Development Timeline Industrial Robots 2010-1959

2010 KUKA (Germany) launched a new series of shelf-mounted robots (Quantec) with a new controller KR C4

The Quantec K robots have an extremely low base, allowing a greater lower reach for unloading applications. The new KR C4 controller generation is the first to combine the complete safety controller in a single control system. This allows all tasks to be carried out at once. 2009 ABB, Sweden, launched the smallest multipurpose industrial robot, IRB120

ABB's smallest ever multipurpose industrial robot weighs just 25kg and can handle a payload of 3kg (4kg for vertical wrist) with a reach of 580mm. 2009 Yaskawa Motoman, Japan, introduces control system to sync up to 8 robots

Yaskawa Motoman, Japan, introduced the improved robot control system (DX100) which provided the fully synchronized control of eight robots, up to 72 axis. I/O devices and communication protocols. Dynamic interference zones protect robot arm and provide advanced collision avoidance. 2008 FANUC, Japan, launched a new heavy duty robot with a payload of almost 1,200 kg

"The M-2000iA is the world's largest and strongest six-axis robot," said Rich Meyer, product manager, Fanuc Robotics . "It has the longest reach and the strongest wrist surpassing all other six-axis robots available today. The wrist strength sets a record, but more importantly, allows our customers to move large heavy parts a great distance with maximum stability." 2007 With the first systems realized in 2006, Reis Robotics became market leader for photovoltaic module production lines

Since 2006 the new application field of photovoltaic became an important market for the use of robots 2007 KUKA, Germany, launched the first long range robot and heavy duty robot with a payload of 1,000 kg

It expands the application possibilities of industrial robots and creates a new class of reach and payload combinations 2007 Motoman, Japan, launched super speed arc welding robots which reduces cycle times by 15%, the fastest welding robots in existence in 2007

This speed is achieved with a 40% axis movement increase. Their design reduces air-cut time 30%. 2006 Motoman, Japan, launched human sized single armed (7 axis) and dual armed robot (13 axis) with all of the supply cables hidden in the robot arm

It significantly increases the robot's freedom of movement. Robots with dual robot arms, offering human-like flexibility in their movements, are ideal for machine tending and assembly - even beverage serving. The Robot Bar grabs national attention. 2006 KUKA, Germany presents the first Light Weight Robot

Developed in cooperation with DLR, Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, Germany, the outer structure of the KUKA lightweight robot is made of aluminum. It has a payload capacity of 7 kg and, thanks to its integrated sensors, is highly sensitive. This makes it ideally suited to handling and assembly tasks. Due to its low weight of just 16 kg - the first robot weighted two tons!, the robot is energy-efficient and portable and can perform a wide range of different tasks. 2006 Comau, Italy, introduced the first Wireless Teach Pendant (WiTP)

All the traditional data communication/robot programming activities can be carried out without the restrictions caused by the cable connected to the Control Unit, but at the same time absolute safety is ensured. 2004 Motoman, Japan, introduced the improved robot control system (NX100) which provided the synchronized control of four robots, up to 38 axis

The NX100 programming pendant has a touch screen display and is based on WindowsCE operative systemsource 2003 Robocoaster, the first entertainment robot based on an articulated robot by KUKA, Germany

KUKA is the first robot manufacturer to bring people and robots into close contact: in the Robocoaster, the robot whirls passengers around in the air - an extraordinary entertainment ride for amusement parks and events. 1999 Reis introduces integrated laser beam guiding within the robot arm

Reis Robotics receives patent on the integrated laser beam guiding through the robot arm and launches the RV6L-CO2 laser robot model. This technology replaces the need of an external beam guiding device thus allowing to use laser in combination with a robot at high dynamics and no collision contours 1999 First remote diagnosis for robots via Internet by KUKA, Germany

1998 Güdel, Switzerland, launched the “roboLoop” system, the only curved-track gantry and transfer system

The roboLoop concept enables one or more robo-carriers to track curves and to circulate in a closed system, thereby creating new possibilities for factory automation. ABB, Sweden, developed the FlexPicker, the world’s fastest picking robot based on the delta robot developed by Reymond Clavel, Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL)

It was able to pick 120 objects a minute or pick and release at a speed of 10 meters per second, using image technology. 1998 Reis Robotics launches the 5. robot control generation ROBOTstar V, with one of the shortest interpolation cycle times for robot controls

1996 Reis Robotics launches the 5. robot control generation ROBOTstar V, with one of the shortest interpolation cycle times for robot controls KUKA, Germany, launched the first PC-based robot control system

It was possible, for the first time, to move robots in real time using a 6D mouse on an operator control device. This teach pendant featured a Windows user interface for control and programming tasks. 1994 Motoman introduced the first robot control system (MRC) which provided the synchronized control of two robots

MRC also made it possible to edit robot jobs from an ordinary PC. MRC offered the ability to control up to 21 axes. It could also synchronize the motions of two robots. 1992 Demaurex, Switzerland, sold its first Delta robot packaging application to Roland

The first application was a landmark installation of 6 robots loading pretzels into blister trays. It was based on the delta robot developed by Reymond Clavel, Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL). 1992 ABB, Sweden, launched an open control system (S4)

The S4 controller was designed to improve two areas of critical importance to the user; the man-machine interface and the robot's technical performance.

