Updated on 11/12/2024
Pick and place robots have been around for a long time, but today’s solutions are evolving to give operations the extra hands they need. Hands that can move faster, lift heavier loads and do it more consistently than people can. In fact, there’s a practical role for picking robots in almost any industrial environment. And when compared to other automation options, they have one of the lowest barriers to entry.
But before diving into the possibilities of these valuable robotic solutions, let’s first look at what exactly are pick and place robots — and why they're on the rise. Feel free to jump ahead (or around) using the links below!
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Introduction to pick and place robots
- Why adoption is on the rise
- Applications across industries
- Emerging technologies
INTRODUCTION TO PICK AND PLACE ROBOTS
Think of pick and place robots as the ultimate helping hands in today's industrial world. For many companies, they have become indispensable tools, revolutionizing the way goods are handled and manufactured.
What are pick and place robots?
Their name says it all! Pick and place robots are an automation system designed to grab (or pick) objects from one location and place them in another. They combine precision engineering and advanced technology to perform repetitive tasks accurately and efficiently.
How do pick and place robots work?
While what they do might sound simple, these robots are complex systems. They are comprised of multiple integrated components, including robotic arms, end effectors (the "hands" of the robot), sophisticated controllers, and advanced sensors. All of these components work together seamlessly to perform their tasks.
What makes these robots so versatile is their ability to work with different end-of-arm tooling options. Whether it's suction cups for handling lightweight materials, mechanical grippers for heavier items, or specialized tools for unique applications, you can customize these robots to handle virtually any pick and place task.
Credit: Apera AI and Epson Robotics
5 types of pick and place robots
There are several different types of pick and place robots. When exploring options, know that each has capabilities and application matches. Here’s a quick overview of the types you can expect:
1. Cartesian robot
These robots move in straight lines along three axes, providing high precision and reliability. Their straightforward movement patterns make them easy to program and maintain, so you typically find them used for applications like assembly and inspection.
2. SCARA robot
SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm) robots are the speed demons of the pick and place world. They are fast and precise, built for rapid horizontal movements with selective vertical capability. This helps them excel in tasks like assembling small parts or sorting items on fast-moving conveyor belts.
3. Collaborative robot (aka cobots)
Designed to work safely alongside humans, cobots combine flexibility with advanced safety features. They're valuable in environments where robots must share space with human workers, offering easier programming and reduced setup costs.
4. Delta robot
Delta robots excel at high-speed, precise movements in a three-dimensional space. They are controlled by servo motors at the base with three arms connected to that single point. Some may even say they look a bit like spider legs. That aside, they are popular in food processing and pharmaceutical applications where speed and accuracy are essential.
BONUS: You can learn about the powerhouse Delta Robot team that received the prestigious Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards at Automate 2024.
5. Robotic arms
Industrial robotic arms are the most versatile and common players in the pick and place game. One example is the 5-axis robotic arm that offers multi-dimensional movement: up, down, left, right, forward and backward, etc. Another is 6-axis robots, which can move and rotate in all directions, making them ideal for complex tasks and industries.
WHY PICK AND PLACE ROBOT ADOPTION IS ON THE RISE
The automation industry has seen rapid growth as a whole. Specific solutions like pick and place are no different. The reason behind this wider adoption is their ability to respond and fulfill business needs with real benefits. These can include:
- Unmatched accuracy – These robots perform precise movements consistently, reducing errors and product damage.
- Increased productivity – They work at high speeds without fatigue, significantly boosting output.
- Improved safety – By handling dangerous or repetitive tasks, they reduce workplace injuries.
- Consistency – Pick and place robots can maintain the same high level of performance around the clock, ensuring consistent quality in production.
- Cost-effectiveness – While the initial investment may be substantial, the long-term savings in labor, error reduction, and increased efficiency often provide significant ROI.
- Flexibility and scalability – Modern pick and place solutions can be reprogrammed for different tasks, making them adaptable to changing production needs.
