 Show Robotic Ideas Began Centuries Ago: The idea of an automatic device to help serve or work for humans has long been in existence as it is documented in historic tales, such as ideas like automatically opening doors. Around the 9th century, hundreds of preserved texts and ideas were accumulated and came together to create a book called "The Science of Ingenious Mechanisms." This book and the Renaissance period combined to bring many scientists and the like (including da Vinci) to imaginatively create some of the first automatons (objects that move automatically). Most were created for joy and laughter (The Lady Musician) but they slowly began to bring the past challenges to life. Then, robots developed a negative connotation from a play called "Rossum's Universal Robots" which premiered in Prague in 1921. In the play the robots helped with the work human's would normally do and then revolted, killed their master, and destroyed all life on earth. The R.U.R. was written to take place in the 60s, which is actually when the industrial robots made their first appearance. Sometime later, a science fiction writer, Isaac Asimov, created fundamental laws for robots that are still used today. Introduction to Industrial Automation: Fast forward hundreds of years to the industrial revolution. This brought with it an increasing demand for production and consequently, motivation for automation. The invention of the Numerically Controlled (NC) machines, the popularity of the computer (1950), and the integrated circuit (1970s) all helped to make it possible to begin to develop the very first, yet simple, industrial robot. The first ones were able to replace humans for the heavy, dangerous, and monotonous tasks. However, they had zero external sensing and were used for simple tasks such as pick and place. Eventually, developers were able to create more complex motions, put on external sensors, and add more applications such as welding, grinding, deburring, and assembly. Since then, industrial robots have been able to cut costs, increase productivity, improve quality, and help takeover dangerous or harmful tasks. Industrial Robots are Born: George Charles Devol, often called the father of robotics, invented the first industrial robot, the Unimate, in 1954. A few years later, Devol and entrepreneur Joseph F. Engelberger were discussing interested at a part and their company, Unimation, was born. So how exactly would you define an industrial robot? A mechanical device that is automatically controlled, versatile enough to be programmed to perform a variety of applications, and re-programmable with a large works pace, several degrees of freedom, and the ability to use an arm with different tooling. The first prototype, Unimate, was produced in 1961 and installed in GM's factory for die casting handling and spot welding. It cost $65,000 to produce yet was sold for $18,000. After that, GM installed 66 more Unimates and Ford became interested as well. The industrial robot future was certain to be bright with all of the automotive interest and investment. Modern industrial robot arms continued to evolve in the 1960's and 70's around the globe. The competition from companies around the world continued to produce a high demand for industrial robots. This spurred further research and technical development and items such as the development of the microprocessor helped to create cost-effective control systems that were still powerful. In 1963, the six-jointed Rancho Arm was created to assist handicapped. This was followed by the tentacle arm, designed by Marvin Minsky in 1968. It was able to lift a person and had 12 joints. The first successful story of a business developing a specific robot based on their needs was created in 1967. This company developed a robot to complete a spray painting application and eventually became ABB. This is only one example of when large companies began to develop their own industrial robots. So, industrial robotic development continued to quickly evolve, and in 1969 the Standford Arm eventually led to commercial arm production. The Stanford Arm was one of the first electronically powered, computer-controlled arms. By 1974, it reached a level of sophistication where it could assemble a Model T water pump. The Stanford Arm was followed by the Silver Arm in 1974. The Silver Arm was created by MIT's David Silver to perform precise assembly using touch and pressure sensors and a microcomputer. During that same year, these arms led to Victor Scheinman, the inventor of the Stanford Arm, to form Vicarm, Inc. to manufacture industrial robotic arms. Scheinman was instrumental in the creation of the PUMA (programmable universal manipulator for assembly) for Unimation. By the middle of the 1970s, industrial robots had boomed and were expected to grow at rates around 30% per year. The industrial robotic industry officially took off and never looked back. In the 1980's, automotive companies showered robotic companies with investments. The enthusiasm and funding were not always matched with understanding. General Motors Corporation spent more than $40 billion on new technology in the 1980's, but a lack of understanding led to costly robot fiascos. In 1988, robots at the Hamtramck Michigan plant wreaked havoc - smashing windows and painting one another. Unfortunately, the premature introduction of robotics began to create financial instability. It wasn't until recently that the robotics industry has regained mid-1980 revenue levels. The American robotics market disappeared as Japanese and European bought up companies. 2010 brought a huge acceleration in demand due to the continued innovative development and improvement of industrial robots. By 2014, there was a 29% increase in robot sales across the globe. It is an exciting time to be a part of the robotic world as our globe becomes more aware of the amazing benefits of industrial robots. *historic robot facts are from this online source. *additional 2010-present statistics can be seen here. For more information or to integrate an industrial robot onto your production line, contact RobotWorx experts today; 740-251-4312 or reach representatives online.
