Bench Talk

(Source: Marco / stock.adobe.com; generated with AI)

Factory floors look much different than they did in the past. Today, robots assemble products, think on their feet to navigate complex environments, take on new tasks, and make real-time decisions. And they do plenty of this without human supervision.

Early industrial robots advanced manufacturing by taking over redundant and dangerous tasks but were still confined to straightforward and pre-programmed actions. Things have changed. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are equipped with cutting-edge microelectronics, high-performance batteries, and advanced wireless connectivity.

While these robots are not self-aware, they still visualize and interpret the environment around them. Gathering information from various sensors, they respond to changing conditions and adapt their actions to accomplish assigned tasks. Navigating their way through a busy factory environment, these AMRs act autonomously by employing a form of artificial intelligence called machine learning.

Autonomous robots are playing a vital role in the lights-out factory. Also known as the dark factory, these facilities require very little human activity., Lights-out manufacturing is becoming more possible since AMRs are equipped with advanced sensors that enable them to operate in the dark. AMRs also play a crucial role in production, delivering raw materials around the factory. Their ability to act independently allows them to calculate the safest route through the dynamic environment. Any change in the production schedule is communicated to the fleet of AMRs, ensuring that the correct parts are in the right place at the right time.

To effectively navigate industrial settings, AMRs rely on sensors, vision systems, and machine learning to understand their environment. Like many industrial machines, these robots need to process vast volumes of data while working in harsh conditions. To help with this, radio frequency (RF) connectors provide communication from the sensor to the processor, delivering high data rates while withstanding the vibration and shock of the industrial environment.

Radio Frequencies for Robots

An essential component of the AMR communication process involves RF signals. Every device that transmits or receives data wirelessly uses RF signals to carry information. RF signals are carried around the equipment using coaxial cables and connectors constructed with a single central conductor surrounded by an outer conductive shield. The inner and outer conductors are separated by an insulator called a dielectric, whose dimensions are critical to allow for efficient transmission of an RF signal.

While 5G wireless communication uses relatively low frequencies, up to 6GHz, many applications require higher performance. Modern precision RF connectors can transmit signals with frequencies greater than 80GHz. These higher frequencies allow AMRs to wirelessly send enormous amounts of information, forming part of a dynamic network in which information is shared with other nearby equipment. This data network forms the backbone of the smart factory.

RF connectors that allow such high frequencies are manufactured to exact requirements. The bodies and contacts of the connector are machined to ensure consistent dimensions, and the plastic materials used for the dielectric are chosen for their stability. The result is a connector that delivers a consistent impedance profile and low losses, even at the highest frequencies.

Still, the physics of higher frequencies means that connectors have become smaller. For instance, the ever-popular SMA connector, which has provided many years of service in industrial applications, is limited at higher frequencies. Newer designs, such as the 2.92mm coaxial connector, can deliver up to 40GHz, while the SMPM is capable of even higher frequencies up to 65GHz.

From Automotive to Automation

Designers of the latest AMRs can benefit from technology developed for the automotive industry. The introduction of electrification, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and self-driving vehicles has seen a growing demand for robust RF connector systems that can withstand the harsh conditions vehicles face. This reliability is critical for AMRs that travel beyond the factory walls. Optimizing AMRs will require high-performance RF connectors to provide communications with the latest 5G network when they are away from the factory network. These autonomous robots will also need small and robust antenna connectors for use with global positioning and global navigation satellite systems (GPS and GNSS).

The key to all these communication systems will be RF connectors designed for the industrial world's tough conditions. However, the smaller connectors that are capable of the higher frequencies required for effective communication can be vulnerable in these demanding conditions. Precision manufacturing and robust design will be vital, as will design features that reduce the stress on cables, such as edge-launching and angled PCB mounting connectors.

Conclusion

A wide range of industries have employed the latest AMRs. Their ability to work without supervision makes them ideal for use in hazardous situations where they perform tasks that are too dangerous for a human worker. While their primary use is currently in industrial settings, the use cases for AMRs could be as diverse as scientific research or disaster relief, and even in the vacuum of space or on the battlefield.

Industrial AMRs will free human workers from the need to supervise repetitive tasks. These devices must share information, navigate, and communicate through various environments, from the home to the factory and beyond. RF technology provides AMRs with the wireless links they need to accomplish these tasks. To deliver communication signals, designers will require the latest RF connectors that offer high performance in some of the most demanding conditions in the world.