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The key to performing complex tasks with a robot is ability to communicate to other machines for sequence control and sensors so that it can react sensibly to variations in the environment. In order to achieve this robot controllers have a range of different communication ability:
- Binary signals: These are simple on/off signals represented by two different voltage levels. They can be used as inputs for simple micro switches to indicate that a component is loaded correctly or as outputs to fire relays to switch ancillary equipment on and off. They can also be used in a group to pass numbers in binary format between machines.
- Analogue Signals: for applications such as temperature measurement using a thermocouple or distance measurement using a proximity sensor where a variable voltage is provided by the sensor an analogue input is required. Analogue outputs are also available and convert a number within the robot controller into a voltage within a specified range. This voltage can then be fed to an amplifier or used directly to drive electric motors, arc welding power supplies etc.
- Parallel or serial interfaces are used to link peripheral equipments such as disk drives, printers etc. to the robots or for interfacing to complex sensors such as vision systems for pattern recognition.
- Networks are becoming an essential communication method for linking robots together computer systems.
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