Robotics Glossary
Plain-language explanations of key robotics and automation concepts.
A
- Accuracy— Pose accuracy is how closely a robot reaches a commanded position in absolute coordinates. It matters most for offline-programmed and CAD-driven paths.
- Articulated Robot— An articulated robot is a robotic arm with rotary joints, usually six, giving it flexible, human-arm-like motion for welding, handling, and assembly.
- Axis— An axis is a single controlled joint of a robot, adding one degree of freedom. Standard arms have six, SCARA four, plus optional external rails and positioners.
C
- Calibration— Calibration aligns a robot's internal model with its real geometry, restoring accuracy. Mastering and absolute calibration are key after repair or a move.
- Cobot (Collaborative Robot)— A cobot is a collaborative robot designed to work safely alongside people without fencing, using force limiting and built-in safety to share workspace.
- Commissioning— Commissioning is the final phase of bringing a robot cell into production — installing, configuring, testing, and proving it meets cycle time and quality.
- Cycle Time— Cycle time is how long a robot takes to complete one full operation. It drives throughput and is the key productivity metric for an automation cell.
D
- Degrees of Freedom— Degrees of freedom (DOF) count the independent ways a robot can move. Six DOF give full positioning and orientation of a tool in 3D space; SCARA arms have four.
- Delta Robot— A delta robot is a high-speed parallel robot with three arms on a fixed base, built for ultra-fast pick-and-place of light parts in packaging lines.
E
- End Effector— An end effector is the tool mounted on a robot wrist — gripper, welding torch, or vacuum cup — that interacts with the part. It is application-specific.
- External Axis— An external axis is a motor-driven turntable, rail, or positioner coordinated by the robot controller to extend reach or reorient the part during a path.
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G
I
- I/O (Inputs and Outputs)— I/O are the digital and analog signals a robot exchanges with grippers, sensors, and machines. Sufficient, compatible I/O is essential for any cell.
- IP Rating— An IP rating (IEC 60529) classifies how well a robot is sealed against dust and water — e.g. IP67 — guiding suitability for harsh or washdown environments.
M
- Machine Tending— Machine tending is using a robot to load and unload a production machine — CNC, press, or moulding — freeing operators and running unattended shifts.
- Machine Vision— Machine vision gives a robot sight via cameras and image processing, letting it locate, inspect, and guide on parts that are not in a fixed position.
- Moment of Inertia— Moment of inertia measures how a tool's mass is distributed around the robot wrist. High inertia limits acceleration and effective payload, even within rating.
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P
- Palletising— Palletising is the robotic stacking of cases, bags, or trays onto pallets in a set pattern. It is a high-payload, medium-reach end-of-line automation workhorse.
- Payload Capacity— Payload capacity is the maximum weight an industrial robot can move at its wrist, including the end effector. Learn how it limits part and tool choice.
- Pick-and-Place— Pick-and-place is the robotic task of grasping a part at one location and placing it at another. SCARA and delta robots dominate this high-speed automation job.
R
- Reach— Reach is the maximum horizontal distance, in millimetres, an industrial robot arm extends from base to wrist. With payload it sizes the work envelope.
- Refurbished Robot— A refurbished robot is a used industrial robot inspected, repaired, and tested back to working spec — a lower-cost, lower-lead-time alternative to new.
- Repeatability— Repeatability (ISO 9283, e.g. plus/minus 0.02 mm) is how precisely a robot returns to a taught point. It is the key accuracy spec to verify on used robots.
- Retrofit— A robot retrofit modernises a mechanically sound arm with a new controller, drives, or safety system, restoring spare parts and support without a new machine.
- Robot Controller— The robot controller is the cabinet and software that drives the motors, runs the program, and handles I/O and safety, e.g. FANUC R-30iB, KUKA KRC4, ABB IRC5.
S
- SCARA Robot— A SCARA robot is a fast four-axis arm, rigid vertically but compliant horizontally, ideal for high-speed pick-and-place, screwing, and small-parts assembly.
- Safety-Rated Monitored Stop— A safety-rated monitored stop halts robot motion while keeping power on, letting an operator enter the workspace safely — a key collaborative safety mode.
- Singularity— A singularity is an arm pose where axes align and the robot loses a degree of freedom, causing erratic high-speed motion. Paths are planned to avoid it.
- Six-Axis Robot— A six-axis robot has six driven rotary joints to position and orient its tool freely anywhere in the work envelope. It is the default used-market arm.
- System Integrator— A system integrator designs, builds, programs, and installs a complete robot cell — turning a bare robot into a working, production-ready automation system.
T
- TCP (Tool Centre Point)— The Tool Centre Point is the reference point of a robot's tool, used to define and control motion. Accurate TCP setup is essential for precise paths.
- Teach Pendant— A teach pendant is the handheld interface used to jog, program, and operate an industrial robot. It connects to the controller and is brand-specific.
- Throughput— Throughput is the number of parts or operations a robot cell completes per unit time. It is the productivity output that cycle time and uptime determine.
U
- Uptime— Uptime is the share of scheduled time a robot cell is available and producing. High uptime, not peak speed, usually decides real-world output and ROI.
- Used Robot— A used robot is a pre-owned industrial robot resold on the secondary market. Condition ranges from as-is to fully refurbished — verify before buying.