Table of Contents
- BONSYSTEMS · CYCLOIDAL TECHNOLOGY
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- References
- Bonsystems
- 🔗 Get the industry trend materials → www.bonsystems.com
A bipedal robot is a robot designed to move in a form similar to a human. Because it can access the spaces and tools people use through its arms, legs, torso, and joint structure, its applicability is being reviewed in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, services, and disaster response. In particular, a bipedal robot draws attention in that it can use existing environments such as passageways, stairs, workbenches, doors, and handles that people move through. Rather than being applied directly to every site, it is likely to be introduced step by step, starting from tasks that partly replace human motion or that are hard to handle with existing automation equipment. This article looks at the application areas of humanoid robots, centered on manufacturing automation, logistics and warehousing, services, disaster and hazardous environments, and the relationship with domestic and international industry change.
Manufacturing Automation Applications
Key Summary In manufacturing environments, a bipedal robot can be reviewed as a flexible automation means. Its applicability is drawing attention especially in processes where the work form changes frequently or where human hand movements and mobility are needed together.
One of the areas where humanoid robots can be reviewed first is manufacturing automation. Existing automation equipment has strengths in repetitive, consistent tasks, but at sites where product types change frequently or the order of work changes, a burden can arise in equipment change and relocation.
Because a bipedal robot can use a work height and arm movements similar to a human’s, its applicability is being reviewed in processes that include human motion, such as component transfer, simple assembly assistance, inspection assistance, and work around equipment. At manufacturing sites, flexibility to perform several tasks depending on the situation is becoming increasingly important, rather than a robot performing only one task.
However, for humanoid robots to be stably used at manufacturing sites, the repeated-motion stability of the drive unit, joint durability, connectivity with the control system, and worker safety must be considered together. The role of core components such as the reducers and actuators that make up the joints is therefore treated as important, not just the performance of the finished robot.
Logistics and Warehouse Applications
Key Summary The logistics and warehouse area is a field where the applicability of bipedal robots is frequently mentioned. A humanoid robot can be put into some tasks without a large-scale infrastructure change by using existing logistics-space structures.
The logistics and warehouse area is also a field where the applicability of bipedal robots is frequently mentioned. At logistics sites, various forms of goods such as boxes, packaging materials, components, and finished products must be handled, and storage locations and work paths can change depending on the situation.
In such environments, the ability to pick up, move, and sort goods using arms like a person matters. Because a humanoid robot can use structures such as passageways, workbenches, shelves, and doors of existing logistics spaces, there is a possibility of putting it into some tasks without a separate large-scale infrastructure change.
In logistics automation, various automation equipment such as AMRs, AGVs, conveyors, and robot arms are already used. Rather than replacing this equipment, a humanoid robot can be reviewed in a form that partly handles the assistance tasks people once did or the logistics tasks with much change. Because logistics sites in particular have much repeated work with high intensity, they can also draw interest as an assistance means that reduces the worker’s burden in the long term.
Service Applications
Key Summary The reason humanoid robots draw attention in the service field lies in the intuitiveness that a human-like form provides. It can move in the same space as people, meet their gaze at a similar height, and perform simple motions using arms and hands.
The reason humanoid robots draw attention in the service field lies in the intuitiveness that a form similar to a human provides. It can move in the same space as people, meet their gaze at a similar height, and perform simple motions using arms and hands.
Areas whose applicability is being reviewed include store guidance, hotel service, assistance tasks within hospitals, rehabilitation assistance, and home assistance. For example, in guidance tasks, an approach of explaining locations to visitors or helping them move to a set place can be reviewed, and in hospitals or welfare facilities, it can be used for goods delivery or repetitive assistance tasks.
However, in the service field, adoption is hard to decide by technical performance alone. User safety, the sense of distance when people and robots are together, the site operation method, the maintenance burden, and social acceptability must all be considered together. For this reason, a direction of reviewing service applications step by step, starting from specific functions, is realistic.
