Your team is focused on speed in a robotics project. How do you ensure precision doesn't get left behind?

For industrial robot arms, speed and accuracy are specified in the technical documentation. The speed specification includes both the maximum overall TCP (Tool Center Point) speed and the individual axis speeds. Accuracy is defined by the robot’s repeatability and absolute accuracy. Using this information, the appropriate robot can be selected to meet the specific requirements of the application.

Start by establishing clear objectives that define what precision means for your project, whether it’s accuracy of movement, repeatability of tasks, or control finesse. By setting specific, measurable goals, you create benchmarks to assess performance and maintain focus on precision throughout the project.

Invest in a thorough design phase to ensure your robotics system is built to meet high-precision standards. This includes selecting the right sensors and actuators and conducting detailed simulations to predict performance. A robust design minimizes errors and enhances reliability, even in fast-paced development environments.

Set clear goals that align with the customer needs. Metrics and evaluations should be part of the design phase so that any issues are identified and fixed upfront which leads to faster and robust design. Emphasize the importance of repeatability and reproducibility to gain customer confidence. Create a plan which includes thorough testing at intermediate steps and iterative development so that both high precision and faster development is achieved.

Implement quick prototyping and iterative testing cycles to refine your robot's precision. Automated testing can quickly identify performance issues, allowing for immediate adjustments and continuous improvement without slowing down the project timeline.

To enhance a robot’s path accuracy and speed, both the robot program and the path can be refined. To ensure optimal performance, it is essential to analyze and optimize the robot’s poses during motion execution. Choosing the appropriate motion type (joint move versus linear move) is crucial. Additionally, for improved speed and/or precision, position overrides and position levels can be adjusted for each specific position.

Use advanced algorithms for motion planning, control, and error correction to optimize your robot's performance in real-time. Incorporating machine learning can further enhance precision by allowing the robot to learn and improve from its operations, increasing accuracy over time.

Foster effective team dynamics with clear communication and well-defined roles. Collaboration among specialists in software, mechanical engineering, and quality assurance is crucial for addressing precision-related issues promptly. A culture of openness and feedback can help identify potential problems early and maintain the project’s momentum.

Commit to continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and refining all aspects of the project, from coding practices to hardware assembly. Encouraging team feedback and adapting workflows ensures ongoing optimization, allowing for high precision even under tight deadlines.