In 1954, George Devol filed U.S. Patent No. 2,988,237 describing an autonomous machine that could store commands and move parts. Devol was born in Louisville, Kentucky. From an early age, he was interested in inventing and he even helped run his school’s electric light plant. Instead of attending college, he took his practical knowledge and started his first company. The company was focused on film sound technology, and it would lead him into the development of robots. InventionThe programmable robotic arm described in Devol’s patent was called the Unimate, a combination of the words “universal” and “automation.” This machine moved with six degrees of freedom and stored step-by-step digital commands — making it the first industrial robot ever created. Devol’s robotic arm was designed for high-speed handling of parts up to 500 pounds and could perform a variety of tasks. Unimation, Inc — the first robotics company in the world — was formed when Devol met Joseph Engelberger in 1956. While Devol invented the robot, his entrepreneurial partner is credited with the successful marketing of the Unimate to manufacturers. In 1961, the Unimate 1900 model was unveiled to the public in Chicago during a trade show. Five years later, the robotic arm made a television appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” where it conducted the live band, knocked a golf ball into a cup and opened a can of beer! The first Unimation robotic arm was sold to the GM plant in Ewing Township, New Jersey, where it was used for stacking hot metal. From there, other automotive makers licensed the technology to aid their production. ImpactThe introduction of robots transformed the automotive industry, allowing production lines to increase both efficiency and quality. The Unimate robot paved the way for today’s automatic production lines in many industries. One of the original models of the robotic arm can be found at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. In recognition of his invention of the industrial robot, George Devol was Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame® in 2011. This article is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic. (April 2017) A mechanical arm is a machine that mimics the action of a human arm. Mechanical arms are composed of multiple beams connected by hinges powered by actuators. One end of the arm is attached to a firm base while the other has a tool. They can be controlled by humans either directly or over a distance. A computer-controlled mechanical arm is called a robotic arm. However, a robotic arm is just one of many types of different mechanical arms.[1] Mechanical arms can be as simple as tweezers or as complex as prosthetic arms. In other words, if a mechanism can grab an object, hold an object, and transfer an object just like a human arm, it can be classified as a mechanical arm.[2] Recent advancements have been brought about to lead future improvements in the medical field with prosthetics and with the mechanical arm in general. When mechanical engineers build complex mechanical arms, the goal is for the arm to perform a task that ordinary human arms can not complete.[2] Researchers have classified the robotic arm by showing its industrial application, medical application, and technology, e.t.c. It has been first introduced in the late 1930s by William Pollard and Harold A. Roseland, where they developed a sprayer that had about five degrees of freedom and an electric control system. Pollard's was called “first position controlling apparatus.” William Pollard never designed or built his arm, but it was a base for other inventors in the future.[3] Other robotic arms were invented in 1961 by Unimate, evolving to the PUMA arm. In 1963, the Rancho arm was designed, along with many others in the future. Even though Joseph Engelberger marketed Unimate, George Devol invented the robotic arm. It focused on using Unimate for tasks that are harmful to humans. In 1959, a 2700-pound Unimate prototype was installed at the General Motors die-casting plant in Trenton, New Jersey. The Unimate 1900 series became the very first produced robotic arm for die-casting. During a very short period of time, it had produced at least 450 robotic arms which were being used. It still remains one of the most significant contributions in the last one hundred years. As years went by, technology seemed to evolve, helping to build better robotic arms. Not only companies invented different robotic arms, but so did colleges. In 1969, Victor Scheinman from Stanford University invented the Stanford arm, where it had electronically powered arms that could move through six axes. Marvin Minsky, from MIT, built a robotic arm for the office of Naval Research, possibly for underwater explorations. This arm had twelve single degree freedom joints in this electric- hydraulic- high dexterity arm. Robots were initially created to perform a series of tasks that humans found boring, harmful, and tedious.[3][4][5] ProstheticsBefore the Modern EraReplica of a prosthetic arm. The original probably dates from between 1550 and 1600. The history of prosthetic limbs came to be by such great inventors. The world's first and earliest functioning body parts are two toes from Ancient Egypt. Because of their unique functionality, these toes are an example of a true prosthetic device. These toes carry at least forty percent of the body's weight. Most prosthetic limbs would be produced after there is intensive studying of a human being's form by using modern equipment. Prosthetic limbs were used during the war too, including during the late 1480s. A German knight, who served with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, was injured during the war. Even though prosthetic limbs were expensive, this particular limb was manufactured by an armor specialist. Soldiers were allowed to continue their career because of prosthetics. The fingers could grasp a shield, hold reins to horses, and even a quill when drafting an important document.[6] Modern EraArtificial left arm, London, England Wellcome. As time passed, limb design started to focus on people's specialties as well. For example, a pianist would need a different type of mechanical arm than others. Their limbs would be widespread and their middle and ring fingers would be smaller than normal. In addition, an arm design of padded tips on the thumb and little finger would allow a pianist to span a series of notes while playing their instrument.