Based on their mechanical structure and motion characteristics, industrial robots can be broadly classified into three categories: serial, parallel, and hybrid serial-parallel robots. Different types of industrial robots have distinct characteristics in terms of workspace, motion methods, and applicable scenarios.
Serial mechanisms are open chain mechanisms consisting of links and joints connected sequentially from the base. Typical serial robots include coordinate robots and articulated robots. Coordinate robots define their workspace through a combination of linear and rotary axes, suitable for precise operations along fixed paths; while articulated robots achieve large-range and complex trajectory operations through the flexible movement of multiple joints, making them more suitable for tasks requiring high flexibility and multiple degrees of freedom.
Parallel mechanisms are closed-loop mechanisms where a moving platform and a stationary platform are connected by at least two independent kinematic chains and driven in parallel. Typical parallel robots include Delta robots, Stewart robots, and five-bar robots. Parallel robots have a more complex overall structure than serial robots, with Delta robots being the most common in industrial applications.
Hybrid serial-parallel robots combine the advantages of both serial and parallel robots. They organically combine the wide range of motion of serial mechanisms with the high precision and rigidity of parallel mechanisms, achieving high flexibility, high precision, and high load capacity in three-dimensional space.
Different structural types of industrial robots have different focuses in industrial production. In practical applications, the appropriate type is usually selected based on the characteristics of the task, spatial layout, and process requirements to maximize the efficiency and stability advantages of industrial robots in automated production.
