Industrial Robotics and Automation

Robots in factories and warehouses from the integrator's point of view: robot types and datasheets, work-cell design and simulation, end effectors and payload data, industrial robot programming and calibration, PLCs and IEC 61131-3, industrial networks, OPC UA and MQTT, machine vision, safeguarding under CSA Z434:26 and ISO 13849-1, AMRs and AS/RS, OEE and maintenance, and business cases with capital cost allowance, ending with a palletizing cell design.

ROB-440 Year 4 3 credits 12 lessons · 6 h 4 min

Offered by HSM University · Robotics

This is the Canadian version of this course. See the American version.

What you'll learn

  • Classify industrial robots by configuration, read datasheets critically, distinguish repeatability from accuracy under ISO 9283, and check takt-time feasibility.
  • Design robot work cells from process requirements, including layout, reach, fixturing with tolerance stack-ups, sequence charts and simulation-based virtual commissioning.
  • Specify end effectors and tool stacks, compute payload data including centre of gravity and inertia, and size pneumatic and vacuum tooling with fail-safe behaviour.
  • Program industrial robots using frames, tool data, motion types and blending, explain vendor languages such as RAPID and KRL, and calibrate TCPs and cells for offline programming.
  • Explain the PLC scan cycle and response time, write IEC 61131-3 logic in ladder and Structured Text, and design robust state machines and robot-PLC handshakes.
  • Compare industrial Ethernet protocols, budget network traffic, use IO-Link, OPC UA and MQTT for integration, and apply IEC 62443 zones and conduits.
  • Select vision systems, lighting and resolution for inspection, gauging and guidance, design conveyor tracking, and evaluate inspection by error costs and gauge R&R.
  • Safeguard robot cells under provincial law, CSA Z434:26 and CSA Z432 using ISO 12100 risk assessment, ISO 13855 distances and ISO 13849-1 performance levels.
  • Size and integrate warehouse and logistics robots, including AMR fleets, AS/RS and charging, and apply ISO 3691-4 and ANSI/A3 R15.08 safety requirements.
  • Measure OEE, model reliability and availability, choose maintenance strategies, use condition monitoring and plan spare parts.
  • Build robot business cases with payback, NPV and sensitivity analysis, including capital cost allowance and the Productivity Super-Deduction, and manage projects from RFQ through FAT, SAT and run-off.
  • Design a complete palletizing cell, integrating pattern design, robot and tool selection, cycle analysis, controls, safeguarding, maintenance and the business case.

Course content

12 lessons · 6 h 4 min total · final exam

  1. 1 Industrial robot types and applications 32 min · quiz
  2. 2 Robot cell and work-cell design 27 min · quiz
  3. 3 End effectors and tooling integration 34 min · quiz
  4. 4 Programming industrial robots 28 min · quiz
  5. 5 PLCs and IEC 61131-3 programming 29 min · quiz
  6. 6 Industrial networks and IT/OT integration 27 min · quiz
  7. 7 Machine vision in automation 31 min · quiz
  8. 8 Safeguarding a robot cell 29 min · quiz
  9. 9 Warehouse and logistics robots 31 min · quiz
  10. 10 Reliability, maintenance and OEE 28 min · quiz
  11. 11 Cost justification and deployment 29 min · quiz
  12. 12 Capstone: designing a palletizing cell 39 min · quiz
  13. E Final exam 20 questions

Requirements

Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.

Description

Robots in factories and warehouses from the integrator's point of view: robot types and datasheets, work-cell design and simulation, end effectors and payload data, industrial robot programming and calibration, PLCs and IEC 61131-3, industrial networks, OPC UA and MQTT, machine vision, safeguarding under CSA Z434:26 and ISO 13849-1, AMRs and AS/RS, OEE and maintenance, and business cases with capital cost allowance, ending with a palletizing cell design.

Part of the Science stream, typically taken in year 4.