Domestic High-payload Six-α¶>★axis Robots: From Modest Beginnings to R≠☆ε obust Expansion

≥♣¶→;

From a product category analysis, domest₽↔φ"ic high-payload six-ax§‍is robotic products continue to emerge. Estu§•n offers a complete range '₽±✔of high-payload robots ranging fro≈₽≈♣m 220kg to 600kg in payload capacity, a☆ ÷nd its product with 600kg of payload capacit‍γy is already available in the ma>€♦rket. Peitian Robotics, on the other hand, iφ ®s in the validation phase for its 220-30λ 0kg products set to be launched in the second ha∞βδlf of 2023. Huashu Robot ‌♦•✔unveiled three large payload six€♠π&-axis robot products in March of this year, an±π×>d it is planning to re>"✔lease high-payload robots wiλ✘th payloads of 300kg and above. Additionally,♥δ ROKAE, in collaboration with its Japanese rese±©arch center, introduced the NB220 series of¥Ω robots in June 2023, boasting a ©®★maximum payload capacity of 220kσ g.

Overall, the market for high-payl₩×‍oad six-axis robots holds significant pro®&mise.

Why has the field of high-paylo∑→¥ ad applications been dominated by overseas pro×δ↔↔ducts for such an exten↑✔ded period?

As widely recognized, the technological barrier ✘ ♥↓for high-payload six-axis robots i≈¥÷πs significantly higher compared to that o↔™↔÷f medium and small-payload six-ax÷δis robots. Consequently, there are only a•₹÷ limited number of manufacturers in the ₹ π₽market producing high-payload six-axis robo§®ts exceeding 220kg. While Inovance€"♣, ESTUN, and STEP have introduced robots with₽™γπ a payload capacity ×β•of 220kg and above, it is noteworthy that the• ₹ir presence in this p σ★ayload segment is relat↔₹ively recent. In this particular payload range, ≥<•"KUKA, Fanuc, and ABB de≤★✔©monstrate a comparati↔↕ vely higher level of technological maturity.

From the perspective of balance cy∞$&linders, Fanuc and ABB employ the most prevale±π§ nt spring cylinders, βδγλwhile KUKA utilizes ≤↓pneumatic-hydraulic h♠₹‍ybrid cylinders, which can deliver nearly constan≤™↕ t force and boast a more compact form σ↑factor.

From the perspective of the drive chainγ layout, Fanuc adopts a configuration where all f÷ §€our, five, and six-axis motor↑ α↔s are positioned at the rear. This design all↓£δows for a slender robotic arm with ÷Ω→reduced end-effector in≥©βertia, but it results in a more complex transmi‍φssion chain. KUKA's app₽" roach, on the other hand, strikes ♠a compromise as the four and five-axis ✘☆motors are positioned at the rear while the six-aλ÷•xis motor is moved forward, ™φintegrating with the central£∏© wrist as a single component. ABB place→₽s the five and six-axis motors at the end£÷¶, directly coupling the six-axis×✔↔ motor with the reduction geπδγar, while the five-axis m&‌otor employs gear coupling, as this confi‍α₩ guration simplifies ←₩₩•the transmission system and i₩≥s conducive to precision.

Domestic high-payload six-axis robo£♣βts embarked on their journey of Ω¥development later than their small→₩↕-payload counterparts. Their developmen£αφ'tal history mirrors that of small-paylo☆₩ad six-axis robots. In terms of design and ≠‍'•component utilization, they have draw →✘n significant inspiration from the prod‌&÷♠ucts of industry leaders such as KUKA, Fanuc,δ₹ and ABB.

Mr. Fan Zeng, Deputy Generδ₽♣≥al Manager of STEP Robotics Division★±±, mentioned that currently, there is a relatively✔☆ small price differen•☆‍₽ce of approximately 25% between imported an&φ"↕d domestic high-payload robot mπ<odels. One of the reasonsα↑ is the congruence in the selection of join↔ <t components for domestic high-payload six-aα÷ ♣xis robots, mirroring th≥✘ose used in imported cφ®↕₽ounterparts. This diminishes the cost advantage∏✘φ• of domestic high-payload six₩-axis robots.

In comparison, there are two dist§≥inct advantages for imp✘÷↑'orted products in terms of ma✘☆∑φnufacturing costs. Firstly,§¥★< the substantial sales volλ'$•ume significantly enhances their barga←'♠ining power with suppliers. Secondly, blockbuster✘₹£♣ products benefit from economies of scale, ther↑>¥∏eby greatly reducing production and manufacturi♥‍€'ng costs.

It is worth mentioning that"₽<‍ domestic high-payload six-axis robots are↓α undergoing iterations toward even greater pa≠ yloads. High-payload robots have higher requi ↕×✔rements for effective payload, structural s₩trength, rigidity and safety margin. Moreover, in‍Ω£€creased payload implies a corresponding increas₹ e in mechanical structure size, leading to h♠‌igher costs in terms of foundry processing, m→★olds and production equipmenπΩt. The rational selection of components and s'σδtructures for the entire system requi ←<≤res theoretical calculation, simulation, an§&✘d experimental validation to ensure a 10λ∞-year lifespan for robots and the competitiv±σeness of products. This places greater demands oσ¥Ωn the research and development and design system÷§s of robot manufactuλ∞∏€rers.

