Collaborative robots are often used in noisy factories, and this can cause problems with the sensors. The problem is that external noise can affect analog signals, interfering with the working of the sensor. This problem disappears when digital signals are used. That is why Robotiq has developed a digital Force Torque Sensor, called the FT 300, that allows it to work better in noisy environments.
Collaborative robots are industrial robots that are capable of collaborating with humans in the workplace. This collaboration can range from being able to continue working with a person in its workspace, sometimes being able to adjust speed and actions depending on the position of the person, to hand guiding or path teaching, where a Force Torque Sensor is used so the robot “feels” the guiding hand of the human as the person teaches the robot what to do.
This type of collaboration allows the robot to learn exactly where to move, but does not in and of itself involve any sort of collaborative safety features. However, different sensor precisions can and should be used at different joints, with high precision at the robot’s wrist and low precision further down for safety. And each joint will have its own sensor to ensure a full range of movement.
Collaborative robots using Force Torque Sensors like the FT 300 allow industrial robots to grind, deburr, test products, assemble, or tend machinery. Also, getting the sensors and the end-effector from the same company means software applications are certain to work together. Robotiq also has a camera which they expect to include in the future to improve overall functionality.
As robotics improves through improved AI, robots will be able to work at higher levels of abstraction, meaning there will be less need for expertise in using and training the robots, and the robots themselves will be more collaborative. More intelligent robots means more seamless collaboration and thus more effective and efficient human and robotic workforces.
