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Unit 2

Text study: Classification of Robots.

Additional Text: Man/Machine Interfax.

Grammar: direct, indirect speech

I. Pre-reading Exercises

1. Repeat the words in chorus:

Configuration, continuous-path, pneumatic,manipulator, angular, moulding, microprocessor-controlled, tool-handling.

2. While reading the text you will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian words they remind of you:

Electromechanical, number, position, to operate, typical, hydraulic, system, control, cylindrical, spherical, plastic, stamping, press, abrasive, sensor.

3. Pay attention to some grammatical points:

1) The "multi-point" PTP robot permits the control to stop each axis or manipulator at any point within its total range, rather that at only two, or a few, points. 2) CP robots operate, in theory, in an infinite number of points in space, than, when jointed, describe a smooth compound curve. 3) The simplest of the above mentioned robots are those operated by pneumatics with fixed cycle control. 4) Industrial robots are being used for a wide variety of tasks in factories, shops and foundries around the world.

II. Reading

Read the text and be ready to find in the text the answers to the following questions:

·         What are the two basic types of industrial robots?

·         What tasks can industrial robots perform at enterprises?

Classification of Robots

The number of types of electromechanical robots is continually increasing. The typical features of each type of an industrial robot are as follows: the type of drive and control system, the type of coordinate configuration system in which the manipulator works, the number of degrees of freedom, load capacity, repeatability, the number of manipulators, etc.

From the control standpoint there are two basic types of industrial robots: point-to-point (PTP) and continuous-path (CP). The simplest case of PTP robots is the "two-point" or cycle robot, where each axis of this robot can generally move to only two positions. The "multi-point" PTP robot permits the control to stop each axis or manipulator at any point within its total range, rather that at only two, or a few, points. CP robots operate, in theory, in an infinite number of points in space, than, when jointed, describe a smooth compound curve. "Multi-point" PTP robots and CP robots are also called "servo-controlled" robots.

Drive is a typical feature of robots. Robots can be driven by pneumatic, hydraulic and electro-mechanical drives. The simplest of the above mentioned robots are those operated by pneumatics with fixed cycle control. Most of them have electrical control systems but there are also examples of complete pneumatically controlled models.

Hydraulic robots occupy second place in industrial application. As a rule, these are universal robots with one manipulator, covering the load capacity of 20-40 kg and point-to-point or continuous-path control of operation. The number of types of electromechanical robots is increasing quickly. Some robots work in angular coordinate system. There are also robots working in the cylindrical, spherical and cartesian systems.

Industrial robots are being used for a wide variety of tasks in factories, shops and foundries around the world. Robots unload parts from die casting machines and plastic injection moulding machines. They load and unload parts at machine tools and stamping presses; transfer parts from die to die or from press to press. In die casting and plastic injection moulding operations, robot may unload a single machine or as many as three machines. In machine tool loading and unloading, the robot may also tend more than one machine - loading and unloading each in turn, or on demand and transferring parts from machine to machine, as well as placing parts in gages for dimensional checking.

In forging operations, robots are used to transfer hot billets from furnaces to forging presses to transfer parts from die to die in successive forming operations and to handle hot and cold parts in trimming operations. Robots are also used in casting clean-up operations, handling cutting torches or abrasive cut-off wheels to remote gates and risers and for grinding flash from parting lines.

Continuous path servo-controlled robots are used for spraying a wide variety of parts and materials; for spot and arc welding. Robots are used for drilling and grinding, handling either the parts or a power tool.

In assembly operations, the microprocessor-controlled robot with sensory feedback capability performs the complex part and tool-handling tasks.

Vocabulary Notes

drive [draIv] — привід

the number of degrees of freedomчисло (кількість) ступенів вільності

repeatability [rI"pJtq'bIlItI] —  повторюваність

manipulator [mq'nIpjVleItq] — маніпулятор

standpoint ['stxndpOInt] — точка зору

point-to-point controlпозиційне управління

continuous-path control контурне управління

two-pointдвоточковий

multi-pointбагатоточковий

rather … thatа не

smooth [smHD] плавний

compound curve ['kPmpaVnd  kWv] —складна крива

angulair coordinate system ['xNgjVlq] — кутова система коердинат

cartesian coordinate system [kR'tJzIqn] декартова система координат

foundry ['fandrI] — ливарний цех

casting ['kRstIN] лиття

injection moulding [In'dZekS(q)  'mqVldIN] лиття під тиском пластмас

die [daI] — пресформа

die castingлиття металів під тиском

gage (gauge) [geIdZ] — вимірювальний пристрій

dimensional [da'menS()nql] — що має вимір, просторовий

forging ['fLdZIN] — кування

handleкерувати (машиною)

trimming ['tImIN] — обрізка

clean-upочистка виликів

torch [tLC] — паяльна лампа

cut-off-wheelвідрізний круг

gate живильник (в ливарній формі)