The ancillary products wiλ≤¶thin the industrial supply chain will also re®γ ♣ap benefits.

If we were to assert that t←★he emergence of industries σδ≥☆such as new energy and lithium-ion batteri£€es has catalyzed a cohort of"® high-payload six-axis ÷™←↑robot enterprises, it follows that thesε"e enterprises will also≥→ yield a favorable i '₩>mpact on the ancillary products withδ∑✘in the robot industry supplyα§φ∏ chain.

Mr. Tang Yong, Chairm® ♦an of Huacheng Industri♥ ☆al Control Co., Ltd., a↓‍₩™ssesses that ancillary® β< products such as controllers and pr♦✘ ocess packages are the core co♠•♠≠mponents of robots. It is highly pr★≈obable that their order volume will experie©↑±λnce a significant increase due to the ♥★←rising demand for high-payload robots.

In this regard, a comprehensive investigat÷β₹ion conducted by Gaogong Robot has revealed t"↓hat Huacheng Industrial Co✔®ntrol has received orders δ¶for over a thousand units of'≠ high-payload control electrical cabin♥<ets. Additionally, the number of rob ♣ot process packages sold by the company has rea♦↓ched one-third of the total sales‌β for the first time.

Mr. Yu Yunqing, General•Ωφ Manager of Hubei SWT Transmission C ≥ o., Ltd., holds a very positive vi₩αε≥ew on the quality of domestic h¥≠igh-payload reducers. He believes that &∑λ®δquot;SWT large-scale RV re ↓ducers are quite mature, >♠with the current maximum ✘↑εpayload capacity of 45 tons, and they areλ>" used in 'artificial sun' projects≈$. However, the promotion o"✘f domestic large-scale RV reducers is limited, a≤‌nd there is a lack of δ©€awareness and confidence in them w✔>ithin the domestic market."

Some manufacturers have responded swiftly to≤‍↑ the changing landscape, adjusting their st→®★rategies to focus on breaking into the mark&& et for high-payload six-axis robots. One such c©←‍'ompany is Ningbo Zhongda Leader Intelligent ✔₽≠Transmission Co., Ltd. At the end of 2022, the₩✘λ¶ "South China H"igh-end Intelligent Manufacturing Project o≠‍≥€f Zhongda Leader Intell≤∏₹igent Transmission", located in Fosha±←★‍n City, officially commenced construction.<>↑ The project aims to produce products that en✘↔compass 500kg large-scale ®←RV reducers and intelligent executδ ®♠ion units. The production is scheduledδγ to commence around the Chinese New Year£σ©§ in 2024.

Overall, it is worth noting that there are limite✔✘d choices for domestically &¶'manufactured components of hig✔©★h-payload six-axis robots. This lim©↕♦↓itation arises from the fact ‌♣&that robot manufacturers must not only ‍>ensure the uniformityσ☆ of installation interfaces and parameterλ≤s but also consider lead Ω‍☆✔times and scenarios where the market is‍±γ₽ unwilling to endure del↓↑ays. Mr. Cen Guojian, Chairman of Zho ‍✘εngda Leader Intelligent Transmission, believes‍↓ that the enhancement♥ Ω of domestic high-payload six-axis robot compo÷£πnents requires both §&experience and time, and it necessitφ‌↑∏ates a gradual accumulation process. To‌↔ε achieve a breakthrough in handling higher payloa→₩'ds in step with the robot manufacturers, a d‍σππedicated focus on ha✔≤rdware improvements is also indispensabl‍σ≥✘e.

Firstly, high-payload robotsσ< demand components with enhanced load-bear"₽ ing capabilities, higher stability and g±✔₹reater durability. This necessitates improvem‍♦ents in materials for$ ε☆ components and manufacturing processe®★★s to cater to the requirement™✔✘s of high payloads and prol∏"onged operation. Seco ₽∑ndly, the motion controπ&§l of high-payload robots imposes higher deman&φ≤ds on the precision and '∑✘₽flexibility of components. Th¶≈☆e manufacturing precision ∞♥§of components and the design of motio ☆↕n control systems need to reach high↑↓≈πer levels to ensure that the rob"$→ot can work accurately and stably unde®¶βαr conditions of high speed and high paσ"★↑yload.

Furthermore, the complexity of high-payload robot>♦s has also heightened the dε☆ifficulty in component development. Challeng✔±★es encompass the coordination a☆∞©nd integration of various j∏φπoints, as well as the testing and validation φλ← of component reliability and durability. For b&♦δoth robot manufacturers and compone£♦πnt suppliers, enhancinαπ§g their technological profiσ$<πciency and competitiveness ↓>$™remains imperative.

In 2024, will it be a bre₽₹¶βakthrough year for domestic high-payload six-axiΩ±s robots, or will the le"∑∑‌ading manufacturers of h✘>igh-payload six-axis robots continue to<≠ hold their ground? Let us await with→≤¥ anticipation!