Hot and Heavy!

This is the title of one of the original Unimate data sheets. I believe that it is worthy of note for 2 reasons.

Firstly the literature addressed a specific area of intervention that was considered perfect for the introduction of the first industrial robots.

Where parts were too heavy for manual handling and manipulation, the robot could adopt the task without tiring. Mechanical muscle meant that no effort was required, just a continuous supply of energy. Originally, excessively heavy loads were handled. In future years robots would develop to 'man' the ubiquitous automotive spot welding lines.

Where parts were too hot to handle safely, another opportunity presented itself. Forging or die-casting applications required operatives to handle excessive weights, with all the health and safety aspects associated with seriously hot material.

These areas were perfect for development. no-one wanted to work in these environments. They were difficult to staff, staff turnover was high and injuries were commonplace.

The 'Hot and Heavy' product literature addressed the specific needs of employers and listed the benefits of automation. As we know, the benefits can be converted into value, and the value accrued will translate into financial justification for the project to go ahead. To use savings in wages alone provides marginal justification, and given that justification is the means of persuasion, a project is unlikely to get the 'go ahead' on this basis.

The second reason I mention this is because a strange thing happened during the development years between say 1970 and 1980. As robots became more sophisticated, they became capable of undertaking many more tasks. Manufacturers started talking about 'Universal Robots' as a preferred objective. Product literature became overloaded with features but had little information regarding application specifics. Application info seems to have been considered a limiting factor.

The consequence of this shift meant that there were many very clever robots around but they had little experience in any particular field. This actually made them more difficult to apply in a cost effective manner.The importance of the application engineer was firmly established!