High-precision torque sensors add an extra “arm” of power to collaborative robots.
2021-04-01
The Blue Ocean of Chinese Manufacturing and Collaborative Robots
In the era of “Made in China 2025,” collaboration between humans and robots is becoming increasingly close. With advances in technologies such as automation and AI, humans have endowed robots with greater flexibility. In certain scenarios involving precision operations and advanced automation and control systems, robots can seamlessly collaborate with humans to accomplish tasks that neither humans nor robots could handle alone. For example, robots can assist in surgeries that demand stability and precision beyond the capabilities of even the most skilled surgeons. In terms of safety, robots can operate in environments that are hostile or dangerous to humans, helping humans handle toxic substances and neutralize explosives, among other hazardous tasks.
Robots are categorized into traditional industrial robots (non-collaborative robots) and collaborative robots. As an emerging type of robot that safely interacts with humans within a defined area, collaborative robots enable efficient production by working side by side with humans.
Over the past five years, the global robotics industry has experienced exponential growth. According to estimates by Barclays’ production materials analysts, the collaborative robot market will grow from US$116 million in 2015 to US$11.5 billion over the decade from 2015 to 2025. From 2016 to 2021, the annual compound growth rate of collaborative robots is expected to reach as high as 60%. In 2019, robot sales in mainland China reached 140,500 units, accounting for 37.67% of global sales. In the coming years, China is set to become the world’s largest supplier and seller of robots.
The demand for high precision in collaborative robots
The greater the demand, the more complex the applications, and the stricter the requirements, the greater the responsibility. As collaborative robots and humans increasingly work closely together, the safety and reliability of robots become ever more critical—and a crucial component in this regard is the joint torque sensor. High-performance torque sensors for collaborative robots can prevent damage to the robotic arm itself, protect workers from injury during collaborative tasks, and enable even more precise execution of various operations.
High-precision and highly secure torque sensors are crucial monitoring components for collaborative robots, and they are integrated into the joint units of these robots.
Sensor Nobleman Technology Co., Ltd. has launched a new high-performance nanofilm torque sensor that can be installed in each joint of a robot to detect the robot’s torque. This sensor plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety and reliability of collaborative robots and can meet the ever-increasing demands for accuracy and speed from next-generation collaborative robots.
Collaborative robots working in industrial settings
The significant advantages of nano-thin-film torque sensors
Most torque sensors are resistive strain-gauge torque sensors, which use resistance strain gauges as their transducing elements. In these sensors, resistance strain gauges are bonded onto an elastic body. When the elastic body is subjected to torsion, it deforms, causing the attached strain gauges to deform as well, thereby changing the electrical resistance of the strain gauges. The torque applied to the elastic body is then measured using a bridge circuit.
Unlike conventional torque sensors, the ST-200 series nanofilm torque sensors from Sensor Nobleman Company employ a novel sensing material and advanced technologies such as vacuum atomic thin-film deposition to directly deposit torque-strain film resistors onto elastomers (replacing the traditional method of bonding strain gauges). This approach achieves atomic-level integration between the sensing element and the elastomer, thereby eliminating the instability and unreliability issues—such as zero-point drift, creep, hysteresis, and aging—that typically arise in conventional torque sensors due to sliding and stress-induced movement between the sensing element and the elastomer. As a result, these sensors deliver truly high-precision and highly reliable torque measurements. The ST-200 series nanofilm torque sensors can widely meet the needs of various systems and applications, including weapon systems, aerospace, collaborative robots, electromechanical equipment, smart devices, steering systems, wind power generation equipment, automotive engines, and machining centers.
Nano-thin-film torque sensors are used in the various joints of robots.
Outstanding advantages of the ST-200 series nano-film torque sensor products:
◎ Patent technology for a new type of sensitive material, fabricated using advanced ion-beam sputtering and micro-machining techniques.
◎ Free from the creep, hysteresis, and aging defects introduced by conventional torque strain gauge bonding techniques, it boasts excellent long-term stability and reliable performance.
◎ Special elastomer structural design ensures high product sensitivity. It supports bidirectional loading—clockwise and counterclockwise.
◎ High stability: After 1 million torque cycles, its drift is less than 0.1%FS per year.
◎ At high operating temperatures, it simultaneously features high stability and extremely low zero-point temperature drift.
◎ The product features flexible design, compact size, and diverse output signal formats, meeting a wide range of requirements.
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Phone : +86-400-002-1378
Email : business@chnsnm.com
Sales : +86-173-7371-3251 (Mr. Zeng)
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Address: Building A5, Changsha E Center, No. 18 Xiangtai Road, Liuyang Economic and Technological Development Zone.China