How Robots are Good for the Environment

Protecting the environment has been a key concern for many years. Industries have been exploring ways to reduce their environmental footprint while still running their manufacturing operations. One way companies have been working to improve the environment is through robotic automation. Deploying robots in manufacturing is proving to have a positive impact on our climate.

Robots Improve Recycling Processes

Automating waste treatment and recycling has shown to reduce CO2 emissions as more materials are captured and able to be reused. Sorting robots use AI technology to scan, identify, and sort items that can be recycled. Prior to sorting robots, the process of recycling was done manually by workers. However, the manual sorting of waste was plagued by inefficiencies. Workers were not able to keep up with conveyors moving thousands of items and had a difficult time recognizing recyclable materials. Sorting robots are able to operate at fast speeds while their AI technology can quickly scan several items and alert them for recyclables. The FANUC M20ia can sort through hundreds of items within minutes. All recyclable items are identified, preventing them from being missed and kept as waste. Automating recycling processes with robots reduces pollution since more items are recycled and reused.

Robots Reduce Material Waste

Not only can robots be utilized for sorting through waste, but they can also help prevent it in the first place. Industrial robots are designed to perform tasks with incredible precision and accuracy, through the use of programming, robotic vision systems, and force sensors. Most material waste from manufacturing is the result of human error. Automating manufacturing processes with robots eliminates or greatly reduces the need for human interaction, which prevents errors from occurring. Articulated robots area able to conserve raw materials, only using what is necessary and performing tasks correctly. This prevents materials and items from having to be discarded and turned into waste.

In the automotive industry, a FANUC M710ic/20L is used to cut sheet metal with a laser. It is programmed with the exact parameters to follow for every cycle turn, ensuring accurate cuts. If automated laser cutting were to be done manually, the chance of error increases along with the likelihood of increased waste. Automating with industrial robots cuts down on material waste, allowing for the efficient use of raw materials, helping to keep the environment clean.

Robots Reduce Energy Consumption

One of the main benefits of automating with industrial robots is that they optimize manufacturing. One of the advantages of optimized manufacturing is reduced energy consumption. Six axis robots are much faster and efficient than workers. One robot can complete the same workload that would require two to four workers. This means products are manufactured in less time with fewer resources being utilized, cutting down on energy use. In addition, robots can tolerate conditions what humans cannot such as dim lighting or hot or cold temperatures. Reducing the use of factory utilities conserves the amount of electricity consumed during manufacturing. Many of today’s robots are also built with energy conserving features such as AC servo motors instead of DC servo motors. The FANUC M710ic/50 can help manufacturers concerned about their environmental footprint with its energy efficient features.