An assisted manipulator performs its movement by using a power-assist system to counterbalance the weight of both the arm itself and the load it’s carrying. This creates a “zero-gravity” sensation, allowing a human operator to move and position a heavy object with very little physical effort.
Key Principles of Movement
Counterbalancing: The core principle is neutralizing the force of gravity. The manipulator’s power system continuously senses the weight of the load and applies an equal and opposite force. This means the operator doesn’t have to lift the weight; they only have to provide the directional force to move the object.
Operator Guidance: The operator remains in direct control. They hold an ergonomic handle and guide the arm in the desired direction. The manipulator’s sensors detect the subtle push or pull from the operator and activate the power-assist system to move the load smoothly.
Articulated Arm: The manipulator’s arm is made of rigid, jointed links, similar to a human arm. This allows for movement in multiple axes, enabling the operator to reach around obstacles and precisely place objects in three-dimensional space.
Power Sources
The power-assist movement is typically provided by one of two systems:
Pneumatic (Air-Powered): These systems use compressed air to power cylinders. They are known for providing a very fluid, “floating” movement and are a cost-effective choice for many applications.
Electric Servo: These systems use electric motors and advanced software. They offer greater precision, can adapt to changing load weights automatically, and allow for programmable movement profiles.
The robot has a broad application prospect. So, how is the movement of the manipulator?
Straight shift type: This type of movement of the robot arm only has three right-angled coordinates for linear movement of the degree of activity, that is, the arm only for elastic lift and translation and other movements, the graph of its scale of movement can be a straight line a rectangular plane or a rectangular body. This type of robot layout is simple, intuitive movement, easy to complete a certain accuracy requirements, but the space it occupies is large corresponding work scale is small.
Flexion and extension type: This form of manipulator arm has two parts, large arm and small arm, in addition to the large arm with horizontal reversal and pitch mobility, small arm relative to the large arm and a pitch movement. From the morphological point of view, the small arm relative to the large arm for flexion and extension movement, according to this feature is called flexion and extension type, its movement scale graphics for the sphere.
Pitching type: This type of movement of the assisted robot arm in addition to the horizontal reversal of this activity, but also has the arm pitching this activity, these two degrees of activity and arm elastic activity constitutes a complete pitching type robot, its movement scale graphics for a hollow sphere characteristic movement for pitching, for convenience called pitching type, usually only with the arm pitching and no arm reversal activity of the assisted manipulator is called pitch type.
Robotic manipulators can reduce labor intensity, improve product quality, improve labor conditions and avoid personal accidents. In high temperature, high pressure, low temperature, low pressure, dust, noise, and radioactive and toxic pollution in the harsh environment, the application of the robot can partially or completely replace the human to safely complete the work, rhythmic production, etc..
Thanks for reading! I’m Loren, responsible for the global automation equipment export business at Tongli Industrial.
We provide high-precision loading and unloading manipulator robots to help factories upgrade to intelligence.
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Post time: Sep-08-2025