1992 Wittmann, Austria introduced the CAN-Bus control for robots

"In practical terms, these features can add up to faster operations for robot workcells, which is why Wittmann Robot and Automation Systems Inc. of Torrington, Conn., adopted CANbus for all its CNC robots 18 months ago. Sales manager Ken Heyse explains that Wittmann's previous CNC controller, which used a single microprocessor for all robot and peripheral functions, had to perform various subroutines sequentially, potentially interrupting the operation of the robot. CANbus, by contrast, handles data locally. The robot itself, its pendant, stackers, and other downstream equipment all process data in their own microprocessors. Only then does a master controller coordinate all those efforts. In Wittmann's CANbus CNC controls, all the robot programs and related subroutines run simultaneously on the different microprocessors. The result, Heyse says, is a speedier workcell." 1984 ABB, Sweden produced the fastest assembly robot (IRB 1000)

It was equipped with a vertical arm, a sort of hanging pendulum robot. The robot could work quickly across a large area without the need to traverse. It was as much as 50% faster than conventional arm robots. Adept, USA, introduced the AdeptOne, first direct-drive SCARA robot

Electric-drive motors connected directly to the arms eliminating the need for intermediate gear or chain system. The simplicity of the mechanism made AdeptOne robots very robust in continuous industrial automation applications, while maintaining high accuracy.

1983 Flexible Automated Assembly Lines

Westinghouse issues a research report on APAS, or adaptable-programming assembly systems, a pilot project for using robots in a more flexible automated assembly line environment. The approach uses machine vision in the positioning, orienting and inspection of the component parts. 1982 IBM develops a programming language for robotics, AML

AML (A Manufacturing Language), a powerful, easily used programming language was developed by IBM, USA, specifically for robotic applications. Using an IBM Personal Computer manufacturing engineers could quickly and easily create application programs.

1981 PaR Systems, USA, introduced its first industrial gantry robot

Gantry robots provided a much larger range of motion than pedestal robots of the day, and could replace several robots. (PaR 50th Anniversary, 2010). 1981 GM installed “CONSIGHT”, a machine vision system

The first production implementation of the General Motors Consight vision system at the St. Catherines, Ontario, foundry is successfully sorting up to six different castings at up to 1,400 an hour from a belt conveyor using three industrial robots in a harsh manufacturing environment.

At the University of Rhode Island, USA, a bin-picking robotics system demonstrated the picking of parts in random orientation and positions out of a bin.

1979 Nachi, Japan, developed the first motor-driven robots The spot-welding robots ushered in a new era of electric driven robots, replacing the previous era of hydraulic drive.

First six-axis robot with own control system RE 15 by Reis, Obernburg, Germany

1978 Hiroshi Makino, University of Yamanashi, Japan, developed the SCARA-Robot (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm)

By virtue of the SCARA's parallel-axis joint layout, the arm is slightly compliant in the X-Y direction but rigid in the 'Z' direction, hence the term: Selective Compliant. This is advantageous for many types of assembly operations, i.e., inserting a round pin in a round hole without binding. The second attribute of the SCARA is the jointed two-link arm layout similar to our human arms, hence the often-used term, Articulated. This feature allows the arm to extend into confined areas and then retract or "fold up" out of the way. This is advantageous for transferring parts from one cell to another or for loading/ unloading process stations that are enclosed. In 1981, SCARA robots were launched by by Sankyo Seiki, Japan and Hirata, Japan. 1978 Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly (PUMA) was developed by Unimation/Vicarm; USA, with support from General Motors

GM had concluded that 90 percent of all parts handled during assembly weighed five pounds or less. The PUMA was adapted to GM specifications for a small parts handling line robot that maintained the same space intrusion of a human operator.

1977 Hitachi (Japan) developed an assembly cell to assemble vacuum cleaners with 8 TV cameras and two robot arms 1975 Hitachi (Japan) developed the first sensor based arc welding robot “Mr. AROS”

The robot is equipped with microprocessors and gap sensors to correct arc welding path by detecting precise location of workpieces.

1975 ABB developed an industrial robot with a payload up to 60 kg

This met the demand of the automotive industry for more payload, more flexibility. The robot, called the IRB60, was first delivered to Saab in Sweden for welding car bodies. 1975 The Olivetti “SIGMA” a cartesian-coordinate robot, is one of the first used in assembly applications

The Olivetti SIGMA robot was used in Italy for assembly operations with two hands 1974 Hitachi (Japan) developed the first precision insertion control robot “HI-T-HAND Expert”

This robot had a flexible wrist mechanism and a force feed-back control system. Therefore it could insert mechanical parts with a clearance of about 10 micron.

