Industrial robots, like all machines, require energy to operate, which is why energy efficiency in industrial robotics has been a subject of consideration in recent years in many scientific and industrial centers. Interest in the topic is especially noticeable in Industry 4.0. Research on energy efficiency stems from the emergence of new possibilities in terms of making strategic decisions related to manufacturing processes. As energy-efficient production is an essential part of sustainable development, the energy efficiency of industrial robots must be considered. The need to reduce costs while maintaining quality and increasing production efficiency has necessitated the implementation of modern solutions aimed at reducing electricity consumption. The rational use of electrical energy, especially in the industrial sector, significantly reduces production costs and, consequently, contributes to a company’s profits and competitiveness. This article aims to provide an overview of energy efficiency issues based on recently published articles. This article discusses the appropriate selection of robots, their programming, energy-efficient trajectory planning, and the monitoring of the operation of the robotic system to minimize energy consumption. Typical industrial applications of robots are also mentioned and discussed.

Recently the number of designed modular machine was increased. The term modular machine is used to denote different types of machinery, equipment and production lines, which are created using modular elements. Modular could be both mechanic elements, and drives, as well as control systems. This method of machine design is more and more popular because it allows obtaining flexible and relatively cheap solutions. So it is worth to develop the concept of modularity in next areas of application. The advantages of modular solutions are: simplification of the structure, standardization of components, and faster assembly process of the complete machine Additional advantages, which is particularly important for manufacturers, are shorter manufacturing times, longer production series and reduced manufacturing costs. Modular designing is also the challenge for designers and the need for a new approach to the design process, to the starting process and to the exploitation process. The purpose for many manufacturers is the standardization of the components used for creating the finished products. This purpose could be realized by the application of standard modules which could be combined together in different ways to create the desired particular construction as much as possible in accordance with the order. This solution is for the producer more favorable than the construction of a large machine whose configuration must be matched to each individual order. In the ideal case each module has its own control system and the full functionality of the modular machine is obtained due to the mutual cooperation of all modules. Such a solution also requires the modular components which create the modular machine are equipped with interfaces compatible one with another to facilitate their communication. The individual components of the machine could be designed, manufactured and used independently and production management task could be divided into subtasks. They could be also outsourced to an independent manufacturer. Standardization and run of the entire modular machine should be easier if standardized are individual modules. The advantages of modular design, in addition to those mentioned above, there are many more.

The paper presents the specific approach to the designing process. This approach bases on the concept of integrated designing taking into consideration the three main attributes and three main subsystems of each technical mean. The attributes describing the features of an optimal technical mean include: the geometric form (including the mutual relations), the material form (including macroscopic and microscopic structure) and the assembly form (so called the dynamic form representing the constructional features obtaining only in the assembly process). The three specified constructional subsystems are: the structural subsystem (representing the main system of carrying and functional elements), the drive subsystem (representing the drives, actuators and energy sources) and the control subsystem (representing the sensors, controllers, signal buses and informations subsystem). Optimally linking mentioned attributes it is possibly to obtain the optimal design solution. It corresponds to certain approaches in mechatronics design understood as creating the system of specified subsystems (including the mechanical one and the electric one). In the presented work will be described the formal aspects of the integrated approach in the designing process. They will be also illustrated the practical results of introducing the proposed approach. These results are considered with the possibility of application the sophisticated tools of analysis like multi-agents theory. It is also possible to show the consequences of this approach for the CAD/CAE process. The integrated approach creates the theoretical platform for these informatics solutions. Finally one should point out the possibility of linking, in one designing process, informatics tools considered with designing and analysis of control subsystem.

In the case of large-scale and mass production lines often the same model of an industrial robot is used in various places of the line and is intended to various task. However, the replacement of one industrial robot to another is a long lasting and arduous process. It requires stopping all the production line and sometimes even dismantling the whole workcell. Such situations are not frequent in production lines that are not flexible. They are related the most often with the failure on an industrial robot. However, during the designing of a flexible production line the ability to replace any robot, which is unrestricted, fast and trouble-free, greatly increase the flexibility level of such line. It could be realized by modular design of the proposed production line. In this way it could be possible to change any elements of such production system. But this approach needs to apply the specialized informatics system. This paper presents the obtained design of several versions of the same production workcell. Each, succeeding version of the designed production workcell contains more and more modular elements. Thereby it would be presented the evolution of a workcell design beginning from the typical design and ending with the fully modular one. One of tools needed to realize this task is the elaboration of a base of modules and typical joint and mounting elements that could be utilised in the described designing process. It is also presented the guidance information about the designing and programming processes useful at each stage of analysed process.

Location of components of a manufacturing cell is apparently an easy task but even during the constructing of a manufacturing cell, in which is planned a production of one, simple component it is necessary, among others, to check access to all required points. The robot in a manufacturing cell must handle both machine tools located in a manufacturing cell and parts store (input and output one). It handles also transport equipment and auxiliary stands. Sometimes, during the design phase, the changes of robot location are necessary due to the limitation of access to its required working positions. Often succeeding changes of a manufacturing cell configuration are realized. They occur at the stages of visualization and simulation of robot program functioning. In special cases, it is even necessary to replace the planned robot with a robot of greater range or of a different configuration type. This article presents and describes the parameters and components which should be taken into consideration during designing robotised manufacturing cells. The main idea bases on application of advanced engineering programs to adding the designing process. Using this approach it could be possible to present the designing process of an exemplar flexible manufacturing cell intended to manufacture two similar components. The proposed model of such designed manufacturing cell could be easily extended to the manufacturing cell model in which it is possible to produce components belonging the one technological group of chosen similarity level. In particular, during the design process, one should take into consideration components which limit the ability of robot foundation. It is also important to show the method of determining the best location of robot foundation. The presented design method could also support the designing process of other robotised manufacturing cells.

This article presents the model of the e-manufacturing environment as the multi-agent system. The e-manufacturing system is a joint, multi-dimensional base gathering all required information and providing fast access to data and various analyses needed for a manufacturing control system in a real time. All operations executed at the level of a manufacturing system are related to the appropriate level of a management system, thus it allows synchronizing actions at these areas. Fluent combination of operations realized at various levels of a company system allows to manufacture products of highest quality/reliability with maximum utilization of production resources and maximum adaptation of products basing on actions and decisions made pursuant to actual information from production plant. Applying the multi-agent systems for enterprise manufacturing control system enables automation of many processes which previously required human intervention, such as the inspection and control processes. Creating the environment which enables direct access to all the data coming from the production system and utilization them in a real time leads to a more correct analysis of processes taking place on all levels of the enterprise manufacturing system. Applying the multi-agent technologies significantly accelerates the information flow inside the virtual enterprise.