Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1351237
© 2019 TE Connectivity Corporation. TE Connectivity, TE, TE connectivity (logo) and EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS are trademarks. The Challenge: Personnel Safety for Robotic Equipment Safety ranks as the top priority for robotic automation developers. Because industrial robots can introduce many new safety hazards into the workplace, the "do no harm" approach has become even more important as these robots are increasingly used for heavy lifting on automotive assembly lines and other industrial manufacturing venues. There are strict regulations, as well as stiff penalties, surrounding robotic safety. Manufacturers must prepare for this before the robots are installed to ensure compliance and create a safe environment for workers. Training for manufacturing staff is also required to ensure employee safety. When robotic equipment is implemented, a new level of expertise is required from workers. Many will have to be trained on how to operate this new equipment while other employees will have to be hired that have the proper certifications, education, and robotic experience. The Challenge: Moving to an IoT-enabled Digital Infrastructure The industrial internet of things (IIoT) presents enormous productivity potential for manufacturers, but the true benefits can be difficult to realize. Industrial robotics inherently promote connectivity and are proving to be a great starting point for broader IIoT initiatives – and are increasingly being integrated from the ground up. TE has observed that companies are beginning to recognize the importance of sensors and how they are changing the approach for IIoT applications— particularly as companies see the benefits of merging traditional operational areas and information technology. Many believe IIoT has the potential to drive greater efficiency and improve productivity. In fact, industry analysts believe that the combination of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and contextually rich, real-time data streams delivered by IIoT sensors and networks is going to make IIoT business cases far more compelling in 2019 and beyond. As the IIoT smart factory experience evolves, it will run on data — provided by TE Connectivity sensors. Some of the world's largest manufacturers have already begun to integrate industrial robots with IIoT in manufacturing sites around the world — increasing productivity and decreasing unscheduled downtime via predictive maintenance sensing technologies — saving time and money. Some large, automotive manufacturers are using thousands of connected robots in their factories to collect real-time data on robotic performance. The connected sensor technology enables them to see when a robot needs TE Sensor Product Highlights Piezoresistive Load Cell Technology: Similar to how a digital scale can measure weight, piezoresistive load cells can measure force based on the load being applied to the sensor. Within a factory setting, these sensors can be integrated into factory floor mats to sense if a human is in near proximity to dangerous factory equipment helping to prevent injury. Load cells are also used in some transfer equipment to provide safe movement of components and assemblies through the factory. In this case, load cells would be able to determine the weight of the load and would be able to trigger a fault or error condition if the load was too heavy or unbalanced.