Development of Portable Robotic Operation Terminals to Achieve Increased Safety and Usability and a Study on the Effectiveness of Wireless Terminals

Abstract

In factory automation (FA) industry, it is essential for the working environment using industrial robots to be provided with measures that assure operator's safety and good usability of machines. We have studied the operator's safety and usability of portable robotic operation terminals, and have developed the standardized terminals for one-hand operation suitable to many types of applications. The find`ings and knowledge we obtained through the development materialized recently as the new two-hand portable robotic operation terminal which is designed ergonomically. In this paper, we report on the new operation terminal which provides excellent operational safety and usability, and also a study on the effectiveness of wireless terminals for improving the usability of entire system.

Development of teaching pendant optimized for robot application

“…HG1H and HG1T teach pendants for type I and II requirements Pendants are used by holding in a hand, therefore good usability is necessary to minimize stress and to ensure comfort operation for users. Therefore teach pendants must provide users with both operational safety and usability based on ergonomics [13][14][15]. Conventionally, each machine manufacturer has developed teach pendant individually with their own design, because specifications required for a teach pendant varies with different types of applications where the pendant is used.…”

“…The shape and position of enabling switch are designed with ergonomic considerations so that it turns off without failure when the panicked operator in emergency releases or holds on to the teach pendant tightly. The enabling switch can also be used easily in either right or left hand [13][14][15].…”