COBOTS & AUTOMATION INDUSTRY DICTIONARY PART 5: TERMS S–Z
- FAIRINO USA
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
🔤 S
Safety PLC
A specialized programmable logic controller designed for safety-critical applications.
Complies with standards such as:
ISO 13849
IEC 61508
Function: Ensures safe shutdown in hazardous conditions
Safety-Rated Monitored Stop (SRMS)
A safety function where the robot stops motion when a human enters a defined area.
SCARA Robot (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm)
A robot optimized for horizontal movement and high-speed assembly.
Characteristics:
High speed
High precision
Limited vertical flexibility
Applications:
Electronics assembly
Pick-and-place
Sensor
A device that detects and measures physical properties.
Types:
Proximity sensors
Vision sensors
Force sensors
Servo Control
A feedback-based control system used for precise motion.
Servo Motor
A motor with built-in feedback for accurate control.
Simulation (Robotics)
Virtual testing of robotic systems before deployment.
Reduces:
Cost
Errors
Downtime
Singularity (Robotics)
A position where a robot loses one or more degrees of freedom.
Impact:
Unpredictable motion
Infinite joint speeds (theoretical)
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
A method used by robots to map environments while tracking their position.
Used in:
AMRs
Autonomous navigation
Smart Sensor
A sensor with built-in processing capabilities.
Soft Robotics
Robotics using flexible materials instead of rigid components.
Applications:
Food handling
Medical robotics
Speed and Separation Monitoring (SSM)
Adjusts robot speed based on human proximity.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Documented instructions for performing tasks.
Stepper Motor
A motor that moves in discrete steps.
Less precise than servo motors
Subassembly
A partially assembled product.
Supervisory Control
High-level control overseeing automated systems.
🔤 T
Teach Pendant
A handheld device used to program and control robots.
Teaching (Robot Teaching)
The process of programming robot movements.
Methods:
Manual teaching
Offline programming
Telemetry
Transmission of data from devices to monitoring systems.
Throughput
The amount of work completed in a given time.
Tool Center Point (TCP)
The reference point of a robot’s tool.
Torque
Rotational force applied by a robot joint.
Torque Sensor
Measures rotational force.
Trajectory
The path followed by a robot during motion.
Trajectory Planning
The process of defining a motion path.
Transfer Line
A production system where parts move sequentially between stations.
Tolerance
Allowable deviation in dimensions.
Touch Sensor
Detects physical contact.
🔤 U
Universal Robots (Concept, not brand-specific)
Refers broadly to robots designed for versatility across applications.
Unstructured Environment
An environment that is unpredictable or variable.
Example:
Warehouses
Construction sites
Uptime
Percentage of time a system is operational.
User Interface (UI)
The interface through which users interact with systems.
Utility Robot
A robot designed for general-purpose tasks.
🔤 V
Vacuum Gripper
Uses suction to handle objects.
Common in:
Packaging
Logistics
Velocity
Speed of movement in a given direction.
Vibration Analysis
Monitoring vibrations to detect faults.
Used in predictive maintenance
Vision System
System using cameras and software for perception.
Virtual Commissioning
Testing automation systems in a virtual environment before deployment.
🔤 W
Work Cell
A defined area where automated tasks are performed.
Work Envelope
The total area a robot can reach.
Workflow Automation
Automation of business or industrial processes.
Wrist (Robot Wrist)
The final joints of a robot arm that control orientation.
🔤 X
X-Axis
The horizontal axis in a coordinate system.
🔤 Y
Y-Axis
The vertical axis (in planar systems).
🔤 Z
Z-Axis
Represents depth or vertical motion in 3D systems.
Zero Position
A reference position used for calibration and initialization.
