Flexiv Rizon: How Adaptive Robots are Revolutionizing Delicate Manufacturing Tasks

Hi LinkedIn Community,

Welcome to Flexiv’s second LinkedIn article! We're excited to share our insights with you on the advantages of force control over position control, and we hope we can shed a bit of light on what makes our adaptive robots so special.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

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Robots are a common sight in modern manufacturing, completing tasks like screw fastening, welding, and material handling. However, it’s rare to see a robot inserting an RJ45 cable into a router, completing cabinet cabling, or laying out a wire harness.

The reason for this is simple. Such tasks pose significant technical challenges for traditional collaborative robots (cobots).

?? The primary challenge for traditional robots is tension control, or more precisely, the management of force and a robot’s ability to sense and apply it accurately.

Imagine holding a wooden coffee stirrer. You can bend it easily, but applying too much force would break it. Stopping before the breaking point is easy for humans, but for a traditional robot, it’s challenging.

Measuring resistance is crucial for robotic tasks that involve dynamic force control, such as unspooling cables, handling fruit, or sanding and polishing.

Cobots, however, lack the necessary sensitivity and real-time reaction speed because they rely on predetermined positional data. Suppose a position-based robot encounters a misaligned workpiece. If this occurs, the robot will continue its programmed task, potentially causing damage or production bottlenecks because it cannot ‘feel’ if a component is being inserted incorrectly or even if the workpiece is present. Computer vision is often integrated to mitigate this issue, but it requires careful calibration and specific lighting conditions.

To better illustrate the importance of force control, imagine trying to plug your phone charger into a power strip while blindfolded and with numb hands. You know where the cable is, but if the power strip moves slightly, the task becomes nearly impossible.

Removing the blindfold helps you locate the power strip. But, without the ability to feel the edges of the socket, the task remains challenging.

Once your hands warm up and regain sensation, though, you can easily wiggle the plug into the socket, perhaps after only glancing at it.

As humans, we rely on our sense of touch every day.

Whether plugging in a USB cable, squeezing a lemon, stroking a pet, or even gingerly choosing a block to remove from an overly competitive game of Jenga.

Flexiv’s adaptive robots are equipped with a similar ‘sense of touch,’ allowing them to ‘feel’ force in a way akin to humans. This capability is made possible through:

1. Force Control: Force control is an adaptive robotic feature that uses force feedback to direct a robot’s movement. For applications that involve wiring or cabling, force control is indispensable. Flexiv’s adaptive robots continuously monitor the force applied to the cable to maintain proper tension, preventing damage. This is critical for delicate ribbon cables or fine wiring. Force control also enhances precision, allowing for accurate and safe cable routing.
2. Real-Time Force Feedback: Real-time force feedback is essential for effective force control. Flexiv’s adaptive robots process force data instantly and adjust their movements accordingly. Each joint of a Flexiv robot is equipped with industry-leading proprietary force sensors, eliminating the need for external force/torque sensors that can introduce latency and response delays.

Key Advantages of Adaptive Robots:

• Superior tension control: A Rizon robot’s force control capability ensures consistent tension, preventing cable damage and ensuring high-quality harness production.
• Increased accuracy: All Rizon models immediately adjust in response to force feedback, improving accuracy even when unexpected disturbances occur.
• Reduced cycle times: The repeatability of the Rizon range enhances efficiency in wire harnessing operations compared to traditional robots.
• Handling cable bends: Force control enables a Rizon robot to apply the correct tension when routing cables around bends, preventing buckling or kinking.

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Beyond force control, the Rizon series of robots also benefits from:

• Torque-sensing in all seven axes: This provides Rizon with a comprehensive understanding of the forces at play, allowing for precise movement adjustments in complex tasks.
• A user-friendly graphical programming interface: This simplifies the deployment of force-guided motion primitives.
• 7 Degrees of freedom: Rizon’s range of motion enables a broad variety of tasks to be completed, including dynamic cable manipulation, wire harnessing, polishing, and adaptive assembly.

Flexiv’s Rizon series of adaptive robots stand at the pinnacle of force-sensing technology, offering an optimized combination of force and precision that today’s advanced manufacturing tasks demand.

Ready to transform your wire harnessing game? Contact Flexiv today and discover how Rizon can revolutionize your production process.

Your adaptive automation partner,

Flexiv Robotics

Flexiv Robotics is a deep-tech company revolutionizing the automation sector. Powered by artificial intelligence, torque sensors, and human-centered design, our adaptive robots enable the flexible automation of complex tasks. ?? Connect with us at Flexiv.com →