Curious about basic robotics programming? Do not worry because you came to the blog indicated to solve all your doubts.
A program is used to tell your robot what to do and how to do it. You must first create a program, and then you can add instructions to it that your robot can follow to perform a task. This is about applying basic robotics programming.
For example, a program can direct the robot and controller to:
- Move the robot in an appropriate way to required locations in the workcell.
- Perform an application-specific operation.
- Send output signals to other equipment in the workcell.
- Recognize and respond to input signals from other equipment in the workcell.
- Keep track of time, part count, or job number.
When you create a new program, you must give it a unique program name. The program name differentiates the programs stored on the controller. This is something that usually applies to basic robotics programming.
What does robot programs look like? To clarify that for the reader not exposed to robot programming, since a robot program contains the specifications how the robot should move, procedures for motion control will of course be.
Such procedures have been implemented as part of the system programming, typically done by the robot manufacturer. A high level of abstraction is often preferable in end-user programming, but a low level of abstraction is used here for clarity. Abstract actions will be converted to concrete ones anyway.
The pieces of robot program code are supposed to be written by an ordinary robot programmer. The code is then executed in the robot controller, typically by an interpreter.
A review of different basic robotics programming methods shows that a variety of methods are beneficial in different programming situations. As to support manufacturing practices, it should be possible to provide the end-user programmer with proper programming tools, programming language, level of abstraction, and use of the robot. The crucial point is then how these techniques can be integrated.
Which is the best programming language? It’s a question that a lot of new roboticists will ask at least once in their career, but there’s no simple answer.
But, it’s a very reasonable question. After all, what’s the point of investing a lot of time and effort in learning a new programming language if it turns out you’re never going to use it?
If you’re new to robotics, you want to learn the programming languages which are actually going to be useful for your career.
Electronic engineers will give a different answer from industrial robotic technicians. Computer vision programmers will give a different answer from cognitive roboticists.
Finally, the answer which most intelligent people agree on is “it depends.” This is the most realistic answer. It depends on what type of application you want to develop. It depends on what system you are using. It depends on your personal preferences.
For the new roboticist who is trying to decide which language to learn first. You’re probably reading this article because you want to start programming robots and don’t know which language to choose.
Which programming language should I learn first?
One advice is not to ask which programming language is the “best”. A better question to ask is: Which programming language should I start learning now?
You will still get differing opinions, but a lot of roboticists can agree on the key languages.
But first, be clear on your justification for wanting to learn robot programming.
If you’re only using a single robot for your business, the best language to learn is the one that will get you up and running as soon as possible. In this case, you might not even need to learn a programming language. For example, with our course Robot Operation you will can move a collaborative robot around manually. No text-based programming required.
If you want to start a career in robotics
The most important thing for career roboticists is to develop “The Programming Mindset” rather than to be proficient in one specific language, as I explained in the blog about essential robotic skills.
In many ways, it doesn’t really matter which programming language you learn first. Each language that you learn develops your proficiency with the programming mindset and makes it easier to learn any new language whenever it’s required.
Industrial Robot Languages
Almost every robot manufacturer has developed their own proprietary robot programming language, which has long been one of the problems in industrial robotics. You can become familiar with several of them. However, you are still going to have to learn a new language every time you start using a new robot brand.
Some robots can do work by themselves previously programmed. Other robots must always have a person telling them what to do.
Robotics is the industry related to engineering, construction and operation of robots – a broad and diverse field related to many commercial industries and consumer uses. The field of robotics generally involves looking at how any physical constructed technology system can perform a task or play a role in any interface or new technology.
The field of robotics has greatly advanced with several new general technological achievements. One is the rise of big data, which offers more opportunity to build programming capability into robotic systems. Another is the use of new kinds of sensors and connected devices to monitor environmental aspects like temperature, air pressure, light, motion and more. All of this serves robotics and the generation of more complex and sophisticated robots for many uses, including manufacturing, health and safety, and human assistance.
The field of robotics also intersects with issues around artificial intelligence. Since robots are physically discrete units, they are perceived to have their own intelligence, although one limited by their programming and capabilities. This idea has generated new debates over traditional science-fiction theories, such as Asimov’s three laws of robotics, which address the interaction of humans with robots in some mechanized future.
If you have any questions about the subject, you can consult us.