1974 The first fully electric, microprocessor-controlled industrial robot, IRB 6 from ASEA

With anthropomorphic design, its arm movement mimicked that of a human arm, with a payload of 6kg and 5 axis. The S1 controller was the first to use a intel 8 bit microprocessor. The memory capacity was 16KB. The controller had 16 digital I/O and was programmed trough 16 keys and a four digit LED display. The first model, IRB 6, was developed in 1972- 1973 on assignment by the ASEA CEO Curt Nicolin and was shown for the first time at the end of August 1973. It was acquired by Magnussons in Genarp to wax and polish stainless steel tubes bent at 90° angles 1974 The first arc welding robots go to work in Japan

In Japan, Kawasaki built on the Unimate design to create an arc-welding robot, used to fabricate their motorcycle frames. They also developed touch and force-sensing capabilities in their Hi-T-Hand robot, enabling the robot to guide pins into holes at a rate of one second per pin. 1974 The first minicomputer-controlled industrial robot comes to market

The first commercially available minicomputer-controlled industrial robot was developed by Richard Hohn for Cincinnati Milacron Corporation. The robot was called the T3, The Tomorrow Tool.

1973 Hitachi (Japan) developed the automatic bolting robot for concrete pile and pole industry

This robot was the first industrial robot with dynamic vision sensors for moving objects. It recognized bolts on a mold while it is moving and fastened/loosened the bolts in synchronization with the mold motion. 1973 Scheinemann started production of Vicarm/Stanford arm at Vicarm Inc, USA

The Stanford arm was a robotic arm that performed small-parts assembly using feedback from touch and pressure sensors. Professor Scheinman, the developer of the Stanford Arm, formed Vicarm Inc. to market a version of the arm for industrial applications. The new arm was controlled by a minicomputer. 1973 First robot to have six electromechanically driven axes

KUKA moves from using Unimate robots to developing their own robots. Their robot, the Famulus was the first robot to have six electromechanically driven axes.

1972 Robot production lines installed in Europe

FIAT in Italy and Nissan in Japan installed production lines of spot-welding robots.

1971 The Japanese Robot Association (JIRA, later JARA) was established

This was the first national robot association. The Japan Robot Association was formed in 1971 as the Industrial Robot Conversazione, a voluntary organization. The Conversazione was reorganized into the Japan Industrial Robot Association (JIRA) in 1972, and the Association was formally incorporated in 1973. 1971 First production line with hydraulic actuated robots at Daimler Benz, Sindelfingen

For Daimler-Benz, KUKA builds Europe's first welding transfer line with robots in 1971.

1969 Hitachi (Japan) developed the world’s first vision-based fully- automatic intelligent robot that assembles objects from plan drawings

The robot could build blocks based on information created from a direct visual image of assembly plan drawings. 1969 Unimate robots enter Japanese market

Unimation signs a licensing agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries to manufacture and market Unimate robots for the Asian market. Kawasaki regarded the development and production of labor-saving machines and systems as an important mission, and became Japan's pioneer in the industrial robot field. In 1969, the company succeeded in developing the Kawasaki-Unimate 2000, the first industrial robot ever produced in Japan.

1969 Trallfa, Norway, offers the first commercial painting robot

The robots were developed for in-house use in 1967 to spray paint wheelbarrows during a Norwegian labor shortage. 1969 Robot vision, for mobile robot guidance, is demonstrated at the Stanford Research Institute

Robot vision, for mobile robot guidance, is demonstrated at the Stanford Research Institute. 1969 GM installed the first spot-welding robots at its Lordstown assembly plant

The Unimation robots boosted productivity and allowed more than 90 percent of body welding operations to be automated vs. only 20 percent to 40 percent at traditional plants, where welding was a manual, dirty and dangerous task dominated by large jigs and fixtures. 1968 The octopus-like Tentacle Arm was developed by Marvin Minsky

The octopus-like Tentacle Arm was developed by Marvin Minsky s 1967 The first industrial robot in Europe

The first industrial robot in Europe, a Unimate, was installed at Metallverken, Uppsland Väsby, Sweden 1962 The first cylindrical robot, the Versatran from AMF

6 Versatran robots were installed by American Machine and Foundry (AMF) at the Ford factory in Canton, USA. It was named the Versatran from the words "versatile transfer". 1961 Unimation installed the first industrial robot at GM

The world's first industrial was robot used on a production line at the GM Ternstedt plant in Trenton, NJ, which made door and window handles, gearshift knobs, light fixtures and other hardware for automotive interiors. Obeying step-by-step commands stored on a magnetic drum, the Unimate robot's 4,000 pound arm sequenced and stacked hot pieces of diecast metal. The robot cost US$ 65,000 to make but Unimation sold it for US $18,000. 1959 Development of the first industrial robot by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger

It weighed two tons and was controlled by a program on a magnetic drum. They used hydraulic actuators and were programmed in joint coordinates, i.e. the angles of the various joints were stored during a teaching phase and replayed in operation. They were accurate to within 1/10,000 of an inch.

Source IFR