HEAVY-DUTY CONNECTORS PROTECT THE FLOW OF POWER AND DATA IN ROBOTS IN HARSH INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS ENHANCING SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY, AND RELIABILITY THROUGH CONNECTIVITY
DANIEL PINTAR, SENIOR MANAGER STRATEGY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ROBOTICS & MOTION, TE CONNECTIVITY
As robots become ubiquitous in industrial settings and the tasks they take on grow more complex and specific, one constant remains: to be successful, industrial robots must be able to endure harsh environment conditions without interruption or performance impacts. That said, the definition of “harsh” varies significantly across the many operating environments that require automated processes. Some robots may be working in a highly controlled clean room, while others operate on a grimy, dusty, or contaminated factory floor, facing aggressive cleaning agents, strong vibrations, extreme temperatures, welding sparks, gaseous environments, or electromagnetic interference. For a robot to perform within its specified parameters, the controllers need accurate, real- time information on its position. If the position data flow is interrupted, the computer cannot accurately measure the position of the robot. Its assumptions may be inaccurate, and it may issue commands that lead to overreaching or overcompensating movements. Rugged interconnects that can protect
the flow of power and data even under less-than- ideal conditions are essential to safe and reliable robot operation, and overall productivity. THE COST OF LOST COMMUNICATION The cost of lost communication from poor connectivity cannot be overstated. Take the example of an automotive manufacturing facility that produces 500,000 electric vehicles per year. Industrial automation processes allow the factory to run 24/7 all year. This robotic support creates potential revenues of $25 billion annually for the company, or about $6.8 million a day. However, if the data stream controlling a robotic arm is interrupted for a few moments and takes the machine down, the factory loses $50,000 for every minute the machine is out of operation. In another example, a cutting-edge medical facility uses cobots in the operating room to minimize patient downtime and increase overall safety during complex procedures. If electromagnetic interference lowers the cobot’s precision, it cannot be used safely
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