A study conducted at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque
Country has studied how it is possible to save energy in the propulsion of
flexible joints without losing precision
Robots are being increasingly used in industrial processes
because of their ability to carry out repetitive tasks in a precise, reliable
way. Right now, digital controllers are used to drive the motors of the joints
of these robots. And it is no easy task developing and programming these
controllers so that they will work efficiently. Unai Ugalde-Olea, lecturer in
the Department of Electronics Technology of the UPV/EHU, has analysed a way of
propelling these systems or robots in a more energy-efficient way and has
shown, on a laboratory level, that in some cases energy consumption can be cut
by up to 40%. The study has been published in the journal Control Engineering
Practice.