PICK AND PLACE APPLICATIONS
Pick and place robots are revolutionizing operations across a remarkable range of industries. They're the backbone of modern assembly lines in manufacturing environments, expertly handling everything from tiny electronic components to heavy automotive parts. In electronics manufacturing, they are placing microscopic components onto circuit boards with pinpoint accuracy while being robust enough to assist in heavy-duty automotive assembly.
In food and beverage facilities, picking robots help to sort fresh produce, package delicate baked goods, and manage high-speed beverage bottling operations while maintaining strict hygiene standards. Meanwhile, in medical and pharmaceutical settings, they maintain the pristine conditions required for handling sensitive materials, from assembling medical devices to managing laboratory samples.
Credit: ABB
The versatility of these robots extends even further into emerging sectors. We’re seeing positive impacts on recycling facilities, where they sort materials at high speeds, and in agricultural operations, where they handle tasks from seedling transplantation to produce sorting. Even in extreme environments like underwater operations or Arctic research stations, specialized pick and place robots perform tasks too dangerous or demanding for human workers.
Common tasks for pick and place robots
- Assembly and manufacturing – From circuit boards to automotive components
- Packaging and palletizing – High-speed product packaging and pallet loading
- Quality control – Automated inspection and sorting of products
- Material handling – Moving items between production stages
- Testing – Product testing, verification, and quality assurance
- Bin picking – Intelligent selection and sorting of items from mixed containers
Credit: FANUC America Corporation
New territories for picking robots
- Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) – Assembly of microscale devices
- Wearable technology – Production of advanced health monitoring devices
- Laboratory automation – High-throughput testing and research applications
- Sustainable manufacturing – Supporting recycling and waste management operations
4 PICK AND PLACE TECHNOLOGIES TO KNOW
Today, picking robots are becoming more practical than ever and are used in various ways. Here are some of the technologies setting them — and companies — up for success:
Multi-function vision
Vision-enabled robots aren’t anything new, enabling the choice between one part or another. Today’s picking robots can seamlessly integrate with full 3D vision with low-noise, high-resolution cameras to detect shape, size, reflectivity, and color. This capability drastically improves the reliability of tasks like bin sorting and quality control.
Integrated sensors and serial interfaces
Whereas a single encoder may have controlled a robotic arm historically, feedback sensors are now being installed from the base of the arm all the way to the tool center point (TCP). Moreover, pure serial interfaces relay the information, making it clearer and more actionable than ever. Temperature and gearing inaccuracies are just two examples. Perhaps most importantly, these technologies allow for built-in functional safety and predictive maintenance.
Advanced robotic motion
In a way, a robot’s motion is only limited by where the robotic system can physically be. However, we are seeing incredible advancements in dimensional movement and speed. One example of impressive speed rates is the XR Series 4-axis compact gantry robots from DENSO Robotics. They have a cycle time of .56 seconds and are “17 percent faster than their conventional Cartesian robots with the combined move of coordinated slide and swivel motions.” Meanwhile, micrometer-level motion allows the TCP to be controlled well enough to handle items measuring in millimeters.
Force and torque sensing
Vision, gripping strength, and sensing temperature all mirror a human sensation or capability. The one sense that many crave is a form of tactile sensation. The truth is, we’re getting there fast. In fact, we’re at a point where force and torque sensing effectively complement other “sensory” abilities.
Force and torque sensing allow robots to accurately perform processes like grinding, deburring, sanding, and polishing. When it comes to working with micro parts, vision systems can help. But it isn’t enough to pick up and align micro parts without help from some of this extra sensing. Force sensing is also aiding product testing, packaging, and robotic assembly applications.
SEE PICKING ROBOTS IN ACTION AT AUTOMATE
As technology continues to advance, pick and place robots are becoming more intelligent, flexible, and accessible to businesses of all sizes. With improvements in AI, vision systems, and end-of-arm tooling, these robots are set to play an even more crucial role in the future of manufacturing and automation.
If you have a process or cell that you’ve been thinking about automating, don’t miss the latest pick and place technology in action at Automate!
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