Disaster and Hazardous Environment Applications
Key Summary The applicability of bipedal robots is also being discussed in environments that people find hard to access directly, such as disaster sites, high-temperature environments, spaces with hazardous substances, and facilities with radiation risk.
The applicability of bipedal robots is also being discussed in environments that people find hard to access directly, such as disaster sites, high-temperature environments, spaces with hazardous substances, and facilities with radiation risk. At such sites, a robot may need not only to move but also to open doors, operate valves or handles, and carry equipment while moving.
A bipedal robot can be reviewed as a structure suited to hazardous-environment response in that it can use stairs, passageways, work platforms, handles, and tools made to human standards. Quadruped robots and vehicle-type robots also play important roles in hazardous environments, but in situations where a person’s work space and tools must be used as they are, the advantages of a human-form structure can stand out.
In hazardous environments, a robot must withstand hard-to-predict external shock, terrain change, and repeated loads. The joint drive unit therefore needs a structure that considers stable power transmission, shock-load distribution, and long-term operation. The wider the application range of humanoid robots becomes, the more the reliability of drive components such as reducers and actuators inevitably matters together.
Robot Industry Change and the Importance of Drive Components
Key Summary As application environments diversify, the role of the components that make up robot joints grows. The reducer and actuator serve as the core drive unit that converts the motor’s rotational force into the force and movement the robot needs.
In this way, the applicability of bipedal robots is being reviewed in different environments such as manufacturing, logistics, services, and disaster response. Each industry has different requirements. At manufacturing sites, repeated motion and work accuracy matter; at logistics sites, power transmission that handles various goods and operational stability are needed. In the service field, safety that allows moving together with people and smooth motion matter, and in hazardous environments, a structure that withstands shock and external conditions is required.
The more diverse the application environment becomes, the greater the role of the components that make up robot joints. A humanoid robot moves many joints at the same time to maintain balance and repeatedly uses its arms and legs. In this process, the reducer and actuator serve as the core drive unit that converts the motor’s rotational force into the force and movement the robot needs.
Bonsystems develops drive solutions applicable to robot joints and automation equipment based on cycloidal reducer and actuator technology.
The main technical characteristics of Bonsystems lie in realizing strong torque with a slim structure based on a cycloidal reduction structure, a compact package, a Pinless structure, and a direction that raises robot design freedom. The Pinless structure is an approach that removes the pin parts once needed in conventional cycloidal reduction technology. Through this, a thinner reduction structure can be realized, and there is the advantage of raising ease of assembly. This design can help reduce the design burden in environments where the drive unit must be configured within a confined robot joint space.
Bipedal robots are still at a stage where the application approach by industry is being concretized. However, applicability continues to be reviewed in fields that must use a person’s work space, such as manufacturing, logistics, services, and hazardous environments, and in that process the importance of stable drive-unit technology is becoming even clearer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. In which industries can bipedal robots be used first?
A. They are likely to be reviewed first in manufacturing automation, logistics and warehousing, services, and disaster and hazardous environments. Their application value can grow in tasks that must use a person’s movement space and tools or that are hard to handle with existing automation equipment alone.
Q2. Why do humanoid robots draw attention at manufacturing sites?
A. At manufacturing sites, product types or the order of work often change frequently. Because a bipedal robot can use a work height and arm movements similar to a human’s, it can be reviewed as a flexible automation means in processes with much change.
Q3. What tasks can be used in logistics and warehousing?
A. It can be used for assistance tasks such as picking up and moving various forms of goods, or sorting and organizing them. That it can use passageways, shelves, and workbenches of existing logistics spaces is also reviewed as an advantage.
Q4. Why does the drive unit matter in robots?
A. A bipedal robot must move many joints at the same time and maintain balance. Here, the reducer and actuator play the role of converting the motor’s rotational force into the force and movement the robot needs, making them important components for stable operation and long-term use.
References
• [1] Bonsystems Official Website — https://www.bonsystems.com
• [2] International Federation of Robotics (IFR) — https://ifr.org
• [3] Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) — https://www.kiria.org
• [4] Korea Institute of Robotics & Technology Convergence (KIRO) — https://www.kiro.re.kr
