A control system for quickly programming industrial robots

Teach your robot well

A new control system can reduce the time to set up and program industrial robots from an hour or more to just minutes, according to the Finnish research organization that developed it.

How? Normally, a robot’s work path is programmed slowly, one point at a time. But the new system allows the use of a joystick to guide a robot arm along the paths required for grinding and other operations, thereby “teaching” the robot how to work on its own, explained Tapio Heikkilä, principal scientist at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.

Unlike conventional robotic-guidance systems, which are equipped with only one force/torque sensor or none at all, the VTT system has two. One sensor is attached to the wireless control stick that guides the robot, while the second detects the amount of pressure being placed on the tool the robot is wielding.

VTT says its wireless joystick controller makes programming continuous paths for a robot arm quick and easy. Image courtesy VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.