China is the world's largest user of industrial robots. In 2016, sales of industrial robots in China reached 87,000 units, accounting for around 30 percent of the global market. To put this number in perspective, robot sales in all of Europe and the Americas in 2016 reached 97,300 units (according to data from the International Federation of Robotics). Between 2005 and 2016, the operational stock of industrial robots in China increased at an annual average rate of 38 percent. In this paper, we describe the adoption of robots by China's manufacturers using both aggregate industry-level and firm-level data, and we provide possible explanations from both the supply and demand sides for why robot use has risen so quickly in China. A key contribution of this paper is that we have collected some of the world's first data on firms' robot adoption behaviors with our China Employer-Employee Survey (CEES), which contains the first firm-level data that is representative of the entire Chinese manufacturing sector.

https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdf/10.1257/jep.33.2.71

The Rise of Robots in China

Topology optimization of rigid-links for industrial manipulator considering dynamic loading conditions

Topology optimization (TO) has been a popular design method among CAD designers in the last decades. This method optimizes the given design domain by minimizing/maximizing one or more objective functions, such as the structure’s stiffness, and at the same time, respecting the given constraints like the volume or the weight reduction. For this reason, the companies providing the commercial CAD/FEM platforms have taken this design trend into account and, thus, have included TO in their products over the last years. However, it is not clear which features, algorithms, or, in other words, possibilities the CAD designers do have using these software platforms. A comparative study among the most applied topology optimization software was conducted for this research paper. First, the authors developed an online database of the identified TO software in the form of a table. Interested CAD designers can access and edit its content, contributing in this way to the creation of an updated library of the available TO software. In addition, a deeper comparison among three commercial software platforms—SolidWorks, ANSYS Mechanical, and ABAQUS—was implemented using three common case studies—(1) a bell crank lever, (2) a pillow bracket, and (3) a small bridge. These models were designed, optimized, and validated numerically, as well as compared for their strength. Finally, the above software was evaluated with respect to optimization time, optimized designs, and TO possibilities and features.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/2/611/pdf?version=1641882238

A Comparative Study of the Application of Different Commercial Software for Topology Optimization

The application of industrial manipulators or robots is increasing annually due to its productivity, superiority, and accuracy. The manipulator-links (arms) play an important role in supporting the structure of robots and bares the various loadings such as; inertial, bending, torsional, etc. A topology optimization method is the best way to distribute the useful material in the design space; thereby, needless densities can be removed. This approach reduces the mass and makes the industrial manipulator components as energy efficient. At the same time, it also maximized the stiffness of the robotic components and helped to improve the dynamic performance and stability. In this work, a topology optimization technique is implemented on upper arm and forearm of the KUKA KR16 industrial manipulator by considering volume fraction within a range of 0.3 to 0.9. The complete robot model is designed using SOLIDWORKS 2018 software and imported into Altair Inspire software for multibody dynamic analysis and topology optimization. To make the study realistic, the complete model is operated in dynamic environments within the working range and obtained boundary conditions such as; joint forces and torques. These boundary conditions are used as load cases for topology optimization study. The objective function is chosen as maximization of stiffness or minimization of compliance. To get the better manufacturability of the final topology shape controls of the geometry applied such as; symmetry, split draw and extrusion surface, etc. The obtained topology is analyzed using post-simulation methods and obtained performance values of displacement and Von-Mises stress. Within stated range, the volume reduction of 30-50% gives better performance values compared to the before optimization.

Topology Optimization of KUKA KR16 Industrial Robot Using Equivalent Static Load Method

Dimensional parameters and structural topology integrated design method of a planar 5R parallel machining robot

Topology Optimization Of Industrial Manipulator-Link Considering Dynamic Loading

In the present work, a lightweight mechanical member is synthesized using topology optimization. For optimizing the initial material domain, minimum compliance is chosen as the objective function. A MATLAB code is developed for topology optimization. One end of the member is fixed, another end is subjected to an applied force, and the center of gravity exposed to gravitational as well as centrifugal forces with respect to the 50% weight reduction. In this way, a novel shape and size of the mechanical member are obtained. Along with the optimal topology, performance values such as compliance, maximum deflection, and Von-Mises stress are simulated at different grid size for convergence. These performance values are validated using ANSYS APDL 18.1 and COMSOL 5.3 simulations. To observe energy consumption and operational parameters like torque, an investigational study is also performed using the experimental setup for topologically optimized members. The current consumption and required torque values are compared among the different volume fraction topologies ranging from 0.2 to 0.5.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study on Lightweight Mechanical Member

Numerical evaluation of topologically optimized ribs for mechanical components

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/912/3/032058/pdf

G. Lakshmi Srinivas

Papers

Topology optimization of rigid-links for industrial manipulator considering dynamic loading conditions

Topology Optimization Of Industrial Manipulator-Link Considering Dynamic Loading

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study on Lightweight Mechanical Member

Numerical evaluation of topologically optimized ribs for mechanical components

Optimization approaches of industrial serial manipulators to improve energy efficiency: A review