In precision work such as assembling delicate parts or fitting parts in narrow gaps, tiny force adjustments are required that depend on human senses. Epson has developed force sensors that use the quartz crystal piezoelectric method, one of Epson's specialty sensing technologies. This technology provides robots with the human senses that are indispensable to a person performing precise work.

A force sensor can detect the magnitude of force and rotation direction for each of the x, y, and z axes. The following three functions are required for a force sensor used in combination with a robot.

1. 1. High sensitivity: Able to detect the rotation direction and minute forces applied in the measurement direction to a high sensitivity level
2. 2. High rigidity: Not prone to deformation even when force applied (does not affect robot precision)
3. 3. Usability: Robot can be controlled based on the information obtained by the force sensor

When a force sensor is installed and linked to a robot, the robot becomes able to detect minute force changes and the rotation direction to a high sensitivity level. Controlling the robot based on the detected force information enables operations that were previously performed based on human touch sensations to be performed by the robot. The force sensor provides the robot with human-like senses and is an essential device for the automation of complex work.

The requirements for a force sensor installed in a robot are the ability to detect minute forces while also affecting robot precision as little as possible. Most conventional force sensors measure the amount of deformation (strain) of a part inside the sensor when the object is pressed. When the object is pressed by a weak force, the deformation amount is small and hidden by noise. Conversely, to detect minute forces, a structure that makes it easy to deform the sensor part is required. This reduces the rigidity, causing a problematic drop in robot precision.

The use of Epson's specialty quartz crystal device in the force sensor achieves both these conflicting characteristics of high sensitivity and high rigidity. Quartz is a single-crystal. When pressure is applied to the quartz, electric polarization occurs and an electrical load is generated on the quartz crystal surface. This property is called the piezoelectric effect. Epson's force sensors use the quartz crystal piezoelectric method that utilizes this property. The result is the ability to detect minute forces (high sensitivity) from small deformation amounts (high rigidity). Epson is the world's largest manufacturer of quartz crystal devices, and it has developed a high-precision force sensor utilizing its in-house development technologies related to quartz crystals.

As a result, the Epson force sensor is highly rigid while also being capable of highly precise detection, from minute forces of 0.1 [N] to the maximum pressing force of 250 [N]. In addition, because robot control can use values from the highly rigid force sensors that do not impair robot precision, these force sensors are the optimal type for robots.

Epson has installed force sensors in its SCARA robots and six-axis robots, refining them during use at Epson's own factories. Robots combined with force sensors can be used for precision work such as contacting, surface matching, probing, profiling, and pressing.

• Contacting: Detects contact with the workpiece
• Surface matching: Matches the workpiece with the target surface
• Probing: Finds holes or level differences on the target
• Profiling: Moves along the material surface
• Pressing: Presses the workpiece with the desired force

Combining these basic operations makes it possible to produce operations equivalent to those of a human.For example, a combination of contacting, profiling, and pressing operations ensures the robot can tighten tiny screws in a slanted direction.Contacting and profiling operations can help the robot align the assembly direction and position. Also, surface matching and pressing operations contributes to assembling gears with narrow gaps between them and slanted meshing surfaces.

Force sensors enable the automation of many processes that were previously operated based on human touch sensations. They can also quantify minute force and torque changes that cannot be distinguished by human senses. As a result, the sensors can detect abnormalities during operation to prevent defects from flowing to the next process, and the recording and monitoring of forces and torque keep systems in the optimal condition at all times.

The automation of work that previously could only be performed by humans is an effective measure for resolving various issues faced by the manufacturing industry, such as labor shortages and technological succession. Furthermore, combining vision sensors with force sensors expands the range of processes that can be automated. Providing robots with human-like "eyes" and "hands" enables them to replace humans in operations such as inserting flat cables or other soft wires, which has been difficult up to now.

In the future, Epson will continue to contribute to improving productivity by expanding the application of industrial robots using force sensor technologies to automate high-precision work that has been difficult to do at conventional manufacturing worksites.