Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MFE4006

 
TITLE Industrial Robotics

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

 
DESCRIPTION Objectives

To introduce the students to the fundamentals of industrial robots.

Syllabus

- Introduction: History of Robots; Reasons for using Robots; Introduction to Industrial Robotics; Some Common Industrial Applications; Constituents of an Industrial Robot; Measures of Performance; Manipulator Structures.

- Using a Robot: Methods of Programming Robots; Introduction to the PUMA Series 200 Robot; The VAL II Programming Language.

- End Effectors and Workhandling: Types and Applications of End Effectors; Mounting and Design Considerations; The Remote Centre Compliance Device; Grasping, Manipulation, and Dexterity Issues; Workplace Layout; Task Analysis; Component Analysis and Design for Automation; Parts Presentation.

- Robot Arm Kinematics: Position and Orientation of a Rigid Body; Rotation Matrices; Homogeneous Transformations; Solutions to the Forward Kinematics Problem using the Denavit-Hartenberg Representation; Introduction to the Inverse Kinematics Problem, and to Differential Kinematics.

- Actuators, Sensors, and Control: General Requirements and Components of a Robot Arm Actuator; Electric, Hydraulic, and Pneumatic Actuators; Drive Transmissions; Position, Velocity, and Force Sensing; Proximity, Range, Tactile, and Vision Sensing; Features of a Robot Arm Control System.

- Safety, Economic, and Social Issues: Hazard Analysis, and Reduction of Risks associated with Industrial Robots; Elements of Cost; Feasibility Study and Justification of Robot Installation; Integrating Robots into the Workplace; Robots and the Economy.

Laboratory Work

Development of Simple Programs for the PUMA 260 Robot in the Industrial Automation Laboratory (2 sessions); Industrial Visit (1 session).

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE MFE3004
Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE MFE3101

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment No 10%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 90%

 
LECTURER/S Sandro Azzopardi

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit