| Industrial Applications Glossary |
| |
|
| |
 |
|
| A |
Top |
| Analogue I/O |
A signal which changes continuously rather than in steps, such as temperature or speed. |
| Analogue to digital converter |
Equipment (usually a chip) which can accept an analogue signal and changes it into a digital signal (usually binary) |
| Anatomy |
Parts of a robot which resemble human anatomy - waist, shoulder, elbow, wrist. |
| |
|
| B |
Top |
| |
|
| C |
Top |
| CAD/CAM |
Computer Aide Design / Computer Aided Manufacture |
| Closed loop system |
A control system which uses feedback |
| Computer Aided Design (CAD) |
Using a computer system to help design something. |
| Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM |
Using a computer system to help manufacture something. |
| Computer Numerical Control (CNC) |
Automatically controlling a machine like a lathe according to instructions in a program. |
| Control Language |
A special language designed to control a device such as a robot or a robot arm. |
| |
|
| D |
Top |
| Degrees of freedom |
The number of independent axes (or planes) of movement. |
| Digital to analogue converter |
Equipment (usually a chip) which can accept a digital signal (usually binary) and change it into an analogue signal. |
| Delete |
To remove data |
| |
|
| E |
Top |
| Embedded Systems |
An embedded systems is a tiny computer inside another, larger piece of equipment, like a washing machine, a car or mobile phone. |
| End effector |
The part on the end of a robot arm which is specialised to carry out a particular task, like spraying paint. Also called a tool. |
| |
|
| |
|
| F |
Top |
| Feedback |
The signal which a sensor sends back to the computer. The computer makes a decision based on the feedback. |
| |
|
| G |
Top |
| |
|
| H |
Top |
| Hard Copy |
A printed copy of your work, usually on paper. |
| |
|
| I |
Top |
| Intelligent robots |
Robots which are programmed to behave as though they had a form of intelligence. |
| Interface |
Part of a computer system that allows different devices to communicate with the processor by compensating for their difference in operation. |
| |
|
| J |
Top |
| |
|
| K |
Top |
| |
|
| L |
Top |
| Light Guide |
A line painted on a factory floor that an autonomous guided vehicle can be programmed to follow. |
| |
|
| M |
Top |
| Magnetic Guides |
A cable buried in a factory floor which an autonomous guided vehicle can be programmed to follow. |
| Mobile robot |
A robot that move around the floor |
| Motor |
Part of a robot or automated system which can help it move. |
| |
|
| N |
Top |
| |
|
| O |
Top |
| Open Loop |
A control system which does not involve feedback |
| |
|
| P |
Top |
| Plotter |
An output device which draws on paper using pens. Mainly used for CAD. |
| Print file |
To obtain hard copy. |
| |
|
| Q |
Top |
| |
|
| R |
Top |
| Real time |
A system which responds immediately to input. |
| Robot |
A device which can carry out repetitive tasks under the control of a computer program. |
| |
|
| S |
Top |
| Sensors |
A device which detects something and provides input to a computer system. A temperature sensor is an example. |
| Simulation |
A computer used to model a real life situation. |
| Stationary robot |
A robot that cannot move around the floor |
| |
|
| T |
Top |
| Tools |
Devices which may be attached to the end of a robot arm. (also known as end effectors) |
| |
|
| U |
Top |
| |
|
| V |
Top |
| Virtual Reality |
Reproducing the outside world digitally within a computer system and displaying it to the user in such a way that allows them to interact with it. Users wear data gloves and a headset. |
| |
|
| W |
Top |
| |
|
| X |
Top |
| |
|
| Y |
Top |
| |
|
| Z |
Top |
| |
|
| |
