Robot Drives

Robot Drives

Robot Drives - Three basic drive systems are used in commercially available robots.

(i) Hydraulic

(ii) Electric motor

(iii) Pneumatic.

Hydraulic drive systems are usually associated with large robots, and the hydraulic drive system adds to the floor space required by the robot. Hydraulic drive system gives to the robot mechanical simplicity (as hydraulic systems are familiar to maintenance personnel), high strength and high speed.

Robots driven by electric motors (dc stepping motors or servomotors) do not possess the physical strength or speed of the hydraulic units, but their accuracy and repeatability is generally better. They occupy less floor space also. Pneumatically driven robots are typically smaller and technologically less sophisticated that the other two types. Pick and place tasks and other simple, high cycle rate operations are examples of their applications.