we looked at how printed circuit boards are coated with special barriers to repel dust, dirt and other contaminants in the plant. And for good reason, as writer Lisa Rizzo of HZO points out.
“Robots rely on electrical circuits of varying complexity to control their parts, interacting with one other at certain levels. The probability of having electronics damaged due to a single event upset or cumulative effects of exposure to contaminants and unfavorable conditions are extraordinarily high,” she writes. “Failure means retrieval, which has the potential to put humans in the environments in which the robot was designed to protect. Preventing contamination failure of printed circuit boards is a major requirement when considering assemblies’ potential exposure to all contaminants. To maintain PCB and, therefore, robot functionality, protective thin-film and nano coatings are being incorporated into the manufacturing process to improve the reliability of PCBs, integrated circuits and macroscale assemblies.”
Contemplating the use of robots is an important consideration in a modern plant. Understanding the environment in which the robot will work in is just as important as it would be for any human worker.
Robotics Use on the Rise
The pandemic forced major changes in many areas of manufacturing, and robotics deployment was among those areas that grew even during the economic downturn. With the use case for robotics further proven under the duress of the pandemic, the projection is for the market to keep growing at a double-digit pace, as a recent Machine Design article pointed out.
According to a market report published by Allied Market Research, the automotive robotics industry reached $6.63 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $13.6 billion by 2027. Many factors will both hinder and aid the growth of the industry in the next decade.
Many global manufacturing leaders agree that the adoption of IIoT—robotics included—is a long road that involves implementing automation incrementally. The prominence of automation in the automotive sector has been fueled by the increased need for accuracy, which robotics can provide. The global demand for increased productivity and speed has also led the charge for robotics in the automotive industry.
The COVID-19 pandemic hindered the progress and production of robots, which negatively affected the market in early 2020. COVID also halted automotive production and disrupted the supply chain. The market regained some traction when robotics were used in plants to “fill the gap” between socially distanced workers.
IDEA! Awards Entry Deadline is July 9
The deadline to enter the 2021 IDEA! Awards is now just 10 days away. 2021 IDEA! Awards will highlight the top innovative products created in the last year. The awards program is a showcase for new engineering solutions. It also provides great value for everyone who enters.
Get your entry in today. Also, please plan to join us at the 2021 IDEA! Conference in Cleveland. It will be three days of great information and an opportunity to reconnect after more than a year apart.
Click here for a link to the entry form. It’s important to act soon: Entry deadline is July 9 at 5 p.m. CST.