[6] Technology for the prosthetic limbs kept evolving after World War I. After the war, laborers would return to work, using either legs or the arms because of its ability to grip objects. This is one of the designs that remains unchanged over the past century. People with such prosthetics would do everyday things like driving a car, eating food, and much more.[6] Arms for Automotive Manufacturing6 Axis Articulated Robots Without the mechanical arm, the production of cars would be extremely difficult. This problem was first solved in 1962 when the first mechanical arm was used in a “General Motors” factory. Using this mechanical arm, also known as an industrial robot, engineers were able to achieve difficult welding tasks. In addition, the removal of die-castings was another important step in improving the abilities of a mechanical arm. With such technology, engineers were able to easily remove unneeded metal underneath mold cavities. Stemming off these uses, welding started to become increasingly popular for mechanical arms.[5] In 1979, the company Nachi refined the first motor-driven robot to perform spot welding. Spot welding is a very important process used in the creation of cars to join separate surfaces together. Soon enough, mechanical arms were being passed down to additional car companies.[7] As constant improvements were being made, the National University of Singapore (NUS) decided to make even further advancements by inventing a mechanical arm that can lift up to 80 times its original weight. Not only did this arm expand its lift strength, but the arm could also extend to five times its original length. These advancements were first introduced in 2012 and car companies can greatly benefit from this new scientific knowledge.[7] Surgical ArmsLaproscopic Surgery Robot (2006) Surgical arms were first used in 1985 when a neurosurgical biopsy was performed. In 1990, the FDA allowed endoscopic surgical procedures to be done by the Automated Educational Substitute Operator (AESOP) system. This was not the only improvement the FDA made, however. While the AESOP system was more of a Computer Motion system, the first surgery system came about in 2000, when the da Vinci Surgical System became the first robotic surgery system approved by the FDA. Prosthetics may not seem like a mechanical arm, but they are. It uses hinges and a wire harness to allow an incapable being to perform everyday functions. They have started creating arms that take a structure of a human arm and even though it looks like a skeletal metal arm, it moves like a normal arm and hand. This arm was made by Johns Hopkins University in 2015. It has 26 joints (way more than the old outdated arms) and is capable of lifting up to 45 pounds. This arm has 100 sensors that connect to the human mind. These sensors allow the person with the arm to move the arm like it was just another part of his or her body. People who have used this new prosthetic can say that they have actually been able to feel the texture, ultimately making prosthetics a huge part of the mechanical arm category.[7] Rover armsThree generations of Mars rovers In space, NASA used a mechanical arm for new planetary discoveries. One of these discoveries came from sending a rover to another planet and collecting samples from this planet. With a rover, NASA can just keep the rover on its designated planet and explore all they want. Mechanical arms are also attached to the ships that are acting as satellite stations in Earth's atmosphere because they help grab debris that might cause damage to other satellites. Not only that, but they also keep astronauts safe when they have to go make a repair to the ship or satellite. Now, space isn't where all the rover's with mechanical arms are. Even the SWAT team and other special forces use these rovers to go into a building or unsafe area to defuse a bomb, plant a bomb or repair vehicles.[8] Everyday Mechanical ArmsEvery day a person might be using a type of mechanical arm. Many mechanical arms are used for very ordinary things like being able to grab an out of reach object with the pincer mechanical arm. A simple system of 3 joints squeezes and releases motion causing the pincer to close and finally grab a desired object. Even the objects that might seem super simplistic like tweezers can be classified as a mechanical arm. This simple object is being used millions of times daily all thanks to the help of an engineer making a simple, but great design.[9] The National University of Singapore has started making artificial muscle tissue to be able to be placed in mechanical arms to be able to help people pick up heavy loads. This artificial tissue can pick up to 500 times its own weight. Depending on how much of the tissue engineers place in the mechanical arm, the greater lift strength the arm has. A regular human well-grown adult weighs around 160 to 180 pounds. Now, a person weighing that much could be able to lift an object that weighs around 80,000 pounds. This would make construction sites a lot safer being able to just walk up with the construction supplies instead of using a crane that can collapse due to harsh weather. Soon, utility vehicles for construction may be a thing of the past.[10] Sensor Mechanical ArmsNew mechanical arms being used for prosthetics are starting to gain sensors that, with the help of a chip attached to one's spinal cord, allows a person to move the arm. Since sensors can easily be programmed to have a higher sensitivity to anything the sensor touches, people with prosthetic arms will also be able to feel the object they are touching. With this, a person could feel even the slightest vibration. This could be a danger and a good thing. It can danger the human because if dealt with to much pressure the person with the prosthetic can suffer severe pain. Besides actually obtaining the sense of touch back, one could also sense more awareness of incoming danger.[11][12] Lifelike Mechanical ArmsLifelike mechanical arms, along with ordinary human arms, are so similar that it may be hard to distinguish between the two. The reason for this is because a spray, that places a coat on the prosthetic arm, makes the arm look real. This futuristic fantasy is beginning to become more of a reality. Scientists are even starting to create sleeve type artificial skins to keep a prosthetic arm looking like a normal arm. This will allow people with prosthetics to not feel self-conscious of their robotic arm.[4]
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