Robotics in Practice

This practical book discusses the use of robots in industry and provides a general introduction to understanding the role of robots concerned with social and industrial relations issues. Robots in Practice provides the industrial engineer with the fundamentals of robot characteristics and performance, job assignments and economic justification. It shows how to judge whether robots are suited to specific jobs, how to demonstrate economic viability and how to integrate robots smoothly into the workforce. Detailed case studies are provided which allow the manager and engineer to study specific situations within their own field of operation, including applications ranging from die casting, welding and forging to specialized manufacturing processes. A chapter dealing with the future capabilities of robots looks ahead to the possibilities which should be achieved as robot design becomes more sophisticated. This book should be of interest to managers and industrial engineers; all those concerned with social and industrial relations issues.