Comprehension

1. Tell what sentences are true and what are false.

1). Load capacity is one of the typical features of any type of an industrial robot. 2). Each axis of a cycle robot can move to only one position. 3). PTP robots and CP robots are called "self-controlled" robots. 4). Robots can operate by means of electro-pneumatic drives. 5). Universal robots have one manipulator, load capacity of 20-40 kg and continuous-path control of operations. 6). In plastic injection moulding operations robots can unload as many as three machines. 7). In forging operations robots unload hot billets from furnaces and load them to forging presses. 8). Robots with sensory feedback capability fulfill the complex part and tool-handling tasks in assembly operations.

2. Choose the right answer:

1). How are "multi-point" PTP robots and CP robots called?

a). "point-to-point" robots;

b). "servo-controlled" robots;

c). "continuous-path" robots.

2). What is a drive?

a). a load capacity;

b).a fixed cycle control;

c). a typical feature of robots.

3). What is a role of hydraulic robots in industry?

a). they occupy the second place in industrial application;

b). they are of no use in industry;

c). they operate, in theory, in an infinite number of points in space.

4). What system can some robots operate in?

a). they can work in loading and unloading system;

b). they can work in assembly operations system;

c). they can work in angular coordinate system as well as in cylindrical, spherical and cartesian systems.

5). What are CP servo-controlled robots used for?

a). they are used for trimming operations;

b). they are used for spot and arc welding;

c). they are used for for dimensional checking.

6). What robot performs the complex part and tool-handling tasks in assembly operations?

a). industrial robot;

b). "multi-point" PTP robot;

c). microprocessor-controlled robot with sensory feedback capability.

3. Complete the sentences:

1) The typical features of each type of an industrial robot are … . 2) The simplest case of PTP robots is … . 3) The "multi-point" PTP robot permits … . 4) Robots can be driven by … . 5) Hydraulic robots occupy … . 6) Industrial robots are being used for … . 7) Continuous path servo-controlled robots are used for … .

4. Complete the sentences (A) choosing the required words or word combinations from list (B). Read and translate them.

A              1) The places where robots can be used are ...

                  2) Job functions performed by the robot are ...

3)      There are various types of operations in which the robot performs different functions. They are ...

В shops, to unload parts, machine tools, grind, factories, to load parts, foundry, to transfer parts, to handle parts, trimming, to spray parts, stamping presses, to place parts in gages, forming, forging, casting clean-up, to drill, to weld, assembly.

5. Answer the questions:

1) What are the typical features of each type of an industrial robot? 2) What is the principle according to which industrial robots are subdivided into PTP and CP robots? 3) How can robots be usually driven? 4) What is the load capacity of hydraulic robots? 5) What kind of coordinate system can different robots work in? 6) What tasks can robots perform in factories, shops and foundries around the world? 7) What can robots do in forging operations? 8) How are robots used in casting clean-up operations? 9) What are continuous path servo-controlled robots used for? 10) What operations do microprocessor-controlled robots perform?

6. Read the sentences from the text which illustrate the following statements:

1). Robots are used in different places. 2). Robots are used for various operations. 3). Robots may perform different numbers of operations. 4). Robots are widely used in forging operations. 5). There are some types of robots which are used for spraying and assembly operations.

*7. Try to tell the gist of the text.

 

Word Study

1. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following.

electromechanical robots, typical features, type of drive, number of degrees of freedom, number of manipulators, axis, infinite number of points, smooth compound curve, above mentioned, fixed cycle control, pneumatically controlled, industrial application, die casting machines, plastic injection moulding, hot billets, abrasive cut-off wheels.

2. Give English equivalents of the following.

Повторюваність, з точки зору контролю, циклічний робот, пневматичний привід, гідравлічний привід, приводити в дію, електрична система контролю, пневматично контрольована модель, переміщати від пресу до пресу, розвантажувати до трьох машин, на вимогу, точкове та аркове зварювання, кувальні операції, складальні операції, можливість сенсорного живлення.

