Signal Slip Ring For Robots, ROVs & UAVs
The robot contains multiple joints, which perform different tasks by stretching, bending, rotating and other actions. It's also equipped with many sensors, to detect its own state and the external environment (target objects).
In fact, these operations are achieved through slip rings. The slip rings transmit the operation instructions from the robot control system to the actuators at the joints. While the sensor signals were transmitted from the joints to the control system by the same way. Then the robot receives feedback information and adjusts its actions.
Importance of Slip Rings in Robots
Achieve continuous rotation and signal transmission
When performing various tasks, robots often need to perform continuous rotational motion. For example, when an industrial robot is performing assembly, welding, etc., its arm may need to rotate 360 degrees. Slip rings can ensure the continuous transmission of power and signals during the rotation of the robot, so that the movement of the robot is not restricted by cable entanglement.
Reduce cable wear and failure
Due to the frequent movement of robots during work, cables are prone to wear and pulling. The use of slip rings can fix the cables to the base of the robot to prevent the cables from swinging and twisting with the movement of the robot, thereby reducing the probability of cable wear and entanglement.
Achieve multi-directional signal transmission
The slip ring has multiple channels and can be compatible with multiple types of signals at the same time, such as control signals, feedback signals, and image signals. So the robot's sensors and control systems are allowed communicate and collaborate in real time. This includes the transmission of high-definition images and instantaneous operating instructions.
Robots used in various industrial, commercial or research applications often have some specification requirements for slip rings, such as:
Signal transmission stability
Robots need to transmit various types of signals. The error of it's transmission should be controlled within the range of ±0.1%. Cause in the electronic chip assembly robots, small deviations in movement may cause chip damage.
01
Protection level
Robots work in different environments, the slip ring should have a corresponding protection level to prevent damage to its internal structure, like IP65 for marine environments.
02
Current carrying capacity
Different types of robots may require different current carrying capacity. For small collaborative robots, it may be between 2 amps and more than 20 amps, while the demand for large industrial robots may be as high as 500 amps.
03
Reliability
For industrial robots, the mean time between failures (MTBF) of slip rings should be greater than 50,000 hours. In this way, the robot can withstand long-term work.
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