3. Match the words in A with their synonyms in B:

A                                 B

Basic                           little

Permit                         do

Few                             enterprise

Number                       main

Industry                      allow

Perform                       quantity

4. Make up sentences from the following words and word-groups:

Model: to use, operations, to be, in, robots, manufacturing. - Robots are used in manufacturing operations.

1). The, PTP, simplest, robots, case, of, to be, the, robot, "two-point". 2). Two, there, industrial, to be, robots, of, types, basic. 3). Robots, of, drive, to be, feature, a, typical. 4). Control, to have, most, systems, of, electrical, robots. 5). Second, to occupy, in, hydraulic, application, robots, place, industrial. 6). Casting, robots, from, to unload, and, parts, injection, die, machines, moulding, machines, plastic. 7). Used, drilling, for, robots, to be, grinding, and.

5. Look through the text again. Describe the types of robots choosing the correct word. Complete the sentences if necessary.

There are two (basic, basis) types of industrial robots from the control standpoint. They are ... . Some robots work in the (angle, angular) coordinate system. There are also robots working in the (cylinder, cylindrical), (sphere, spherical) and cartesian systems. Drive is a (type, typical) feature of robots. Robots can be driven by (pneumatic, pneumatically, hydraulic) and (mechanics, electro-mechanical) drives.

6. Translate sentences into English using words and word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes.

1). Промислові роботи виконують велику кількість задач на підприємствах. 2). Роботи можуть завантажувати деталі на станки або на штампувальні преси. 3). Роботів з контурним сервоуправлінням можна використовувати для точкового та дугового зварювання. 4). Тип приводу та системи контролю, число ступенів вільності та координаційна система конфігурації є типовими рисами промислового робота. 5). Кожна вісь двоточкового робота може рухатись лише у двох положеннях. 6). Роботи з сенсорними зворотнім живленням використовують для складальних операцій.

Grammar in Use

1. Supply the correct form of the verb

1) The teacher said that the word “robot” (to come) from the Old Slav word "robu", which (to mean) a servant. 2) We hope that robots (to fill) the gap between special-purpose automation and human endeavour. 3) She supposed that handling operations (to occur) in practically all production processes. 4) Everybody knows that a major advance in the twenty-first century manufacturing (to be) the development of mass production techniques. 5) People believe that each manufacturing process (to be) automated in the nearest future. 6) I always thought that automation (to be) first applied to industry in continuous-process manufacturing.

2. Change direct speech into indirect

1) I asked: “What is the major development in manufacturing in the twenty-first century?”. 2) They said: “The present day stage of automation is based on the revolution in computer technology, in computerization of the whole national economy.” 3) The scientists promised: “In the ultimate automated factory there will be few, if any, operators or quality control inspectors.” 4) The students asked: “What was a later development in industrial automation?” 5) He concluded: “The necessity of some form of automated handling processes became obvious.” 6) They declared: “According to available data, our industry receives annually thousands of robots of different types and purposes.”

Additional Text

(for individual work)

Read and translate the text.

Man/Machine Interfaсe

Life in the automated factory is based on communications. Sensors gather data, computers send commands, PCs control machines and management. It makes decisions based of data from these devices. Sensors, computers, processors and man must all talk to each other.

There have been a number of recent developments in machine-to-machine interfaces. Networks, hardware and software that allow various processors to share and exchange data, are moving into the factory. These networks are connecting whole processors together, allowing more flexibility and control of manufacturing.

A major problem with networks, though, is interfacing processors that do not use the same language. Rules are being developed that will make it easier for these different processors to communicate.

Man-to-machine communications have seen dramatic developments. The computer is no longer an unyielding, unforgiving device that insists you conform to its method of working. The computer has become friendly, even inviting. Complex mnemonics and performing functions in a specific sequence have been replaced with graphic representations commands and cursor device know as a mouse. Now, getting a computer to perform a function is as easy as pointing your finger to the graphic representation of the function you want performed and pressing a button on the mouse. And programs exist for all types of business needs including teaching someone unfamiliar with computers how to run one.

A new technology that's also making it easier for man to interface with machines is speech recognition. Here, you enter information into a machine with your voice; a device in the machine translates the sounds into signals the computer or machine can work with. This method of entering data is faster and more accurate than using a keyboard to enter information.

1. Divide the text into the logical parts and give a title to each one.

2. Put questions to the text.

3. Discuss it with your groupmates.